Christmas cookies

I let the kids help make christmas cookies this year - both of them. We call them thumb print cookies - we press a dent in them with our thumbs and then add the toppings! They had a ball and couldn't wait to eat them!

Especially Lucas - he walked around for the 15 mins looking like this, crying "cookies! cookies!!". fun times!

the finished product!

Santa love

I talk about this Santa almost all year. almost. he is my favorite for many, many reasons. This picture sums up why I like him so much - he seems to love what he does and takes time to talk to the kids. And my kids like him too. here are some of both of them!

the tree is up!

When we moved into our new home, we decided to get a taller tree. We thought it would be a great idea to get a pre-lit tree and was it ever! We love this tree! It goes up in minutes and all we are left to do is decorate it! Both kids were so excited this year to help decorate. I couldn't get the ornaments out fast enough. Here is the finished product! I love the tree and all our ornzments!!

mess maker

I then asked him who made this mess and he proudly says "me!"

good thing he's cute!

what happens when I try to *quickly* run downstairs to change over the laundry.

upcoming posts

So you don't think I have left the blogging world, here is an update on what posts I will be doing very shortly!!

TOT 2010

kickoff - done

the park with friends - done

The big D on ice - done

dance class - done

ears! - done

lucas' crib - done

the park again - done

school jammie party - done

tea party - 100% not political! - done

Mia's birthday and party - done!

Lucas is 2! - done

plus i just realized i never blogged the kids birthday's! what! I am so far behind. I will get caught up - probably monday night! So watch out google readers!! Tuesday will be full of posts from yours truly!

Christmas Kickoff!

Tonight was the Macy's Christmas kickoff in St. Louis. If there are 2 things I love it is Christmas and the St. Louis Macy's Santa! (he is the BEST Santa hands down). We packed up the family and headed down to see the Salvation tree of lights be lit up and of course, see Santa. We arrived at 545pm and the lights were lit at about 630pm. Robin Smith read Twas the night before Christmas, there was music and singing. After the tree was lit, Santa lead everyone there down to Macy's. Once at Macy's, there was entertainment on 4 different floors. We saw the Nutcracker ballerina's, jugglers, marching bands, and live Christmas singer's! The kids danced and sang for at least 30 minutes or more! It was so much fun! I hope we can go every year! here are some highlights of the night! enjoy!!

Cute overload

they are ready to hit the road and get some candy!

just a boy

just a boy and his nana

just my luck

i finally get an awesome shot of amelia - in focus, great coloring, she is actually looking at the camera.
and she has a giant booger under her nose!!
i give up!

love this

a special treat - a picture of the Mr.

Previously seen dodging the camera or hiding behind kids.

i happen to think he is quite handsome.

lucky me

This girl is so many things.
But there are three things that come to mind when I see this picture: fun, fearless and fiesty!
All things that I hope she holds on to as she navigates the big world around her!
On this day, she bravely walked down to the zip line entrance, got harnessed up and zip-lined down the corn field! what?! She had never even seen a zip-line prior to this. ever! and yet she was fearless enough to do it! and she ROCKED it. loved every minute.
This girl is so much fun. she has an infectious laugh.
This girl is four. She can be demanding. She has a rather large independent streak. She knows what she wants. she is fiesty.
This girl is all mine.
Lucky me!!

I almost forgot!

While transferring my files to the external hard drive, I ran across our pictures from the Godfrey Corn maze! We went Halloween morning and had the best time! Nana Kathy came with us, as did our friend Angela and family. The kids and adults loved it equally. I loved all the fall colors that made my pictures look fab, the corn maze, the zip line, corn box and the hayride! All lots of fun! As I posted earlier, Amelia rocked the zip line! As did her dad and her nana! Here are the pictures to prove it!

corn maze

corn pit

fun times!

Amelia zip lining!!

sweet!

sweet halloween feet

happy times!!

lucas thinks amelia is too funny!

Mia's first PJ party!

For Halloween, Mia's school had a PJ party. Everyone wore their favorite PJ's and celebrated halloween. Mia was too excited to wear her pj's to school. She came home with some great stories, fun crafts and enough candy to make her happy! She even shared a piece with her brother!

Later that day, Amelia's dance class all wore their costumes to class. Amelia was thrilled to be able to dress up in her Dorthy costume!! here are a few pics!! Isn't that jessie the cutest? that was mia's second choice!

snuggler

Lucas is my snuggler. He loves to cuddle and snuggle!! At last check he 35 lbs and 34 inches, and yet he can still squeeze himself into his crib sideways! When he does stretch out lengthways, he has about a foot between the end of him and the end of the crib! He loves his bedtime friends too! Glo-e monkey, harry dog, EMS bear, the sleep sheep, his 2 giraffe blankets and Amelia's purple one if he can misappropriate it, and don't forget his dino blanket! Most important - he is a 2 fuss man. There must be 2 fussy's in the bed at all times. All this is the recipe for a very happy sleeper.

check out the side bar

for a vintage halloween picture of the kids!! I can't believe how big they are now!!

tea party

While Mia was at school, Lucas and I decided to have a tea party for no reason. Just for fun I guess. We set the table with Mia's tea set, cut pumpkin shaped sandwiches, cheese and made orange kool-aid. Mia was so excited and surprised and we had a lovely lunch!

New Ears!

What are new ears?? Pierced ears!! After asking and asking for about a year, Amelia finally got her ears pierced!! She was super brave, didn't cry and is quite proud of her new ears!

before

during

love this!!

after!

park

after school we made a quick stop at the local park! We had a week of wonderful weather we could not pass up! the kids had a ball running and jumping - and I enjoyed the peace and quite of nap time afterwards!

Eckert's 2010

Eckert's 2010

Lucas found his pumpkin!

the official pumpkin inspection

Mia gives the pumpkin the 3 tap test for quality!

Stay tuned for carving pictures!

The Pumpkin Patch Round-up

I love tradition, a lot. maybe too much - to varify that you would have to ask my family who have to suffer through my insistance of doing the same thing year after year. At Halloween time, we go to Eckert's. We love Eckert's! We have taken the kids there since Mia was a baby. For her 2nd year, we went to a patch in Chesterfield, MO with some friends for pictures, but we went to Eckert's for the pumpkins! Here are some through the years pictures of Amelia and Lucas!

I am aware the Mia is not only not looking at me in the first photo below,

but she is blocking some of Lucas' head. She was not so fond of sitting by

him back then. This year she was all smiles. Notice how the clothing varies from

photo to photo. We had one cold year in there!

Bear cub

A quick peak at my little bear cub, Lucas! He was only cooperative for about 20 shots and these were the better ones!!