More Pictures to Post

For Christmas Ty got an outfit to match his dad. Sydney got a cute outfit while we were in CT. I made her a matching hair bow, but it didn't last until the end of church. With 8am church this year we won't be fitting in any morning extras, like photo sessions.

Other exciting news...we are getting a DVR tomorrow. About time huh?? Apparently digital tv with more channels & the absence of crazy VCR recording maneuvers will save us $3 a month. Hooray!

A Few COLD Holiday Pictures

Usually at family events... people run from me. Yes, I am the one snapping hundreds of photos. When we are with Jeff's family though I take advantage of his sister-in-laws photography skills & step down. Every now & again I try to steal her camera so future posterity will know she was there too. But...here are a few Connecticut pictures that made it to my memory card:

This snow was on the ground before we got there. The sun came out after a few days & melted all this away to reveal green grass. :-(

Jeff's dad had knee surgery days before...I think I know why his knee was aching :-0

Does this look familiar? The snow started coming down, so we had to get an updated picture from outside his parent's Connecticut home.

1 year ago

As the storm was dumping snow Ty & I started the sledding. It came down hard this day. Luckily the green grass turned white again. I really don't like being cold, but if there is snow, the cold is completely tolerable!

Our little angel

Sydney's new coat. Isn't it darling!

We also went over to a nearby park & went sledding with the whole family. We had a great time. Jeff's brother had a sled that had a sturdy base & a seat belt...Sydney was going down solo with a huge grin. Ty was fearless too. They are preparing to be future snowboarders...at least that's our hope.

The cousins:

Apparently swing sets are year round everywhere. Just stay away from the slide.

Look at that storm!

We had such a nice time playing games, visiting, going out together, movies, shopping. We also got to spend time with Papa, Jeff's grandfather. We will treasure that time to visit with him, being that it was probably our last.

What a great Christmas & New Year it was! I only wish I had pictures of more family to share!

'Tis the Season

I'm going to sound like a broken record here...But It Is SO FUN to have little ones this time of year!

The kids have been watching our street become more & more festive; loving every house, no matter how many or few lights.

Last night I took the kids to our town light parade. It's nothing spectacular, but some of the floats were really cute. We sat on the curb as the parade went through. The kids were waving, clapping & dancing.

We also got a good dose of carolling this week. First we joined the youth. They had a large flat trailer filled with hay bales & probably 40 teens. The kids and I hopped on & enjoyed caroling through the neighborhoods. Then, for enrichment the women went carolling & Sydney came along for that too.

Our other moments lately have been spend painting kids ornaments, making a gingerbread house my parents gave the kids & baking cookies. 'Tis the season!

Ty's most common conversation these days goes like this. "Can I have this?" Our response "No" Ty's follow-up "I got an idea, I can have it for Christmas!"

Ty's most common sentence is, "I want that for Christmas." One of Jeff's friends, whose kids are grown, mentioned that they would correct their children to say: I wish I could have that for Christmas. We are trying it. So now Ty says, "I wish I want that for Christmas."

Cotton Fields

Here in our lovely little town we are surrounded by cotton fields. Every year when the cotton is in full bloom I tell Jeff I want to go take pictures in the fields. This year (with Tifany's help) we did just that. It was mid-day & so bright. The sun was refecting off the cotton & my family was fighting to keep their eyes open. Maybe our Christmas card next year will be Cotton Fields with a sunset :-)

We weren't able to get any pictures of just Ty. After the family pictures he darted off to play in the ever-exciting dry canal with Tifany's kids. They did find a dead fish, pretty thrilling.

Sydney hasn't quite leaned the difference between cotton & cotton candy.

Our Turkey Day Trip

The craziness of the holidays is in full force. I am finally getting around to a Thanksgiving post. We went to my parents house & had a great time. Here are our highlights:

• Stopping at Chuck E Cheese when we were 1/2 way there. (Ty is still grateful for that in EVERY prayer.)

• Being with family on Thanksgiving day (& not having to cook! thx Mom)

• A comp'd Trolley ride courtesy of my brother. It took us to all the great sites of the city. We especially enjoyed stopping at the Zoo train & Jeff's fav-Balboa park.
• Playing with Grandma & Grandpa's bizzillion toys was a total hit.
  

• Jeff & I got to go on a dinner & movie date & not pay for babysitting. Yeah!



• We went to the Torrey Pines Preserve & went hiking up the mountain along the beach. Afterwards we walked on the beach & the kids were SO excited. Sydney was pointing to every rock with her little finger and an, "Uh Oh". Then dad would throw it in the ocean. After about 15 rocks it wasn't as funny.
  

• We set up my parents Christmas lights & decorations. In doing so we came across the secret stash of fireworks from years ago. We bundled up & went outside for some fun. We quickly learned that Ty fears getting in trouble as much as mom & Grandma.

• Being that we won't see my folks for Christmas we had a little celebration while we were there with some carols, instruments & gifts for the kids. It was a great way to say goodbye to Thanksgiving & welcome Christmas-time!

Since getting back we have been busy getting ready for Christmas. The kids were so excited to do the exterior illumination, and then the tree. It's so fun to have young kids, especially around this time of year.

Picture Time!

One of my favorite friends is moving this week. :-( It'll be a rough good bye I am sure. After months (& months) of having her backgrounds, they must now go home. So here is one last photo shoot. Thanks for the longest loan ever Tif...