Visiting Santa

We went to the mall so Rayden could see Santa and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. She was super excited to go up there and tell him that she wanted a guitar but as soon as we walked towards him she changed her mind. She got very shy and would only go up there because I walked her up there. She just stood in front of him so I could take a picture and she did not utter a word. Parker had no problem with Santa and most of the time just kept staring at him! So the past two years were good with Santa....this year not so much. So since I did not get a great pictures of the kids with Santa for Christmas cards, I tried to get a picture if them by the Christmas stuff. The kids were not cooperating though. I got a good picture of Parker by himself and an ok picture of Rayden by herself but just so so pictures of the two of them together. I still have not gotten any pictures printed out or anything for Christmas cards...who knows if they will even get done just like last year.

A Box

Auntie Corey and Uncle Jason sent the kids their Christmas gifts in this box. We put the gifts under the tree and Rayden took off with the box! This box has been tons of fun and entertainment for the kids. So far the box has been a spaceship, a fort, a school, a tunnel, a bathtub, a firetruck, a swimming pool, a restaurant, a house, an ocean and a dolphin....and I am sure many more that I have forgotten. Something new is thought up every day!

Getting a Tree

We usually get our Christmas tree at a tree lot every year but this year Alan and Becca asked us to go with them to cut down our own trees. It sounded fun and WAY cheaper so out we went! Rayden and Nicco were having a blast together looking at all the trees and pinecones and playing with their Smokey the Bear frisbees that they got at the ranger station. Jeff and I found our tree right off the bat and Jeff cut it down. Alan and Becca took a little bit longer but found a big tree that would be perfect for their place. It was a fun trip....thanks for inviting us guys!

Making Ornaments

Rayden, Uncle Jason and Grandma helped me make some ornaments for our tree this year. We do our tree in blue and silver so we got some clear glass ornaments and added some blue and silver paint to them. We then rolled the paint around in them until it was coated and it made pretty ornaments! (Idea from little momma and company)

Decorating the Tree

Rayden had a great time decorating the tree and was a lot of help! She had had a little practice already from helping Grandma with her tree. We got it all done and she just loves it!

Parker and the Tree

Parker could care less that there was a tree in our house....until we decorated it, now he doesn't want to leave it alone. We knew it was coming though! Jeff barricaded the tree off with some chairs which kinda helps. The first morning he was trying to get the ornaments a lot and kept getting told no, he hates being told no and cried everytime. He has gotten better about it now that it has been up for a few days, hopefully we will be able to take the chairs down soon.

Christmas Countdown!

We got a cheap little Christmas countdown calender at Target for Rayden to do this year. Each day there is a small piece of chocolate for her to eat. She is really enjoying doing this every night and it is helping her recognize her numbers too!

Playing with Jordan

Jordan has been over at Grandma and Papa's house lately and the kids have really enjoyed playing with him. We of course tried to get a picture of the three of them together again....not too shabby I guess! Rayden and Jordan were play wrestling and that was super fun! Little Mr. Jordan is a big ham for the camera too!! Every time I would tell him to say cheese he would smile right away as he inched closer and closer and closer to the camera.

11 Months Old

Parker turns 1 in less than a month now.....he doesn't look like an 11 month old or a 1 year old. He still looks like my little baby....
People never believe us when we say he is almost one....he looks about 6 or 7 months old! Not much new going on this month. Parker still only has those two bottom teeth, still crawling (although not army crawling), we do not think he will walk for awhile. He is still as awnry as ever and probably pretty apt to stay that way! I haven't even thought much about a party for him yet.....I think Christmas is just throwing me off, hopefully it will not be like this every year.

Happy Thanksgiving

We headed over the mountain to Klamath for Thanksgiving this year. There is usually a bunch of snow up there around this time, but there was none, it was very weird but made for a nice easy trip. We got there on Wednesday night and stayed until Saturday. Of course Grandma Bonnie and Papa Chuck were there and Bryan, Renee and the kids came down and so did Auntie Corey, Jason and Grandmoo. We had a full house on Thanksgiving day, and it was sooo nice. We had a wonderful meal cooked by Bonnie and wonderful sides cooked by everyone. The kids had a wonderful time playing together all weekend. The adults got some great visiting time in together too. One night Bryan, Renee, Jeff and I all got to play a wonderful long game of Settlers of Catan, it's one of our favorites! It was a great Thanksgiving and great weekend.

Daddy Turns 29!

Not only was it Thanksgiving, it was Daddy's birthday too! Jeff turned 29 on Thanksgiving and we celebrated it with his favorite meal of Prime Rib (no turkey this thanksgiving!) and one of his favorite cakes, carrot cake! He had the choice of what he wanted for dinner.....it was no surprise what he picked! It was sooo yummy too!Rayden helped Daddy blow out all of his candles on his cake. Happy Birthday!