Reindeer Cupcakes

We made these cupcakes at Tate's preschool party last week and it was so simple and enjoyable for the kids that we did it with the cousins Christmas Eve. I love that Tate was so excited about Christmas this year-anticipating gifts and reading Christmas books and loving all the decorations and Christmas lights. A local landscaping company puts on an amazing light show set to music. You park and tune your radio to their station and watch. Tate asked to go almost every night and we went about 4 times. It's spectacular free entertainment =)

Lydia is all about planning "activities". So far we've had the cupcake decorating, pajama party, children's museum, swimming and tonight it was a fashion show. It's so fun having a fellow conspirator in planning family activities and forcing them on everyone else!

Christmas in Pendleton

This is a fun time to have family get-togethers. Lots of little kids being super cute and saying funny things. It's also been abnormally warm, which is awesome. Today it was in the 50's. The other day, when these pictures were taken, the kids made pebble angels instead of snow angels. I like these shots of the kids because you can see our old house and my old elementary school in the background. Good times!

Forced Sentiments

As uncomfortable as Avery looks, she insisted these stay on for a while =)

Tate: "I love you."

Me: "Aww, thanks, Tate. I love you, too."

Tate: "No, I love Homer." (He holds up a Homer Simpson character.)

Then he wouldn't be content until I repeated the words, "I love Homer."
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Saturday I bought some gum and gave Tate a piece and told him not to swallow it, but he did. We were in the car and I explained that I'd give him another try, but that he needs to spit it out this time. A few seconds after I gave it to him he proudly announced, "I spit it mom!" There it was, folded over and wet, but pretty much in it's previous state on the car floor. Apparently gum chewing is a learned skill, but in Tate's defense, I don't think he's ever seen me chew it before.

Happy December!

I just like this picture above because look at all the polka-dots! Hair, shirt, pants, blanket, sheets!

Oh, how I love December! Tate was excited to help me decorate this year. We put the tree up a few days before December, and the next morning Tate awoke me with, "Wake up mom! It's Christmas! Time to open presents!"

Bubbles!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend in LaGrande with Eric's family. Marie showed me the ropes of Black Friday Shopping at Walmart. She is an all-star! I had no idea the focus and speed needed! I've never seen a more efficient shopper =)

While at church in LaGrande, we peeked in on Tate after dropping him in primary. He was talking to the cute little girl seated next to him.

Tate: "What's your number?"
Girl: "Huh?"
Tate: "What's your number?"

On the way home, Eric asked Tate what the girl's number was. He said "9". Eric told Tate that he just got a fake number! lol. Then, Tate laughed and said "4". Then I realized that what Tate meant to ask was, "How old are you?"

Yesterday Tate was getting into the preschool supplies and I'm not sure why he said the following, maybe he thought I would be annoyed that he was going to make a mess. He walks away from me, then stops and wags a finger in my direction and says, "Mom, don't freak out!"

Photo Shoot 2011

So, shock of all shocks after that "fun" photo shoot, we actually have some keepers!

Those little arms are fabulous =)

Family Photo Shoot Outtakes

Anyone seen this pose on Pinterest. It wasn't as easy as that other family made it look =) Although if your children enjoy swinging upside-down, it would be easier.

Grandma took some family photos today. By the end, I was about to lose it and thinking we'll never have decent family shots until the kids are 18, and then they're not as cute as now! Pictured above was candy-man grandpa who miraculously made possible a couple keepers! But this post is about the soon-to-be-deleted shots =)

Avery ventured to a nice place to pose, but decided to lick the log first. She really did, but it wasn't caught on camera.

the one that got away

Whatever you do, don't look at the camera!

But if you must look, don't smile!

Tate's highlight of the day was creating footprints in the first snow of the season.

Avery wanted to swing the entire time.

This is how I felt. Nice outhouse, eh?

We just kept trying. Thanks grandma for the pep-talks.

Look! A possible keeper.

Avery just decided she was so tired, she would just take a nap in the wet cold grass.

We were a mess by the end. The park was recently aerated and thus, muddy. So my muddy shoes plus the wet slide didn't make a pretty sight.

Out of nowhere, Tate decided that the slide was scary and we forced him down.

He wasn't happy, and none of these slide pictures make the cut =)

Do you like how Eric and I just keep smiling? We're just willing one of these pictures to work out!

Can anyone else relate to a photoshoot like this???

Swimming in Winter-woo hoo!

We joined a court club and now can swim whenever we want. So, it snowed yesterday and we were swimming today. It's the best =) By the way, I also did my first Zumba dance class last night and had a blast. I was lost, looking like a fool, but moving, loving the Latin and Indian music and couldn't stop smiling!

Anyway, back to swimming. I was dunking Avery after she jumped in. She looked concerned, but kept doing it. Then, I would dunk my head for her to see and she would laugh and try to wipe the water off my face. It was just one of the sweet moments I'd like to remember =)