Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas 2008

It doesn't matter how much we cut back, presents - much like rabbits - tend to multiply when kids are involved. We're at a really, uh, let's call it fun place with the kids and the whole anticipation thing. Even so, Ava managed to fall asleep in record time on Christmas Eve. (Think Belle's huge birthday cake had something to do with that. Mega sugar rush turned into mega sugar low pretty fast.)

We spent the morning at home. In the pm we went south to the in-laws where we ate (a very late) brunch, opened gifts and shot some hoops.

The ultimate bed head. Belle's dino roars and walks. It's not annoying at all.

This is Ava being so excited that she can't contain herself. Guitar wasn't such a hit. The Wedgits were.

Belle encourages Luke to open his gifts by threatening to open them.

Luke demonstrates not sticking out his tongue - his latest obsession.

Wade and Lou (brother-in-law) helped Steve (father-in-law) hang his basketball hoop. Here they are burning off some of those Christmasy calories.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Belle turned 5!

We did the low key birthday thing for Belle's fifth. For her birthday lunch she chose Hananoki - our favorite hibachi place around. (They have killer Fire Scallops. By killer I mean they'll burn off every last taste bud on that tongue of yours.) And at the last minute she decided to go with a Cold Stone cake. It was a good thing she switched gears because I was having a heckuva time winning a Mario cake pan on ebay. The only request she had for her party? A pee-yaw-taw.

Blowing out the candle. See that cake? It weighed 7.5 pounds. Red velvet cake + sweet cream ice cream = way too yummy.

She finally got the princess gown she's always wanted. Thanks Aunt May& Uncle Lou!

The pee-yaw-taw.

Scooting back for 1/10 of a second to show off her take. You may notice that Ava is fiercely protecting her pile.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Holiday Traditions

Every year, my Gran purchased ornaments for each grandkid. She sent mine to me when I grew up and had a family of my own. Looking at all the old ornaments was so much fun that I decided to keep the tradition going with my kiddos.

Every year around this time the kids get to pick an ornament from Target or somewhere. This year we decided to do something a little more meaningful. We went to The Mad Potter where the kids got to choose an ornament and paint it. That was my first Mad Potter experience and it rocked. We will definitely be going back, most likely without an uber tired two year old (talk about a bull in a china shop).


In addition to the special ornaments, we typically make quite a few. This year we're working on lots of felt trees. The idea came from these cute, but ridiculously overpriced garlands.


We also love advent calendars. The kids have been getting the Playmobil advent calendars for the last fiveish years. This year we grabbed the Pirate version, which contains many, many small parts that hopefully don't find their way into Luke's grubby little hands. And now that I think about it, I'm not sure what relevance pirates have to Christmas, but I'm not going to spend much time worrying about it.

I happen to fancy the Starbucks version. Last year I bought all the remaining advent calendars on super clearance and since it wouldn't be good for those yummy chocolates to sit for an entire year, we ate them. In about an hour. This year my advent calendar is full of Dove chocolates.

What traditions do you guys have?