Trimming the tree

Last year I put the tree up while my parents watched the kids. When they returned voila, a beautiful Christmas tree had magically appeared. This year, I thought it would be fun to involve them in the process.
So, we headed out to the forest to cut down our tree......maybe next year. Our Christmas tree is one that Steve had for many years before we even met. It's a little chaotic at first but we're used to that.
Learning about electricity the old fashioned way. Not really. Don't worry, they weren't plugged in. He was very interested in getting the prongs into the right holes. Luckily, he lost interest and forgot about the plugs once the tree was up.
"Look at all the necklaces!"
Getting into the new ornaments.
Time for the star. We thought we needed a little help from Daddy and the ladder.
Turns out we just needed Daddy. Yea!

I think decorating the tree is so much fun, once you get it up and the lights on. I love going through all of our old ornaments from Christmas's past. Every year we pick a new ornament, a tradition my parents started for us long ago. This year Grace picked a Toy Story toy box ornament and Lucas picked a "lellow" bus. I realize now that I should have taken a picture of the completed tree. Oh well, I guess you'll have to trust me when I say that it looked great.

Advent calendar

We started our advent calendar activities today despite my calendar not being ready. We're using the one from last year that my sister gave us. I'm thinking that the one I'm making won't be ready until at least Christmas day or more likely Christmas 2010. Humpfh.

This year instead of just filling them up on candy, I decided to add a holiday activity to each day. Makes sense right? Maybe next year we'll transition into just the activities and no candy. See how my evil mom mind works?
The first activity was to hang up our vinyl gingerbread house. Basically little stickers that stick to the wall but peel off without leaving any residue behind. Perfect for little ones.
They had such a good time with this activity. All I did was peel off the stickers and handed them over so they could put them on the wall. The only sticker I put on was the actual house and only because it was a little big for them to handle.
There were plenty of stickers to go around and so there was no fighting (okay, maybe just a little but mostly over the footstool).
The finished project. Grace did most of the house decorating and Lucas just sort of grouped all his stickers together. See all the gumdrops lined up on the right? He was very focused. Fun times.

Chuy's parade

Chuy's, an original Austin Mexican restaurant, sponsors an annual parade where kids bring gifts to donate to other kids. Good idea, right? This was our first time.He had to have some popcorn and of course Grandpa obliged.
We really got a good spot and sprawled out with our chairs. Don't let my Mom fool you, it wasn't that cold. All she needs is a parka to complete the look.
Trying on some antlers. Lucas wouldn't keep his on. Grace looks thrilled, huh?Showing them off with Nina.Anxiously awaiting the floats.First one up....Care Bear. The floats were big, just like the Macy's parade.
Lucas was a little scared of the floats and the loud motorcycles and cars.
The favorite float of the day---Horton!
And the not so favorite character---the Grinch. I don't blame them, he looks pretty darn scary. That's my mom's arm trying to get a shake, a high five....anything. She really got into the whole parade.

The parade was fun but would have been better if they had thrown out some chips and creamy jalapeno dip. The sad part was that we weren't the only people who thought to head over to Chuy's for lunch afterward. What were we thinking? We did end things on a high note by heading over to Torchy's. Mmmm.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2009We decided to start the day off in a healthy way with the Turkey trot. I really want to try to make Thanksgiving traditions involve more than just food. Last year, we ran the race with both kids. Grace still talks about how she "won" the race. We only took Grace this year because Lucas is well, Lucas and we are no longer naive about his abilities to sit in a stroller for an extended period of time i.e., more than 10 minutes.
It was a tough race, so tough that last year's winner had to take a mid race snooze.
Daddy was such a trooper. He was just getting over a bad cold. But then that's what makes a good Daddy the best. He even let me run for a little bit. I would have run the whole thing but I didn't want to leave my family behind. What I should have done is run the race and lapped around to meet up with them again. Wait, that is what I did. Yep. At least that's how I remember it.
A groggy Grace, woken up just in time to finish the race.
Still a little grouchy from being woken up but later thrilled when she realized that she won the race again. Two years in a row. Amazing.
Christina and Christian finishing the race. I didn't get a good angle to see who crossed the finish line first. We'll call it a tie.
From the Turkey Trot to a Turkey dinner. My parents got everything set up plus they watched Lucas too. Mom decorated the table Martha Stewart style and made sides and pies....And Dad made the turkey (pictured above) and ham (not pictured). Everything was delicious.

Especially the chocolate cupcakes which by the way was Lucas's Thanksgiving meal. He ate an early lunch and by the time our meal rolled around he was ready for dessert. Do not try to deny this boy his dessert. That's my boy!

Some after dinner crafting.

While most people spend their food comas sprawled out on a recliner or comfy couch in front of the TV, others prefer spending it under the table drawing with a marker.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Pre-Thanksgiving festivities

I was assigned the task of making sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving. The kids, as usual, decided to help me.
So helpful mashing the potatoes. No joke. I turned around and they were mashed. Tah dah.
Checking to make sure they were the right consistency. Lucas was not too interested until it was time to stir things up.
Let the stirring begin. My helpers are so much helpful when there is no flour or salt or sugar involved. Duly noted.

day with daddy

Steve took the kids out today so that I could have time to do whatever I wanted which translates into making soup and cleaning the house. At least I got to do it in peace and quiet and that my friends is a dream come true. All smiles for ice cream.
Trying out a perfectly sized car for her. I wonder if she'll put this on her list in place of a Barbie car. Maybe if it came in pink.
At the outlet mall, I think. They even bought me a beautiful cranberry colored Dutch oven. What did I do to deserve all this? I'm not sure but I was very thankful---for the Dutch and the quiet house.

Christmas tree lighting

Macy's was lighting up their Christmas tree out at the Domain, so we decided to check it out. What could be more festive than watching the lighting of a giant tree in the freezing cold? Do I sound just a tad sarcastic? Just wait for the end.It was a pretty tall tree. The tallest I've seen around here, beside the Zilker tree (but then that's not really a tree is it?).
An attempt to get a picture of my two children. I'm not sure if Lucas understands the phrase "turn around" but I kept yelling it just in case he couldn't hear me.
With Grandpa.
The obedient child. Funny.
We got there about 45 minutes before the actual lighting so we tried to take part in the other festivities like coloring.....
and eating roasted marshmallows.
Well, at least Grace enjoyed the roasted marshmallows.
"The beginning of the end" or "Thank God they're lighting this tree in 15 minutes."
Finally a shot together.
Grace and Grandma waiting patiently for the lighting. And that's all we have folks. Why no picture of a beautifully lit Christmas tree? Why? Well, because we never got to see it. Nope. The lighting was supposed to be at 6pm (which by the way is our dinnertime) but we left at 6:45 for many reasons which I'm sure you can imagine. What brilliant person organized this? If I knew I'd send them a 45 minute voicemail of my children whining and fussing.

Thanksgiving parade

Grace had a Thanksgiving parade at school today. We were all invited to attend and then enjoy lunch after. I think Lucas's favorite part about going to her school is the furniture. A perfect fit.
In case you can't tell, they are dressed up as trees. They marched around the room singing "All the leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down. All the leaves are falling down to the ground" (to the tune of London Bridge is falling down).
Aren't they cute?
It was the fastest parade I've ever seen, lasting all of 30 seconds. It would have only been 15 seconds but it got a little bottlenecked when one of the kids had a meltdown midway through and the others slowed down to rubberneck.
Time for our feast of Thunderclouds subs.
A better view of her outfit complete with leaf headband and turkey handprint t shirt. Oh, the joys of preschool.