Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts

Saturday, December 8, 2012

365 Day 343

Today was the annual gingerbread house party at Pops and Granny's. The kids all had so much fun eating and decorating with the candy. As always it was a great turnout and highly enjoyable for everyone.

I was sad we had to cut out early (accidentally double booked ourselves) but before we left the party my cousin styled my hair for me (and showed me a new trick!) so I felt beautiful for the evening.

I know my kids had a great time afterwards with Auntie Lissa and Cliff and I got to have some adult time at his company holiday dinner.  Even in all my grinchiness, there are good things about the holidays!

Friday, November 30, 2012

365 Day 335

Today we braved to storm to run some errands in town. 
A deal on a hot-list toy brought us into the mall (ugh). Bug really wanted to go see Santa Claus but settled for checking out the over-sized ornaments on the over-sized tree instead.


Sunday, November 25, 2012

365 Day 330

One of my pictures from yesterday's stop on I-5. Shasta at Sunset.
I'm so grateful to have a camera that captures the colors I see.

Friday, November 23, 2012

365 Day 328

 I was supposed to camp out for Black Friday at Target like I do every year. 
This year Target opened at 9pm on Thanksgiving. I like Black Friday, not Black Holiday. I was planning on getting our shopping done and then stopping at the donut place I was told about earlier this week. Change of plans. I didn't go out, but I still had plans to try the donuts. 

Cliff and I were wanting to cook ribs for our family so we went out this afternoon for the mean. Perfect time to stop for Heavenly Donuts!

Oh and they were! I'm more than happy to skip my novelty Voodoo Donut for these things.


Thursday, November 22, 2012

365 Day 327

Every year I wake up at 5am to pick up my Thanksgiving paper. Even though I already knew what was in most the ads and we aren't really looking for anything specific this year it's tradition so I still did it. 
This year the weather was perfect for me. It wasn't too cold, it wasn't raining, and the attendants at the gas station were so friendly. I came home and was more energized than I should have been after only 4 hours of sleep.

Monday, November 19, 2012

365 Day 324

I noticed on Friday that since it's finally time to replace our wiper blades. I asked Cliff if he wanted me to do it or if he wanted to handle it (sometimes he likes to take care of 'car stuff' because I do it wrong). Anyway, he didn't have time to get any before we left and for the life of us we couldn't find an auto parts store in Oregon.
Today we ran down to Woodland to get groceries and stopped at Napa. It was funny that he parked in front of the sign that tells you they will install wiper blades for you (I always have a hell of a time doing it). It must be man code to not ask for help because he came out solo. Perfectly fine by me.

He started on the first side. Cleaned the window and then tried to get the old blade off. It wouldn't come off so he fidgets with it some more and then finally pulled out his pocket knife. It still wouldn't come off and that's when I realized I had already listened to two songs on the radio and I had my camera in my purse. As soon as I pulled it out he realized what my goal was and tried (jokingly) to block the sign. He's actually laughing here because he knows what I plan to do with the picture I get. 
He did get the wiper off soon after I pulled out the camera and he completed the other side in under a minute.

Hats off to anyone who wants to stand in the cold and rain to replace the wipers when it could be done for you in less than half the time, but at least I got a great chuckle out of this one as well.
Thanks for the picture, honey. 
I love you and how you always make me smile, even when you weren't trying to.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

365 Day 322

It may be a long drive across 2 states but at least the view is interesting. Even in inclement weather.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

365 Day 320

Addressed, stamped, and stuffed ready to be mailed out.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

365 Day 316

To save money and time we did our own family pictures with a jimmy rigged backdrop and light, 2 grumpy kids, me with a headache, and a remote for the camera.
It was challenging, my pictures aren't incredible, but I'm happy enough with the results.

We were just killing time until the last kid could find a smile when we got this one snapped. I love this picture and how sweet it looks.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Happy Halloween!

This year was so much fun!

Again, we drove out to the Delta to hang out with our friends while we trick or treated. It was a school night so it wasn't as practical as staying home, but it's always worth the drive to see them. They fed us dinner (which the kids wolfed down in hopes to start getting candy sooner) and my boys were out of sight before I even got their pictures. I managed to get Bug to stand still for a nanosecond and Liv convinced her to stop once more so I could get them both. That was it. They were gone getting candy.

 Last year Bug went to a few doors but mostly only if she was holding Mommy or Daddy's hand. Not the same story this year! She went running up the driveways after he brothers and friend yelling "Waaaaiiiittt! Wait for meeeee!" and then when she made it to the door she'd scamper to the front of the group (or at least in front of tall Gator) and say 'trick or treat'. She even remembered her 'thank you's!

I refused to bring the stroller for her this year, she's getting too old for it. She's not good about walking which is frustrating to me (my fault, I know), yet she managed to do the entire loop (a little over an hour) walking on her own the whole time-no complaints!

When the night started off she didn't want anything to do with her hair, but after we bribed her to wear it for just a few houses with a package of smarties she decided she didn't want it taken off. As the night neared a close one of the kids accidently caught her hair while she was on a porch. She was so upset I had to go get her and put her hair back on. The lady handing out candy came down and waited patiently while we got her back in costume and then gave her two pieces of candy for her efforts. I didn't realize she hadn't gotten her candy yet but I thought it was awfully sweet of the lady to be so patient.

Last year our biggest giggle came from a very large black cat that goes over the walk way (you walk up between it's legs) and it tilts its head from side to side. I don't know why I keep forgetting to take a picture but it looks like this one only standing up and obviously bigger. Last year Bug wouldn't even let us go near the house. This year she charged on towards the door. Until she caught sight of the kitty and then she stopped dead in her tracks. She decided she didn't like it's face and didn't want to walk under it even if she held Daddy's hand and even after her brothers did it just fine.

 I noticed there was another smaller path away from the cat coming off the garage and asked her if she still wanted to get candy from that house. I walked with her up to the door (she liked not going under the kitty) and she got her candy but her groove was obviously thrown off  She noticed the kitty's butt on our way back towards the driveway and she just kept repeating "Scary face. Mean  Kitty. Bad Kitty. I don't like the scary face". Mommy guilt crept in. If she wakes up with nightmares over this I'm going to feel terrible. It took her almost a full year to get over the trains, what was this going to do? Daddy assured her it just made of plastic and not real. We spent another block listening to her carry on that she doesn't like plastic cats and that they are real and scary. Ooops.

Our mini cowboy of the group was not so interested in getting candy. He enjoyed eating it, but didn't care about getting it. He liked the trees, and the lights, and of course the rocks best. Often times he'd hang back with his Daddy while Daddy did some adult trick or treating. That is a good way to make the night enjoyable for all! It's good to know your neighbors so well!

The kids all ended up with full buckets. Gator kept me on my own sugar high of almond joys while Hyde spent the entire night practicing eating and walking at the same time. I'm genuinely surprised he didn't have the worst stomach ache this morning.

Of course I can't post my blurry pictures if I'm not going to post a picture of the handsome cowboy in his chaps! I'm hoping to catch the boys in their costumes later so I have evidence of Gator the Pirate and Hyde the *Inja* (what Bug calls it!).

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

365 Day 305

Happy Halloween all!

This is before Bug was wearing her wig but it's got two of my favorite people so it's my favorite of the bunch!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

365 Day 304

It may be the day before halloween but we finally were able to take the kids to the pumpkin patch. I was sad it wasn't the weekend so there wasn't as much to do and we couldn't stay as long but we had a great time all the same!

Monday, October 22, 2012

265 Day 296

Though it's hard to tell, she is hugging her Merida costume. Every time she walks by it since it came home she gives it a hug. I think she's happy with it.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

365 Day 291

We can always count on Daddy to get some giggles. After trying on costumes he found out how he would look as Merida.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

365 Day 288

Almost by accident we're making a tradition of returning to Bishop's Pumpkin Patch. This year Bug picked out a pumpkin to bring home as well as her flowers. 

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

365 Day 186

To think I almost skipped the singing part this year. 
Last year she hated it, this year she said it was her favorite part.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

365 Day 185

Trying out one of the games for the party. She got in it and started hopping without even being asked! Apparently kids just know what to do in sack races!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

365 Day 98

Pops shines as a Grandpa. He always has as much fun as the kids on the holidays and they love him for it.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Geeking New Year

I'm not a holiday person. For the last few New Year Eve's I've managed to fall asleep early in the night then wake up just before/after the ball dropped. Not much of a big deal for us. 
Quick game of liars dice while the DM sets up the map

This year we were invited to a party at our neighbors house. I'm sure it was a blast of a party, but again Holiday Parties are usually on our avoidance list. 

We were invited to hang out and do nothing with our best friends as well. Our plan was to hang out and do nothing on our own, so this had a likely chance of being the perfect fit for us.

We were also invited to a classy dinner party with my brother, complete with prime rib. I have to admit, I was Jones-ing to go to this party and partake in that meal, but Cliff was already occupied with some of his friends when we got the invite. 

A few weeks ago, Cliff was invited to 'game' with his buddies and he's been pretty set on sticking to that idea. This morning I woke up feeling terrible so I slept off my cold while while Cliff went to the gaming event solo. He convinced  me to join him in the evening , it was just down the street and dinner with my brother wasn't on his agenda. We brought in the new year geeking out with his friends (great people) playing D&D 3.5. Very geeky, but for us it worked.