Thanksgiving week

On Tuesday we were invited into Kate's classroom for a Thanksgiving Feast. She was so excited as she learned about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. When we got there they were dressed like pilgrims and sitting at their long table decorated with the turkeys they made the day before. Kate was in love with hers because the pine cones smelled like cinnamon. They were decorating the tablecloth with their artwork and waiting for the feast to begin. The day before I had gone in to help them cut vegetables and we ate vegetable stew for our feast, along with bread, homemade shaken butter, and desserts. It was quite a successful feast and reminded me of the similar feast I had when I was in 1st grade.






The night before Thanksgiving we made our pies. This year we made cherry and apple. I wasn't going to make apple but Kate told me it was her favorite so we did. (And I don't think she even ate a piece!) The kids love to help in the kitchen.




Thanksgiving day started with a little run. I LOVE starting the day full of eating with some kind of exercise but the closest turkey trot started at 10 and just wasn't too convenient. So a friend planned our own and it was so fun.



Then I came home and we watched the parade, cut up our veggie tray, made a turkey craft, and got ready to go to our friend's house. Sawyer wore his apron ALL day long and was constantly asking me what he could do to help. Even when it was time to eat he said he didn't want to take it off. He's a cute little chef!

 


 It was a perfect Thanksgiving feast and it was so great to share it with friends. One friend brought lima beans, which have never been served at my house before, and Kate fell in love. We were sent home with leftovers that she ate until they were gone.

We even brought the kid's jammies and put them to bed there so the adults could stay up late, eat pie and play games. Such a fun night!






The day after Thanksgiving we continued our family tradition of decorating for Christmas, eating leftovers, and going bowling. Always a fun family activity!





Then Saturday we continued one of our newer traditions, going to cut down our Christmas tree. This year we went with our friends and it made it even more fun! We searched and found the perfect tree, cut it down, put it on top of the car, and then enjoyed donuts and hot chocolate. What could be better? Especially because it was COLD!

Clara - 12 months

Clara girl at 12 months

Weight: 18 lb 6 oz (10%)
 Height: 29" (50%)
Head: 45.8 cm (70%)

- Still only has her 2 bottom teeth. At her last Dr appointment we discussed the fact that it looks like her 2 top incisors might come in before her 2 top front teeth. Won't that be hilarious!?
- She says a few words. "Hi" "Hi Dad" and "cheese"...but not referring to the food. She says it when she sees the camera. I have her trained well.
- She gives a grunty "woof woof" when you ask her what noise a doggie makes
- plays patty cake and marks it with a "c"
- a few times he would hold up one finger when you asked how old she was...but only if she felt like it
- Crawls and cruises around furniture
- Eats everything
- Doesn't love milk from a sippy cup so she still needs a bottle every now and then. She does love making a huge mess with cups with no lids though. Her favorite thing is a cup with a tiny bit of water in it to drink like a big kid.
- Sleeps through the night
- loves to play with her brother and sister
- Gives big smacking kisses to her baby dolls
- Loves to stand at one of our big boxes of toys (like big legos) and stick her hand in, fish around, and then pull something out and throw it on the ground. She then repeats over and over until there is a huge mess on the floor.
- Loves the baby in the mirror


She is the best baby in the whole world and we love her very much!
Happy Birthday Clara!

Clara's 1st birthday party

We had a fun little birthday for our big one year old girl, the highlight of which was, of course, the smash cake!


At first she was excited




Then she was a little scared



Then she realized it was the happiest day of her life


The cake didn't stand a chance
 
This is one fun, happy, squishable, lovable, little baby girl! We sure love her!
Birthday stats to come....

Halloween costumes 2012

Better late than never, right?!
I finally was able to take some good pictures of my kid's in their costumes.

 When I was debating what we were going to do this year I was trying to think of a good group costume, but I also wanted to leave it up to the kids. We finally decided on costumes everyone was excited about. Here we go.....presenting..... Little Bo Peep and one of her lost sheep!
   





 


I asked Sawyer what he wanted to be and his first ideas were on the girlie side...kitty, bunny, etc.  Out of the blue he suggested a snowy owl (I think we had read about them in a few books recently) and I thought it was the cutest idea ever.  I loved how excited about his costume he was.  The only thing was...I'm pretty sure he thought we he put it on he would actually be able to fly.  He was a little disappointed but still loved it!  And I think he's the cutest snowy owl ever. \




The kid's school doesn't do anything for Halloween...isn't that a bummer? So we celebrated that evening by going over to our friend's house for a yummy chili dinner and witches brew and then a little trick or treating. We don't live in a good trick or treating area so it was nice to have a good place to go. And everything is more fun with friends!