North Pole Breakfast

I found this fun idea for a North Pole Breakfast on a blog that I've recently discovered and knew that I had to attempt one for the kids this year. Check out the blog here. I thought it would be a special way to welcome our elf, Frisbee, back for December.  It was put together quite quickly, so there were several details that I wasn't able to perfect, but overall I was pleased with how it turned out.

The kids had a wonderful time and seemed to enjoy the novelty of donuts, candy covered pretzels and hot chocolate for breakfast.

Frisbee is back...he's watching and reporting back to Santa.  Trust me, he's already come in handy a few times.  A great way to curb bad behavior! 

I set the table the night before, so I didn't have much to do in the morning.  Since our kids get up so early, I knew I didn't want to be preparing things then. 

My mom gave me these beautiful ornaments this year, so I hung them from the light above the table for decoration.   

 I found little place settings for each of them and used those to spruce up the table.

 Before they could dig in or open their gifts (much to Carter's dismay), we read the letter that Frisbee had written them.

 They each got their annual ornament and a new Christmas book.  The Polar Express for Carter and Fancy Nancy for Kennedy.

Oh, and if you're wondering why Kennedy is wearing a hat indoors, it's because she had slept with it that night.  She discovered it in the back of a drawer while choosing pajamas and insisted that it be worn to sleep.  Ok then.

An Oregon Duck ornament - Carter was in heaven! 

 Finally, let's eat!

 Kennedy was excited to see a place card with her name on it!

A true breakfast of champions

Snowballs (mini powdered donuts), snowflakes (covered pretzels with sprinkles) and Christmas shaped pancakes.  Oh and a banana so that I didn't feel completely hypocritical!

Overall, I think the morning was a success.  I had a lot of fun putting everything together and I think the kids really enjoyed it, as well.  Definitely will need to do this again next year.

And this is my 200th post!  Wow.
I started this blog almost 4 years ago and love to go back and read old posts.  My hope is to turn it into a book so that Carter and Kennedy will have it when they are older.  I think it's a great way to document our life as a family and wish that I had written memories like this from my childhood. (Especially since I have a terrible time remembering things!)  I know that I cherish these times and am thankful for the opportunity to share them.

A visit with Santa

Santaland 2011

As most people know, I love traditions and am not a huge fan of change.  I find comfort in knowing what is coming and what to expect.  With that being said, it may be easier to understand why I was disappointed in this years trip to Santaland.  Since Carter was an infant, we have gone to visit Santa at the downtown Macy's.  I was always impressed by the quality of the props and the authenticity of the Jolly one himself.  (We had seen the same Santa for the past three years)  This  year, Macy's switched everything and the result was definitely not as good.  Thankfully the kids didn't seem to mind, but we may head back downtown later this week to visit Santa Ted at Pioneer Square (our Santa has moved!)

One thing that was definitely an improvement from last year...Kennedy wasn't screaming.  Hooray for progress! 

I was trying to get pictures before we got in line, but they were just too excited! 

Carter went right up, without hesitation.  He knows what he needs to do.  It was quite the process to decide what he wanted this year.  We had to veto a few requests (an Ipod Touch, really?!?  You are 5!) but he finally settled on a Nerf gun.  I have mixed feelings and serious reservations, but his desire ran deep.  We'll just have to establish some ground rules with that particular gift. 

Kennedy and Ethan on the old monorail train

Carrie & Ethan and Kirstin, Tim & Lillian joined us for our visit.  I count the day as a huge success, because all four kids posed without tears.  It was a fun way to spend the morning together. 

 After our visit, the kids wrote Santa their wishes...

And then sent them off to the North Pole
Merry Christmas!

o' Christmas tree, o' Christmas tree

Leave it to us to choose the one rainy Sunday of the month to pick out our Christmas tree.  We've had a lovely string of sunny, cold, crisp days so far this holiday season but we had a plan and we stuck to it.  When we left for church that morning, telling the kids that we would head out to the tree farm after, the weather was fine.  By the time we left church, the rains had started!  By the end of it, it was torrential!  It was miserable...mainly for Kyle, as he was the one on the ground sawing through the mammoth trunk of the tree we had chosen.  We managed to snap a few pictures and then the kids and I jumped back into the truck.  Yet another example of the love that my sweet husband has for his family - I'm not so sure I would have laid down in the mud to cut down the perfect tree!  Thanks, honey!

 Quick - get a picture!

 When we first arrived, it wasn't pouring yet, so the kids and I helped hunt for the perfect tree.  And we found it!  It is huge and beautiful...so big that Kyle needed to take off over two feet so that it would fit in the living room.

Kennedy didn't seem to mind the rain 

 Poor Kyle.  He wasn't prepared for the rain, so he didn't even have a hood.  He was soaked!  And covered in pine needles.  What a trooper.

We had dinner plans the night we got our tree, so we left it outside to dry off a bit and then decorated it on Monday evening.  Kennedy has gymnastics on Mondays, hence the tutu.  We were playing Josh Grobin Christmas songs (doesn't he have the most amazing voice?  I could listen to him all day!) and she was performing for us.   

Not one to be left out

Our good dog, Jake.  Getting older but still an active participant! 

Carter-man 

The bottom of the tree was a little ornament heavy, but we were able to guide the kids a bit and encouraged them to spread them out a little.  Overall, I think we have a great looking tree! 

The kids loved helping!

The Advent Season

All too frequently the real meaning of Christmas gets lost in the business of the holiday season.  We have really tried to put the focus on the coming of Christ, celebrating Advent.  It's so easy for children (and some adults too) to be consumed with thoughts of gifts and their wants.  Kyle and I hope to instill in the kids that they are fortunate and blessed and that it is an honor to help those less fortunate.

Our church has a great event on the first Sunday of Advent each year.  We gather together, make Advent wreaths for home and then get a chance to dress up and recreate the manger scene.  Last year, Kennedy refused to be a part of things, so I was pleased that she wanted to dress up.  I was hoping for an angel, but I do believe she makes a very darling little cow!  Carter chose a Wiseman costume, and Kyle and I were Mary and Joseph. 

 Merry Christmas!

 Before church, I had to snap a quick picture of the kids.  I felt okay putting them in some of their holiday clothes, since it was technically the start of the Christmas season. 

Carter loved clipping branches and greenery for our wreath.  Once he was finished with cutting, though, he was pretty disengaged from the rest of the activity. 

Finished product

I was proud of Kyle and the kids for making a beautiful wreath for our table.  I was upstairs and didn't get to help this year, but they did a wonderful job. 

And what would an event be without a little silliness?

Enjoying some yummy snacks and fellowship 

Cuteness

Thanksgiving in Boise

In all of the years that Kyle and I have been married, we have never travelled for Thanksgiving.  Kyle had always worked on Friday, so travelling wasn't really an option.  This year was different and we decided to make a trip east to Boise to visit my grandmother.  She had taken a few falls in the last month or so, and we thought it was important to make an effort to see her.  It ended up being a very enjoyable couple of days, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the kids did with the drive. 

 Here we are all loaded up.  I had to laugh at the quantity of stuff that we managed to pack for a four day trip.  Notice the pineapple on the right side.  Really?  Kind of felt like the Griswalds.

 Happy Thanksgiving!

 Our attempts at family portraits are laughable!

 Pops and Kennedy playing angry birds.

My parents flew in from Arizona and arrived on Thursday morning.  We picked them up at the airport and then headed to GG's to visit.

Carter and his great grandma

 Kennedy and GG

 Pops definitely has a soft spot for this little one.  They had fun together.

Kennedy and Ella 

For Thanksgiving, we were fortunate enough to go to the Lowe's for a wonderful dinner.  Shane is my second cousin and he and his wife, Karen, were gracious hosts.  They had a 2 week old new baby and still managed to host dinner for 15!  I was impressed!  A fantastic way to spend the holiday!  It was a wonderful day and the kids had a blast playing with Ella and all of her toys.  The weather was nice, so they took advantage and played outside for quite awhile.

Our hotel had a pool, so the kids were in heaven!  I think they swam at least once every day and were usually down in the pool before 8:00!   

I cannot begin to say it enough, but I am LUCKY to have a husband who loves to swim with the kids.  I've got the easy part - sitting on the sidelines, snapping pictures!

On our last night, we all went out to dinner (sadly, I didn't get a group shot the entire trip!)  Carter is enjoying 'dirt in a cup' - a special treat of chocolate pudding, mashed oreos and gummy worms.  Always spoiled by Nana!

Circle of Friends Feast

Kennedy got to attend her first preschool feast this year.  These special activities are always so fun!  Kennedy was beyond excited and I was thrilled to be able to help.

 Wearing hand crafted turkey headpieces .  The tail feathers were their hand prints - definitely a keeper!

 Kennedy and Jillian

 After starting the morning with an abbreviated circle time, the littles headed down to the art room and painted wooden turkeys.  I love the look of concentration on her precious face.  Kennedy's creative side has really flourished these past several months.  She loves to color, paint and craft.

(I was in the kitchen helping to prepare snacks, so these few pictures were taken my sweet friend, Kathy.  Thank you!)

 Feast time!

Here is Kennedy's class enjoying their snack while listening to a Thanksgiving story read by the director, Miss Sharon. 

Sweetness