Christmas traditions

Trimming the tree

Christmas fairy box

Thank you, Christmas Fairy!

Gingerbread cookies

Also earlier this month...my friend Sterling and her daughter Rose cam over, and they brought gingerbread cookies!!

I swear, having my kids decorate cookies is like herding cats.  Actually, daily life with my kids is like herding cats.  They all go a mile a minute, in all different directions, and you never know when you are going to get scratched or bit, or step on a tail.  Anyway, they had a ton of fun.  Sterling was so so nice to come to our house and bring these goodies.  I have the most awesome friends!

We ended up eating most of the cookies that day.  :o)  They were yummy!  And colorful.

zoo lights 2012

earlier this month....

First stop, Noodles & Co.  Look at this
super-cool soda machine!  You can choose
any kind of soda, with flavor add-ins!
 Too bad we only got water.

Yum!

We finally made it to the zoo.  A great night,
fantastic weather, not too cold and most
importantly, NO RAIN!

Mariposa's quote of the day

"If I wanna get a man, I have to be as pretty as I can be...."

Turkey Trot

a beautiful day for a Turkey Trot

here's our little preschooler...not the fastest in the bunch,
but she IS only 2 years old, and running against 4-year-olds
and maybe even a 5-year old ringer or two

Mariposa is the defending runner-up in her age group

She didn't disappoint!  She won 2nd place
again!!  Here she is holding her goodie
bag, and watching the big kids.
(look at that hair--Girl on Fire!)

James had to run a lap and a half, wow, I couldn't do it

And Bunny had to run 2.5 laps!!

They all enjoyed a hug from the turkey

photos from the RE soup dinner last month

latest creations

James got a Santa in a Lego minifigure mystery pack,
and he just HAD to make a sleigh

Notice Santa has a control stick and a mug
(I asked if it was coffee, and James said no,
it is hot chocolate.)

What sleigh would be complete without Rudolf?

Gemma has started drawing!!  (this is a ghost)

I think this was Dora

Sedric wanted to get in on the action.  You can tell that I
pulled the diaper away a little too fast.  The little guy
still had more in him.  I don't think I laughed so hard
in a long time.  :o)  (PS, breastfed babies have yellow poop,
just FYI)