Christmas 2009

The week before Christmas was very busy for us, as I am sure it was for most of you too. We had Christmas concerts and parties leading up to Santa's arrival.

Here is a run down of our Holiday Season!!

Although Ethan had many gifts under the tree waiting to be opened, Dann went out the week before Christmas and bought him ANOTHER puzzle.

Ethan loves puzzles and puts them together in minutes.

Here is Ethan putting together his new dinosaur puzzle.

Emma has really taken to piano and is doing very well with her music class. I do not have to ask her anymore to practice, she does it on her own!

Emma decided to move a head a bit and play Jingle Bells...

fitting for this time of year!

Emma's school had a Christmas concert and her grade had to dress up as toys. She really wanted to wear her new Christmas dress, so I suggested she be a toy doll.

Ethan wanted to be a toy too...

just don't know hat he was

(aside from being so darn cute)!

Emma's teacher entertained us with Christmas songs before the concert started.

Here are all the little toys!

A close up of my little doll!

Before we knew it, Emma was done school and the next party was around the corner.

I helped organize our office kid Christmas party.

We started of with skating. This was Ethan's first time on skates and only Emma's second. It was funny to watch them flail around!

After skating, came hot dogs & cookies!

Then Santa arrived!

Emma & Ethan were so excited to see St. Nick.

Ethan got a train & puzzle,

but I did not get a photo.

Emma loved her Hannah Montana cell phone.

She has never seen Annie, so hopefully she enjoys it!

Group photo with Santa.

Ethan never looked up once, he was much too busy checking out his new train.

Our next Christmas gathering was at home with our friends, Anita, Jamie, Brady & Kaley

I made a Thai feast and then the kids exchanged gifts.

We all had a great time

Before we knew it, Christmas Eve was upon us.

Emma got busy spreading reindeer food outside on the snow.

Once the reindeer food was out Emma prepared Santa's snack and note.

She always remembers to include her little brother!

Finally Christmas morning had arrived.

The kids woke up around 6:30 a.m. and we were in full "opening presents" swing.

My parents made the journey north to share Christmas with us and we enjoyed their company.

My Santa Superman!

Everyone was happy with what Santa left!

After the stockings were empty

Emma got to play Treasure Hunt.

Dann wanted to make our gift extra special and memorable for Emma so he made up a treasure hunt to find our gift.

Emma found clues in the playroom, under Papa's boot and in Grandma's pocket.

All the clues led her to our bathroom...

only to find a little white gerbil in a cage!

Emma was thrilled to have a pet (other than a fish).

She quickly named the little gal "Charlie" and has not looked back.

Grandma & Papa bought Charlie an apartment that hooks onto the wall and the roof of her cage.

Charlie loves running and digging though-out the apartment and has now started chewing the plastic inside

(this is normal for gerbils).

I made Christmas dinner this year and everything turned out lovely. I forgot to take off my pretty red apron for the photo... oh well!

The next few days after Christmas were filled with eating junk, playing with new toys and some out door fun!

This brings our holiday season to a close.

I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas

and

from our house to yours...

Happy 2010!

Another One Gone!!

Emma's new phrase for Christmas will be...

"All I want for Christmas is my 4 Front Teeth!"

Emma was pretty proud of herself because she pulled out this last tooth (top left) at school.

No tears or drama!!

Those of you who really know my little Emma can appreciate the "no tears" because MOST things are a huge production!

On a different note, Ethan was busy helping me set up the Christmas Tree.

He loved hanging the icicle ornaments.

Ethan was being his fun silly self in the photo above!

I love it when he hams it up for the camera!

(he has his Daddy's funny side)

My sweet little boy!

Gingerbread House

Our local hospital had a silent auction to raise money for it's foundation. They had numerous different gingerbread houses and Christmas trees to bid on.

We bid on this house and got it.

The detail is amazing!

The roof is layered with chocolate thin crackers and peanut crackers.

The trees are ice cream cones with icing.

I love the little poinsettia plants around the house.

The chimney is made of cubed caramels which are stacked on each other.

TOO COOL!

I CANNOT WAIT TO TASTE IT!

On a side note...

Should I be concerned that my boy lines everything up in a row (cars/trucks/animals)

including his Christmas oranges??

Halloween 2009

It would not feel like Halloween up north if there was not any snow.

Mother Nature obliged and dumped 1/2 foot of the white fluffy stuff the day before the little goblins came out to play.

oh well...

Emma's Halloween dance at school got cancelled due the the mass out break of H1N1 et/al (flu, cold etc).

Instead of dancing in drag all night long... we carved pumpkins at home.

Dann got creative with a skull and Emma loved her "funny" face.

Ethan and I dug out the slop and then called it a night

(that's really the only fun part isn't it?!).

Here's my charming little boy practicing for the big night.

He had "Trick or Treat" down pat!

Along with snow comes dressing warm. This year was no different. We had to plan our costumes so they were big enough to wear outdoor gear under neath.

Emma decided to go simple but very cute with the traditional

"Black Cat"

Ethan could really care less what he wore, just as long he was going out to get candy.

We chose one of the many dress up animal costumes in the tickle trunk!

(Mr. Dress-Up for those of you old enough to recall).

He was an adorable!

Although there was a shortage of kids out trick or treating, there certainly was not a shortage of treats.

The kids wasted no time digging in once we sorted it at home (Mom & Dad too).

I hope everyone had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!