Christmas Crafts

The kids and I have been having a blast this week with many friends and play dates, which is a huge benefit with my part time schedule. Ethan has made and decorated cookies 3 times, built a gingerbread house and made Christmas trees out of pine cones! Jillian of course helped him eat the cookies.

The three blondies don't look thrilled but they had fun with pinecones, fake snow, colored balls and sprinkles making their trees!
Ethan and Alex made delicious cookies with sprinkles after a walk to look at an amazing Christmas lights display.

sugar rush

Mia kicked things off with this house-she said Ethan was entertained for a full hour and a half! He was so proud of this!

Tentatively eating some of his creation!

Christmas Lane

You might remember our pictures from last year of the beautiful house and Christmas displays the people of Christmas Lane decorated with. This year I focused on the kid photos instead of repeating all the decor! The kids had so much fun this year we have gone twice!

Ethan, John, Emma and Jillian enjoying a sleigh ride! Our good friends who have lived next door for about 6 months now.
We seriously had to force Ethan to take turns with this thing!

Colleen, Jen and the kids in front of the 72 foot lighted tree! All with beads from seeing Santa.

Jillian is fascinated by the lights and says "ball" 100 times a day at the ornaments!

Jillian is NOT fascinated by Santa (even a little bit)

My Christmas presents!

Jillian on a happier note (ignore the nonmatching purple socks)

Ethan's Bird Feeders

Lately, Ethan is very into the tv show Special Agent Oso and likes to carry out some of the same "missions" Oso is sent on. Last month Aunt Debbie made frozen juice pops with us out of orange juice and this week Mia and daddy helped Ethan make bird feeders! They are still hanging on the tree after a week and probably need reloaded at this point.

Step 1: Put peanut butter on the pinecone!Step 2: Sprinkle birdseed on the peanut butter covered pine cone!

Step 3: Hang a ribbon on the pinecone and attach to the tree!

Junior FireFighters

A couple of weeks ago at the store Ethan and I saw a little boy shopping with his mom wearing one of these "firehouse subs" fire hats. He told me that he wanted one and we made it happen. The beads are from Mia's house and he and Jillian have been taking turns with them non stop. The hat is a huge hit!

a perfect pose
J cracking us up

E loves close ups these days!

The Great Outdoors

Lately the kids love to play outside especially in the evening before it gets dark. We have a ton of neighbors with kids who have all become good friends and they play hard many nights during the week. Between sidewalk chalk, paint, bikes, hula hoops, soccer balls and scooters it is a fun time for all. The weather has finally been SO nice!

Riding his friend's motorcycle-stay tuned for what Santa is bringing Ethan to use outside

Ethan loves his t-ball set and uses the loose baseball now!

With help Jillian gives it a pretty good whack-but can definitely hold the bat on her own!

Usually she chills with a snack and bounces!

Story Time

Last night I was in the office and heard Ethan say, "Jillian let me show ya something". He said it 3 times and when I walked into the family room I saw that he was reading her his new Little Einsteins book. They both LOVE that show!

pat, pat, pat

Look What Mama Did

Tonight I had an amazing adventure with my long time friend Steffany She took me to the stables to meet and ride her horse, Latigo. I was a little nervous, but it was really fun and something I would love to do again. Ethan was so proud of me when he saw these pictures and couldn't believe I rode a horse. When I asked if he would like to ride, too, his response was "yes, but not today mama." Too funny. The amateur

The real pro riding her baby

Making Friends with Latigo

Trick or Treat

Halloween weekend started out great with a playdate at our friends house. The kids made spider crafts and cookies which were adorable. Trick or treating was a huge success as Ethan loved his costume and Jillian was a happy trooper as always.

The boys making spiders-Ethan's is hanging from our kitchen chandelier and he's very proud of it.

making spiders out of food and having fun eating afterwards

My fireman-he picked this out 3 months ago after seeing Mr. Steve's firetrucks

My fireman and his little Dalmation "fire dog" as he called her

Despite the heat, Jillian did well in her costume for awhile

Though she doesn't look thrilled here-oh yeah-she IS crawling officially

having fun playing

first house we stopped at

J after 40 minutes

Ethan's buddies Mermaid E and football player J

figuring out these lollipop things

Halloween pjs and chocolate-nothing better

Bradenton Pumpkin Festival

What a great day at Hunsander Farm in Bradenton, Fl. They host a great pumpkin festival that makes you feel like you're up north, minus the 85 degree weather we had. Mia and Poppy joined the kids and I for a day of pumpkin patch, hay rides, fair games, petting zoo, corn maze, small time circus show, fair foods, playground and more.

hayride being pulled by a tractor!
this firetruck shot pumpkins 1,000 feet every hour on the hour!

Jillian's first pumpkin patch-Ethan wouldn't sit still long enough for a photo!

wow-ethan smiling in a picture. rare.

Ethan loved the ball toss game and redeeming tickets for prizes

Look closely and you'll see he caught a blue fish

E really enjoyed the bounce house this year

picking out a pumpkin the next night-new pooch face that J does constantly

"mama and her children" as Ethan says

Splish Splash in the Bath

The other night Jillian took her first bath in the big tub and she and Ethan had a great time splashing around together. After about 10 minutes he was ready for her to get out, but that's fine b/c she's still pretty little and gets cold before too long. J definitely enjoyed the transition and the plethora of toys to choose from!

best photo ever-looks just like one I have of her brother at the same age
Splashing and trying to pull up on the side which she does to everything now-and news flash-we're officially crawling!

Bathing Beauties