Fun in December 2009

December was a very exciting month for our family. Christmas was coming and so were family members from all over. And don't forget the best part Santa, Reindeer and snow! Damien's brothers were all coming to visit during the month of December. Damien's oldest brother Sven and his family came all the way from Texas to spend the holidays with us. Noel and Dawn came from California and Tristan came from Taiwan. It was very exciting. We had two sets of kids exactly the same ages so it was like having twins. We enjoyed every minute.

Here we are enjoying a ride after touring the Zoo Lights and Point Defiance.

Naticia, Peyton, Sven and Shelby. Little Miss Shelby enjoying an evening of Dress-up.Greyson loving story time with Uncle Sven.
Shelby loved Dot. Every where that Dot went Shelby soon followed. It was adorable. Grandpa reading bedtime stories to the little ones. I am not sure if Miss Peyton will be done riding the horse when the others are ready for bed. Precious.Green Beans for everyone!

The children enjoyed snacking on Green Beans while they waited for dinner to be served.
Little Miss Peyton having a snack, taking in her new surroundings and all the new people.

I love her little boots, her feet are so small it is amazing that she can walk.

Early Christmas with Papa and Mimi...

Christmas with Mimi and Papa before they head to Idaho.

Greyson opening his puppy pillow with Mimi.

Actually, Greyson called it a Barker Pillow.

Addison looking alot like Shirley Temple in her new dress from Mimi and Papa.

December play date.. making ornaments!

Addison and Mary enjoying a story at our December ornament making play-date. The girls enjoyed reading stories to one another. What smart little 3 year- olds.

Greyson and Addison decorating their Christmas ornaments. Greyson had a hard time not eating the ornaments since he thought they were cookies.

Reindeer.. Rudolph..

Has anyone seen Rudolph? Or the next best thing, Baby Greyson putting mommy's chapstick on his nose so he can have a red nose just like Rudolph. Oh my, the things they think of.

I spy some green antlers and a pretty little lady. Dress up at its best.

Off to Bellevue to see Santa and his famous Reindeer.

Oh the excitement is everywhere!!

Addison and Greyson were so excited to see Santa. They kept peeking at him while they waited in line. They loved his workshop and seeing his reindeer fly near by. When it was finally their turn Addison proudly climbed on to Santa's lap smiling the whole time. Greyson was also so excited and kept saying, "hanta". He was just fine until he was placed upon Santa's lap and Santa put his arm around Greyson to hold on to him, then at that exactly moment the terrified tears began to fall. It was so adorable and sad at the same time. Once he was off of Santa's lap it was fine, and Santa was still a nice man.

Cooking with Mimi and Daddy.

Preparing Daddy's famous tomato soup. Yummy.

School Projects.

Addison made a bird feeder at preschool. She was so excited to be able to hang it in the trees out front. The joy of helping the little animals that might get hungry in the winter.

The first snow of the year.

Good things our new snow clothes had arrived.

Addison could hardly wait to get out the door and run in the dusting of snow.

Greyson on the other had was not excited at all to put on his new snow suit.

Poor little baby.

Christmas Party with Play Group and Family

Christmas party with our precious friends. Look at how big the kids are getting. Wow where has the time gone. We have known these sweet kids since they were six months old now they are all 3 years old and most are big brothers or big sisters. Great times with friends, precious.

Here we are enjoying the annual Christmas party. Beautiful.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

Decorating the tree with gentle and soft hands... while sometimes.

Luckily nothing was broken. Lots of smiles and singing.

Searching for the perfect Christmas Tree with Grandpa, Mimi and Dad.

Greyson and I were in the truck waiting since Greyson was sleeping when we arrived at Snow Shoe Tree Farm. When he finally woke up he threw up all over me. Yucky. Greyson and I missed the hunt for the perfect tree, good thing we sent great hunters.

Red and Green paper galore.

We had a great time making paper chains and decorating the house for Christmas.

Since November 2009....

We enjoyed an evening at The Grotto with my family during Thanksgiving Vacation. Watching a puppet show with Aunt Mandy and Taylor.
The Nelson side cousins. Kylan, Shelby, Taylor and Molly.
Enjoying a sunny and cold November day sliding with Papa at the Park.

Dressing Up!

Addison was ready for dress up, she had on her gown and was ready to go to the ball (dancing). She informed Greyson and I that we also needed to dress up. So Greyson and I put on some scarves and shoes. Addison then reported that I was God, Greyson was Noah and she was the beautiful princess. She is so funny. As the disney music playing in the background we got more and more dressed up. Here is Noah, it must be the scarf.
The beautiful Princess.

The up-do.And now she is a well accessorized Beautiful Princess. Noah has been transformed into a Cowboy Prince.Here they are at the ball dancing. Notice that Greyson has his backup hat and glasses in hand
The new hat has arrived. This boy loves hats and shoes. I transformed from God to the Fairy Godmother! What a fun night with my babies.

To the Moon Space Girl and Space Kitty

Time to go up stairs everyone, time to help mom put away the laundry. Alright my babies say as we climb the stairs. Addison is excited because she loves to help throw all of her clothes on her bed after mom has already folded them, but hey she feels helpful and sometimes that is all that matters. Greyson on the other hand loves to open all of his dresser draws to reorganize them and find his socks. His favorite thing to do at laundry time is put on as many socks as he can. Socks on his feet and on his hands and then a few extra socks laying around just for fun. As I am putting away the laundry I noticed a package of nicely packed diapers I toss them to Addison as I ask her to put them away in the basket. She reports back, okay mom. A few minutes later I look into her room to find the diapers package open and empty but the diapers have not made it into the basket instead they are everywhere in the kids room, it looked like they were trying to have a new style of carpet made of diapers. I just smiled and kept working. A few minutes later Addison appears holding a ball of diapers. She then tells me that Kitty is inside the diapers and she is wearing her space hat. Again I smile, loving her creativity. She returns to her room where Greyson is trying to put diapers on himself and all of the stuffed animals in their room. Addison quickly gets back to the diaper pile too. The next time she comes out into the hall she has on a space helmet and is wanting some space clothes so she, the "Outer Space Girl can go to space with her "Outer Space Kitty." It is so amazing how fast they grow up and how amazing their minds can be. Damien was quickly called up to capture the moment. He was also called into the diaper transformation and pretty soon I was the only one in my family without a "Space Suit." It was the best laundry time ever.

Daddy arrived to assist with the space boots.

Outer Space Girl!

Creations

Addison and Greyson love playing with their lego blocks. Sometimes they build, sometimes the sort, sometimes they throw them everywhere but today when I got home they had put the blocks to an amazing use. I was greeted at the door with, "Mommy look what we built with Daddy, a huge tower." They were so excited to show me the creative tower daddy helped them build. Addison pointing to the top to show me just how big it really was, especially since it had a car on top of it. a

Trick or Treat

We ventured up to Snohomish to spend time with family and enjoy the Halloween Holiday. Greyson hanging out with cousin Ethan. Greyson loved having Ethan read books to him. Cousins all dressed up. Kealey,Jada and Addison enjoying their costumes.
Heading out for the real deal. Yes it was raining but not too cold. There is the pink Unicorn and the mighty green Dinosaur!

Mimi and Addison walking from house to house enjoying the treats. So cute. Greyson enjoyed getting the candy from the bowl at each house. He held his candy in his hand until he got to the next house and then I would have to put it in his trick or treak pumpkin. At one house Greyson was holding a tootsie roll in his hand from the previous house, he seemed perplexed as to what to do with it when he was faced with so many choices of new candy. So he put the tootsie roll in the new house's bowl and grabbed a new piece of candy, he traded it in, we all laughed.

The family of trick or treaters.
We enjoyed the carnival activities put on by the seniors at Snohomish High school. Greyson and Addison were a hit, I think because they were the smallest people there. We had to go and support the family. Greyson played games to his standard, smiled and of course got candy from the seniors. Here Greyson is enjoying the game of set the ball on the table as opposed to throwing the ball to knock over the cans. He still got a prize. Addison and Mimi enjoying a "Cake Walk." Addison like dancing to the music. To Addison surprise the music stopped, number 9 was called and she won a cake. She even got to pick it out all by herself. She was so careful carrying it around. She would say, " See my cake, I won a cake