'Tis the Season

I'm going to sound like a broken record here...But It Is SO FUN to have little ones this time of year!

The kids have been watching our street become more & more festive; loving every house, no matter how many or few lights.

Last night I took the kids to our town light parade. It's nothing spectacular, but some of the floats were really cute. We sat on the curb as the parade went through. The kids were waving, clapping & dancing.

We also got a good dose of carolling this week. First we joined the youth. They had a large flat trailer filled with hay bales & probably 40 teens. The kids and I hopped on & enjoyed caroling through the neighborhoods. Then, for enrichment the women went carolling & Sydney came along for that too.

Our other moments lately have been spend painting kids ornaments, making a gingerbread house my parents gave the kids & baking cookies. 'Tis the season!

Ty's most common conversation these days goes like this. "Can I have this?" Our response "No" Ty's follow-up "I got an idea, I can have it for Christmas!"

Ty's most common sentence is, "I want that for Christmas." One of Jeff's friends, whose kids are grown, mentioned that they would correct their children to say: I wish I could have that for Christmas. We are trying it. So now Ty says, "I wish I want that for Christmas."

Cotton Fields

Here in our lovely little town we are surrounded by cotton fields. Every year when the cotton is in full bloom I tell Jeff I want to go take pictures in the fields. This year (with Tifany's help) we did just that. It was mid-day & so bright. The sun was refecting off the cotton & my family was fighting to keep their eyes open. Maybe our Christmas card next year will be Cotton Fields with a sunset :-)

We weren't able to get any pictures of just Ty. After the family pictures he darted off to play in the ever-exciting dry canal with Tifany's kids. They did find a dead fish, pretty thrilling.

Sydney hasn't quite leaned the difference between cotton & cotton candy.

Our Turkey Day Trip

The craziness of the holidays is in full force. I am finally getting around to a Thanksgiving post. We went to my parents house & had a great time. Here are our highlights:

• Stopping at Chuck E Cheese when we were 1/2 way there. (Ty is still grateful for that in EVERY prayer.)

• Being with family on Thanksgiving day (& not having to cook! thx Mom)

• A comp'd Trolley ride courtesy of my brother. It took us to all the great sites of the city. We especially enjoyed stopping at the Zoo train & Jeff's fav-Balboa park.
• Playing with Grandma & Grandpa's bizzillion toys was a total hit.
  

• Jeff & I got to go on a dinner & movie date & not pay for babysitting. Yeah!



• We went to the Torrey Pines Preserve & went hiking up the mountain along the beach. Afterwards we walked on the beach & the kids were SO excited. Sydney was pointing to every rock with her little finger and an, "Uh Oh". Then dad would throw it in the ocean. After about 15 rocks it wasn't as funny.
  

• We set up my parents Christmas lights & decorations. In doing so we came across the secret stash of fireworks from years ago. We bundled up & went outside for some fun. We quickly learned that Ty fears getting in trouble as much as mom & Grandma.

• Being that we won't see my folks for Christmas we had a little celebration while we were there with some carols, instruments & gifts for the kids. It was a great way to say goodbye to Thanksgiving & welcome Christmas-time!

Since getting back we have been busy getting ready for Christmas. The kids were so excited to do the exterior illumination, and then the tree. It's so fun to have young kids, especially around this time of year.

Picture Time!

One of my favorite friends is moving this week. :-( It'll be a rough good bye I am sure. After months (& months) of having her backgrounds, they must now go home. So here is one last photo shoot. Thanks for the longest loan ever Tif...

A Day at Our Local Zoo

This year we got to remember our Veterans while enjoying the zoo. I am not an animal person. I usually whine & complain when I have to be near them; however, this day ended in season passes. Our children loved being there! It was so neat to watch their faces light up & be so excited.

Sydney loved the Monkeys. The monkeys loved Sydney too.

Ty was thrilled to ride the Zoo train.

The flamingo shot...a family classic.

Feeding the giraffes. I know you can't tell, but Jeff if leaning in to feed it & Ty is gripping his Dad for dear life!

They were both a little freaked out by the petting zoo. Who wouldn't be? Anyone at eye level gets chomped on & baa'ed at. Freaky stuff. Ty did actually warm up to 1 animal...it was a big step. Afterward when we were playing at the Zoo park Ty asked Jeff to go into the petting area, get an animal & bring it out for him to pet.

The day ended in cranky kids. It didn't take long to realize why they were being cranky though.

That night Ty came out of his room just after 10pm complaining that there were animals in his room. It was the first dream he's ever shared. He was willing to go back to bed if Dad left the door open.

It was a good day!

5K & 3 First Timers

Yesterday Tifany, Jeff & I all ran in our 1st race. It was a great time.

I was a little worried that the course would have hills, but there was just one hill, which allowed us to finish downhill. Not bad at all.

Jeff took 2nd place in his age group! Way to go baby!

We had one of my Laurels watch the kids while we were running. So they got to be at the park with us.

There was a time I thought running was not for me. With a little encouragement & determination, I learned that I was wrong. Running makes me feel like like I can do anything...as corny as that sounds, it's true. Jeff & I have a dream that when our children are grown that we will be able to run with them, snowboard together, do all things physical. I hope our bodies will hold up for it!