The Little Notepad

Burke's Junction

There is a cute mini train station near our house. We stopped by at the perfect time to see a Christmas celebration put on by the local 4-H club.

I think we'll have to sign up with 4-H, since we're all big animal lovers in this house.

the coolest face-painting we've seen

Max loves anything scary. His favorite things are snakes, spiders and alligators. :)

baby rudolph

The Santa there was about 90 years old with a scary, scraggily voice. The kids were a little scared, and Sydney whispered to me, "He's not really the real Santa. His voice is funny." Noah was terrified and wouldn't come close.

No comments

, by Aria

Christmas

Meeting Santa

The letters were made, the envelopes sealed. Now off to find Santa!

Sydney helped write letters for Max and Noah. But she started to whisper all kinds of suggestions on what to ask for, and we had to rein her in a bit. ;)

We found the cutest Santa, who we know really is the true Santa. He said he remembered them from last year. Noah clutched on tight to me for dear life, but we finally got him to stand at a safe distance from the jolly old elf. :)

The biggest Christmas tree in the shopping center near our home. Sydney and Max begged for a tree that big. Looks like we'll be needing a bigger house.

No comments

, by Aria

Christmas

Good Old St. Nick

St. Nicholas Day is one of our favorite days of the year. But since Tommy and I were going to be in Cabo on the 6th, we hoped Santa would make an exception for us and come early.

We found this note on our doorstep one evening when my mom and Grandma came into town (they came to help watch the kids while Tommy and I would be in Mexico)

It said, "Dearest Children, I heard your plea, to change the date from '6' to '3'. So get your shoes, and sandals and boots, and get ready for some goodies and loot." Sydney wasted no time and ran and found the biggest boot she had. The bigger = the more loot!

the kids adore their great Grandma! She is so patient and kind to them.

He came! It was pouring rain outside, so he found a way to sneak into the garage.

There was a quick moment of confusion and disappointment when they opened the front door and didn't see their shoes. But they quickly figured out where they may be.

Sydney ran to grab the shoes first, and started handing out the boots to her brothers before she grabbed her own. She is a sweetheart.

My mom and Grandma's shoes were hidden in their room all night, so St. Nick found a way to give them their goodies with someone else's shoes. :)

the kids never leave my Grandma's side

Tommy and I were spoiled

Syd found some sparkly nail polish, and Haley found a bone

A delicious breakfast of hot chocolate, eggs and rice, and chocolate chip cookies

You're never too old to be spoon-fed.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!!

No comments

, by Aria

Christmas

Let's Start Decorating!

One of the BEST parts of the Christmas season, is kicking it off right. Pulling out the boxes, saying hello to our favorite decorations we've missed all year, listening to holiday music, and drinking egg nog and hot chocolate. My heart is bursting with joy. And the kids are bouncing off the walls.

Our one-eyed, one-hand, footless nutcracker from Grandma that the kids never put down

there can never be too many Christmas gnomes in the home

Elf on the shelf! We got this fro my mom, who found an exact replica of what we had as kids (way before "Elf on the Shelf" was popular). Except in our family we just play with him and hide him around the house while we play hide and seek. :)

the santa nesting dolls are always the most-played-with decoration. I'm surprised it's lasted for 8 years.

we ended the evening with our traditional "Elf" movie night.

We are so excited to begin the Christmas celebrations!!

1 comments

, by Aria

Family

The First Fall

I don’t ever want to forget these small moments. These small hands and short legs and silly faces. Each stage is perfect. My heart aches to see the time pass so quickly and these little people sprout before my eyes. Yet each new stage brings even more joy than the last. If that’s even possible. I am so grateful for these gifts in my life.

I took these in November as we enjoyed our first fall-winter in Sacramento. Everyone should move here, because you get 5 months of fall, then you jump straight into spring. :)

*thank you to my sweet sister-in-law, Laura, for snapping the group picture of us all together. :)