Model Train Scavenger Hunt!

Another fantastic tradition-the model trains! This year they had three different scavenger hunts to go with the three different tracks they had set up. The kids happily did all three but refused to do it with their arms around each other like last year...sigh...Paige was most excited about the tunnels this year. Every time Owen would check something off the list she would tell him she knew where the next thing was and head for the tunnels instead:)

Past visits-2010, 2011, 2012

Birthday and Baking Day!

We do this every year, you know by now, right? My Mom's birthday plus a "traditional" Christmas dessert recipe. We went easy on ourselves and chose Spritz Cookies this year.

Past baking days-Nut horns, figgy pudding, yule log, rugelach, sugarplums, fruitcake, a gingerbread house and rum balls

Preschool Parrrty!

I mentioned that I got to help at Paige's preschool party which is more of an honor than you would think. The rules changed this year at the kid's school so the number of parents allowed at the parties is pretty limited. I managed to secure a spot for Paige's class at Christmas and I think I'm in for Valentine's Day at Owen's...we'll see...Anyway, this was really the first time I got to see Paige in her class and meet some of her friends. They're adorable. All of them. Even the ones that I've been told have knocked down Paige's block towers or not shared the Play-doh scissors. I got assigned to make a pin-the-nose on Rudolph game so naturally I passed the responsibility off to the more art-driven parent (Thanks, Pat!) and spent my time assembling a take-home treat.

Paige getting ready for the snowman toss

Enjoying a snack

Paige showing off her holiday-appropriate attire

Pat did a great job making the game!

Things...

No! I have not given up on the blog! Yes! We've been busy and super sickly sick around here. It all started way back last Friday when I got to help at Paige's preschool party. The secretary in the office sort of shouted at me without warning that kids were "dropping like flies." Turns out Owen was one of them, I got a call around noon to come pick him up. I won't share the details here but I got sick Monday night and Pat wasn't feeling well on Christmas and we managed to pass it on to a few others. Sorry! Anyway, we did this activity while Owen was napping. There are a lot of history behind these but we just did them because I found some old cloves in the cupboard and happened to have some oranges. Now Owen has a complete aversion to this lovely smell because I think he subconsciously associates it with being sick...

Paige working hard on her letter P

Jamie thought I didn't need to take a picture of her doing this...

I made a spiral. 

Turkey Pot Pie!

I haven't been so into the cooking lately. Or the baking. Sometimes I think I want to bake but I really I just want to be eating the cookies. Anyway, I've been taking the lazy way out on dinners lately so I haven't had much to post on that front. Last week, however, I did make a turkey pot pie that everyone agreed was good. It used up a lot of ingredients I needed to get rid of too-Bonus. It's called Healthified Chicken Pot Pie which is slightly misleading but I'll go with it anyway. Look at the picture down there. See what I did with the crust. I dropped it on and folded it over. Nothing fancy is happening in this house.

Find the Paige

Paige's First Recital

Ok, so I still haven't gotten Pat's pictures from his phone but if there are any really good ones I'll just do another post! Paige's dance class did a tap number called, "Let's Clap Hands for Santa Claus." They were all super cute and there were no tears. Paige looooved being on stage and immediately asked when she could do it again. Now she wants it to be Spring so she can do her Spring recital. I reminded her that she needs to learn the dance first!

Paige and her friend Reed before the show

A moment of reflection before the show starts

Watching the other dancers

Paige's turn!

Running on stage for the finale.

After the show Paige was ready for bed.

Owen was a trooper throughout the whole thing! He got to watch a lot of his classmates dance too!

Parade!

My plan was to do a post on Paige's dance recital but then I realized I forgot to get the pictures off of Pat's phone so instead you get some pictures from the winter parade we went to last weekend! It was freezing cold but we didn't start feeling it until afterwards when we were waiting in line for a couple rides. Collecting the massive amounts of candy probably kept the kids warm for a bit. The kids got to ride a carousel and then we watched the fireworks while we waited in line for the ferris wheel. We walked home as fast as we could and had hot chocolate and oatmeal (ok, soup for Pat). It warmed us right up and was pretty much the best dinner ever.

After the parade!

This was Paige's genuine reaction to the fireworks, "Oooh!" 

I was not that into waiting for this ride until I saw how thrilled Paige was to get on it. Totally worth it. (Note: this picture is not an accurate representation of the level of excitement that Paige experienced while on this ride)

Work Party!

Pat's work has a holiday party for the kids of the employees every year. They always have breakfast, an opportunity to visit with Santa, games and a toy for every kid. Owen has come a long way with Santa (remember this?) and this year he sat on his lap, took a picture and had a little chat with him. Paige wouldn't get any where near him but was a little more curious about "Santa's grandma" (ahem, sorry Mrs. Claus). I look forward to it every year because it's so well thought out and the kids enjoy it so much. Plus, it's a good opportunity to snoop around Pat's desk. Last time we were there I found a stash of apples that he had been collecting because I kept sending him to work with one every day thinking he was eating them!

Playing Detective

Doing it right.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving seems so long ago now! We watched the parade in the morning (Cirque du Soleil wins for best float in my opinion), and worked on getting dinner ready. The turkey was actually done way earlier than we had planned and nobody had arrived but we managed to get all the other food ready in a decent amount of time and ate right when everyone got to our house. My voice wasn't working very well but "thankfully" I felt fine! 

We spent all month (and every dinner) discussing what we were thankful for and added a feather to our turkey for each day (see picture below). I think we might have been short a couple days near the end there but it still served it's purpose-even when we forgot our feathers we still talked about thankfulness. 

Feather color code- Owen-Red, Paige-Purple, Pat-Yellow, Kim-Orange

Waiting...

Waiting...

...and waiting.

Pat spent a significant amount of time working on making the absolute best mashed potatoes possible.

Done!

Time to eat!

Things to be thankful for!