It's Beginning to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!!! My most favorite time of the year has arrived. On Friday we set up the tree and got out the Christmas stuff (the fabulous part of a fake tree is that you can put it up so early) We got some help from the boys with the deed and we also had Nana here to help.

This does not have anything to do with Christmas but, Adam is always doing things he knows he is not supposed to and looking at us with his mischievous smile. It was finally cought it on camera.

Day Two...

Today I woke with the feeling of misery for what was to come. Yesterday was Day 1 without a pacifier at nap time for Kevin. He has gone without it at night now for about 6 weeks and all is fine but naps, I need his naps, was another story and I caved after two days of no naps, but now we are trying again and yesterday was a good two hours before he fell asleep for his 1 hour nap :( . Today, though, I planned ahead. I took the boys to the park to make them extra especially tired and waited to make it a little bit of a late nap (even more tired) and I must say that IT WORKED. I never heard a peep out of either one of them, what a relief

( Yes there is snow on our hats if you look really hard :) )

That being said...what everyone really wants is pictures so here are some shots from our trip to Tenn Last week. It snowed so the boys had a blast playing in the flurries (it never stuck). We made wedding invitations and hung out with my sisters and mom and dad it was lots of fun although I am totally exhausted.

During our Layover in Memphis my Dad's sister visited us at the airport. We had lunch and the boys got to Meet Aunt Sharon for the first time. I had not seen her in nearly 9 years. It was so fun to catch up with her a little bit.

My Eskimo child. the temperature never rose above 37 the entire week we were there so every time we went outside it was bitterly cold. Luckily Adam was appropriately dressed

Leaves, leaves, leaves...I take for granted some things in my childhood and leaves are one of those things. My boys have never played in giant piles of leaves until now and they had a blast.

the boys were great on the airplane. I was so worn out, though from entertaining them during the 3-4 hour flights, but no meltdowns or ear problems, just irritation especially from Adam on not getting to walk around for that long.

Thank you Emily

Yes, Thank you, Emily, for giving me this opportunity to tell things about myself that would make others laugh. So apparently I have been tagged and told to write 6 quirky things about myself so here goes...

1. I love wearing hats, any kind of hats. I like small hats , big hats, funny hats, cute hats, and colorful hats. I even wore a hat at my own wedding. I am very jealous that Emily gets to move to England where they have the best hats. I was watching a PBS special on the Monarchy last night and saw some awesome hats. I was born in the wrong time period to the wrong family in the wrong class...apparently (by the way... I love my family)

2. I smile even when I am angry, I even laugh when I am angry, a coping mechanism maybe, I don't know but it is true and goes to show I am almost always smiling.

3. I LOVE cartoon musicals, like Anastasia, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty and too many others to count. I like to sing along, my sisters and I used to pick parts (different characters) and go through the entire movies saying every line and singing every song...

4. I get depressed and sometimes cry if my Christmas tree is not up by the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love Christmas and want it to last as long as possible.

5. I love buying organizers to organize my stuff in. Somehow organizing is just more fun with new organizing material and I love to organize as long as I have something cool to put it into.

6. I never buy make-up. All my make-up was either bought for me by my mom or sisters or handed down to me by the same people. (When they don't like it for themselves)

Familial Shower

My sister is having a baby in January, I decided to put my skills to work to make her a bunch of things. Here is what I am bringing with me to Tenn to give her, she never reads my blog so it is safe to post the gift, some of you wanted to see my diaper bag, I love it and can't wait to make myself one...

Aaaahhhh!!! there it is

Ugly dolls, one for Kyah and one for my boys...

The goody bag...

Bowling, Bowling

On Tuesday we went bowling with some of the Cooke family (sadly Shel and Caleb had to stay home to reduce the spread of germs) But the big boys had a blast bowling for the first time. Bowling has come a long way in the last few years. They now have computers that make the bumpers go up and down depending on who's turn it is...so Kevin and Kien got bumpers while the rest of us just wished we had them

(The Technique)

The what seemed like 3 minute wait for the ball to reach the pins. We actually made them wait a couple of times even though they showed very little interest on where the ball went after it left their hands.

Very funny pic of Bryan that I just had to share with everyone

Kevin Turns 3!!

Today was Kevin's big day, although his birthday is actually next Wednesday, his party was on Saturday. He had so much fun playing at the playground with all of his friends and making pudding masterpieces (that were yummy too). He had a blast getting to see his Nana and Mima and Papa as well. Here are some pics of all the happenings.

We used food coloring and flavored pudding to make an array of colors, to cut down on the spreading of too many germs (ha ha) we had separate plates of "paints"

Hard at work

You gotta try this!!

cupcakes for all!!

Hanging out with my best bud...

Craft Time

So for the last month or so we have been trying to do some sort of craft during Adam's morning nap. It has been working fabulously because Kevin is having fun and is relatively quiet as well, letting Adam get his much needed rest. We have done fun stuff such as painting, finger painting, drawing, making painted noodle necklaces, making cards and yes sometimes we make cookies and treats as well (that is crafty right?) Kevin is having a blast. Today we made goggles out of an egg carton. He got to paint them and help me string them and voila goggles.

Of course, I under estimated what a hit these would be and had to whip one up for Adam as soon as he woke up.

Kevin's New Do

I finally cut Kevin's hair yesterday and he wanted it spiky... It looks good but he looks so much older and even more like his daddy.

It's Falling

Yesterday, I am not sure where he got this idea, Kevin asked me if it was not summer anymore? I said, "Yes it is not summer any more. It is Fall." Since that discussion it is Falling. If you tell Kevin it is not summer what is it? He will respond with it is Falling. I have tried to correct this but it usually ends in "no, no...It is Falling" I love how these little minds work.

Carving the Pumpkin

We decided this year that better late than never would have to do on the pumpkin carving front. This being said on Saturday the day after Halloween Bryan and Kevin carved the pumpkin and it looks great and we are the only people with a nice looking jack-o-lantern on Monday (3 days after Halloween) Well other people might have nice looking ones but I am a little biased.

Armed and Ready

doing the dirty work

Adam was not sure about this.

Kevin was very proud of the outcome!!

Halloween, A Weekend of Fun

This Halloween we were able to get some good use out of our costumes. Friday night the boys went to a party at the Cooke home and then we all went trick or treating with all of our friends in Toluca lake, including our Nana. Funny Story: or maybe it is more amazing than funny. Adam took off his boot while we were walking the neighborhood. Of course we did not notice this until much later, so sadly as we were heading back we took our time in hopes of finding a little cloth, brown boot in the dark that would look strangely like a leaf. Surprisingly we FOUND IT! I was so amazed that we were able to find it. It was not even on the street where we noticed it missing. It was such a relief. I was so sad at the thought of his boot being gone, I don't even know why I was so sad because the night was over, but now I can pass on this costume, in it's completeness to some other adorable little boy. After finding the boot the rest of the night seemed flawless. Later mom and dad went to another party while the little ones dreamt of candy (I'm sure). Saturday was fun too because we went to our final Halloween party at our neighbor's house, What a Fun Weekend! Here are some pics...

Group pic at the Cooke home

The Boys! Check out Adam's Costume (Dad got the boys dressed, and even took pics for mom, what a great dad) They even have their toy props...

out trick or treating in Toluca Lake, we got caramel apples...How awesome is that!!

Arianne and I...Arianne was the hostess of the fabulous Halloween Party we went to after the kids went to bed. It was tons of fun and I can't wait for next year.