The Fleetwood Four

Lucky for us Sam still had a few more days of vacation, and while Annabelle did have to go back to school only going three days a week for a few hours we still had plenty of time together.

We started off by enjoying the fact that most everyone else was back to work and school and headed to the bowling alley. This was the kids first time bowling (that didn't involve the Wii). We had a lot of fun.

Daddy helping her at first

Doing it on her own

(we had to wait a long time for that ball to reach the pins)

Hudson's turn

(had to get the ramp to speed things up)

While I enjoy having Sam home for these two weeks each year and I know he enjoys being home, he does get a little stir crazy. This means that he comes up with a project for himself and this vacation it was painting the kids' rooms.

The Before

The kids enjoyed spending the night in the other's room while their own was being painted

The during

Sam and Annabelle painting in her room

Hudson's room after

Annabelle's room after

We were getting ready for Sam to return to work, but not before we got to celebrate his birthday. After breakfast at McDonalds and going for a drive we headed home and celebrated with cake.

The "kids" in the McDonald's Play Place

Helping make the cake and clean up after

Happy 32!

With Sam back at work and Annabelle back at school we got back to our normal schedule, pretty much. Annabelle started "lunch bunch" at her preschool, staying an extra two hours each Wednesday. Other fun things for her included being her class' first student of the week, pajama day at school and attending her first "school friend" birthday party.

Ready to go with her new lunch box

All about Annabelle Mae

Pajama Day

Off to Princess Party

Hudson....needed his picture taken too

Just a random one of Annabelle's style

We got a lot more snow in January, we even had a snow day. It was a crazy winter for the Treasure Valley, but normal for us after our winters in Washington and Connecticut.

A great way to warm up after playing in the snow, is swimming in the bathtub.

Annabelle had been talking about tea parties, and has held her pretend ones since she could walk. We surprised her with a real teapot and a tea party to go with it.

We started December off by getting into the Christmas spirit. After a breakfast of pancake snowman and hot chocolate we headed out to find our Christmas tree.

That afternoon we headed to a Living Nativity in town where we walked the streets of Bethlehem, had more hot chocolate, pet sheep, fed a camel, and made some crafts.

Paying her shekel in tax before entering Bethlehem

Hudson talking with a local

Hudson warming up with hot chocolate

Trying to feed a goat, they were full of carrots by this point

Visiting Baby Jesus

Craft Time

Then it was back home where we got to decorating the tree in between watching the Gonzaga game.

Sam hanging lights on the house

Hudson supervising Daddy hang the lights

This year we headed to the library to meet Santa. The library made a night of it including pizza, decorating cookies, balloon animals, games, of course a chance to talk with Santa who gave them an early gift.

Coloring before things get started

Annabelle and her balloon reindeer

Decorating cookies

There is no such thing as too many sprinkles

Can't let the frosting go to waste

Annabelle and Santa asked for a Brave doll

Hudson and Santa asked for trucks

Waiting to open their gifts

Books

Finally enjoying their cookies

Then it was time to order Christmas cards, celebrating our first Christmas in Idaho we headed out for some pictures.

Family photo op by one of the Eagle signs

Kiddos on the steps of the Capitol Building

Capitol Building, kids and Christmas Tree

After Annabelle's Christmas program her break started and we finished up our preparations for the holidays.

Singing

Helping make cookies

Decorating the snowflakes we made with glitter

Very serious work

We are excited to be closer to family again and that it allows them to visit more often, especially for holidays. Sam's parents joined us for Christmas and we had a great time. It is also great to have Sam home for two straight weeks too.

Wrestling Grandpa to welcome him

Cuddle time

Story time with Grandma

Love morning cuddles with Daddy

(yes Sam has a Mohawk too)

On Christmas Eve we took a walk around the neighborhood to look at lights before returning home to open a couple gifts and

We stay in our pajamas all day on Christmas, so pajamas is what Grandma and Grandpa got on Christmas Eve.

Madagascar 3...Christmas Eve movie night

Christmas morning was finally here and for now we are lucky to have kids that are not up before the sun. I am sure the time will come. After stockings and breakfast we finally got around to presents, and spent the rest of the day enjoying our new toys and time together.

Waiting patiently to get into her stocking

Waffles with strawberries, cream, and pecans

Enjoying their stockings while we clean up from breakfast

Finally present time

Tiara for our princess

"Roar Roar" flashlight

Unicorns!

Monster Hat

Hudson and Pinkie Pie

The kids enjoyed their gifts, while we hid two more presents "under" the tree and waited for them to notice. It took about an hour for Hudson to notice then they got to opening their final and "big" gift of the day.

Hudson ripping into it

A garage for his cars

Getting her gift out

Princess Castle

Thank you Daddy!

Then it was time to put these things together.

So many pieces

Hudson trying to help

Playing games with Grandpa

Just like that Christmas was over. We said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa as we continued to enjoy Annabelle's break from school and Sam's vacation from work. We got our first snow during this week.