More Christmas Festivities

Last weekend Grandma Connie came into town to do some fun Christmas projects with Isla and Drew.  Both kids were very excited to have Grandma in town:

On Saturday while I finished all my Christmas shopping Grandma made cookies with Isla:

Of course Drew, the little rascal that he is, couldn't be left out during the cookie making so he got into everything he shouldn't:

Grandma then took Isla to the botanical gardens to check out the lights and Santa's reindeer:

Apparently she was obsessed with the train and watched it for a long time:

In other weekend news, we were "BSU'd" by someone who will remain nameless (*cough* Carrie) as Ryan and I are headed down to the Vegas bowl this weekend to cheer on our respective teams.  I think this was meant more for me than Ryan since I will be cheering on the Huskies:

Christmas Tree Decorating - 2012

So I decided to get a big tree this year hoping that Drew would not become obsessed with it and knock it down.  So far, so good.  After five time outs in one day for taking my ribbon off the tree he has let it go . . . for now.

I tried to get a cute picture of the kids before we started putting the ornaments on the tree.  Totally failed, but they made me laugh:

The kids got right into decorating:

Isla showing me her favorite ornaments - grapes, starbucks cup, bottle of wine (great) and a ball.  Her and Drew took turns pretending to drink out of the wine bottle ornament (double great):

The finished product (after Mom and Dad moved some of the ornaments to the top 2/3 of the tree):

Not sure how I feel about the tree this year as we went for a Fraser fir instead of our normal noble fir.  It is slowly growing on me though.

Capital Christmas Tree Lighting - 2012

Oh I am way behind on my posts for December.  I blame work, decorating, Christmas tree shopping, shopping for Christmas presents, wrapping said presents and Christmas movies.  Okay and playing with my kids too.

For the second year in a row I took Isla to the lighting of the Capital Christmas tree.  GiGi was still in town after Thanksgiving so she got to come with us.  I think the only reason Isla gets excited to go is because of the cookies and hot chocolate:

After the lighting we went inside and took a tour around the capital.  Isla climbed the stairs to the top so she could look at all the people below:

Right after this picture was taken a little girl threw up behind us.  That's when I decided it was time to go home.

Thanksgiving - 2012

We decided to try something new and different this thanksgiving and stay home!  I wanted to actually cook thanksgiving dinner in my own kitchen.

Papa and GiGi were nice enough to come over and join us as GiGi had to supervise, okay assist, me cooking dinner.

Isla and Drew were sooooo excited to see GiGi:

Thanksgiving morning and I finally have a good reason to use my apron!  The girls hung out in the kitchen getting the food ready:

 Drew hung out with Papa:

 The finished product - doesn't look too bad if I say so myself:

 Isla helped with the green beans and rolls:

 Dinner is served!  Drew got to eat with the big kids.  He lasted about five minutes before he wanted to get down:

 Daddy and Drew:

 Drew loved his mashed potatoes:

We had a lot of visitors for the remainder of the weekend including Aunt Anna and Uncle Robert.  Cousin Erica even made an appearance as her flight flew in and out of Boise (she spent Thanksgiving in SV).  Erica was beyond excited to hang out with Isla and Drew. It didn't take long before she was their new best buddy.

Drew loved Erica so much he gave her a new nickname: Teacup.  No idea why he chooses to pronounce her name this way, but I think it just might stick (Sorry Erica!):

Past few weeks . .

We haven't been up to much these past few weeks.  Mostly hanging out around home, visiting with friends and family, and watching football.  I decided to do a phone dump to see what I was able to capture in the past two weeks and here is what I have:

As the mornings are now too cold to play outside we decided to go to an indoor park, or as Isla likes to call it, the "InDora" park.  Both kids ran around and tired themselves out before nap - well worth the $15:

The other morning Isla picked out this shirt to wear because it was "Hawk" day.  I don't know where she gets it (or the pose?) . . .

I somehow got a picture of both kids sitting together eating lunch.  It's difficult to get Drew to stay seated for more than two minutes:

Last night the kids decided to watch Dora in the the kitchen with books. This was right after Isla decided to get Drew dressed in his PJ's (or PG's as she calls them) by herself.  She is such a little mother and I really don't mind the help sometimes.  I was just amazed that Drew let her!

I didn't have too many pictures, but I promise to have more next week when Papa and GiGi come for Thanksgiving!

Halloween - 2012

We decided to brave Harrison again this year with our little monkey and beautiful Cinderella:

 Half way through our trick-or-treating, we met up with Belle (aka Payton):

These next two pictures are not an advertisement for Props 1,2 & 3.  I had no idea it was even in the picture until I glanced at them this morning:

 These two posed for this picture (double trouble, I tell ya):

 I couldn't help getting another one of my cute monkey boy.  I'm still shocked that he let us put this on him:

After running up and down Harrison we decided to go home around 7:00.  Isla also decided right then that she was going to have a MAJOR temper tantrum.  Yes, we were the parents with the hysterical child walking home from Harrison Blvd.  Sorry to anyone that had to witness that spectacle and I hope your eyes and ears have recovered.  I think we might just skip that whole mess next year and stick to the quiet streets.

A Visit from the Parker's

Aunt Anna and Uncle (!) Robert came down to Boise last weekend to get Anna a new car, return wedding gifts and spend their gift cards.  Isla and Drew were so happy to see them and get their undivided attention.

We said good-bye to Anna's old jeep:

  And hello to her new car:

Anna even remembered good ol' Hank and brought him a toy:

He was in seventh heaven!  While Anna and Robert were running their many errands and Ryan was at the BSU football game, I got to spend time with these two crazy kids:

Aren't they the cutest?  Drew was hamming it up all weekend.  If he wasn't spinning in circles to make himself fall over he was running around the house and doing stuff like this:

I guess he was just really excited to see his Aunt Anna and Uncle Robert.