No Santa For Us!

We tried to go see Santa, but my kids hate Santa!  Well they don't hate Santa but they want nothing to do with him if seen in person.  No sitting on his lap no talking to him simply just get them out of there!  Ah the good holiday fun!

A Crying

R holding onto Daddy as tight as possible

So instead we played in the leaves, ate candy canes and cookies then sipped on some apple cider.  I really hope one day my kids will love Santa I just want a cute picture of my kids with Santa, is that to much to ask?  Shot it doesn't even have to be cute but at least one with them at least looking happy to be there!

Makes Me Happy!

Regan and Avery (My best friend's daughter)

Zoo Day

Last week we went to the zoo with a few friends, it was a perfect day.  There may not be a better way to spend the day this time of year.  The weather is cool but the sun is out which means we were all comfortable and not feeling so hot we just want to sit in the shade and the animals seemed to like it too! 

Our little animals!

I couldn't look at this snow leopard without thinking about Kung Fu Panda!
That is just how my mind works now!

Some of the kids got to feed the giraffe.
Regan did not want to she stayed safely behind the fence and watched!

Then the kids each took the chance to make Ayla laugh.
This really means the took turns shaking their booties in her face!
But she seemed to think it was funny!!

So happy to spend a day with friends!

We Love Halloween!

We love Halloween so much that R could not sleep the night before!  We had to go in her room a couple of times to tell her she needed to go to sleep and every time we opened the door we were greeted with, "I am so exciting!" She is four and we probably should correct her but exciting is really the only word she uses incorrectly and we just think it is so darn cute.  And really how exciting is it to go trick or treating with your best friend!

I started Halloween with my second half marathon!  I really can't believe I have run two now!  Who do I think I am?  I ran with my friend Nicole so about an hour after we started running Nicole's family picked up David and the kids and they all headed over to the finish line to cheer us on.  It was great to be able to run and have my family at the end!

Tahoe!!

In the Beginning of July we got to go play in Tahoe with both of my sisters and their families.  It was lots of fun but also very busy plus David could only stay one night so having two girls to myself and funny schedules and not sleeping in their own beds made for a few battles with Regan.  But it is not very often that we can get all the kids together so it is worth it!

We played at the beach which was covered in ladybugs!  I don't mean we saw some ladybugs I mean there was one on you at all times!  The kids loved it and caught many!

We also got to relax a little while the kids ran wild on the roof of the hotel, we found a letterbox, and enjoyed some pool time.  The kids were beat and so was I for about two days after getting home!

It was great seeing you and your families my sistas!  Wish we lived closer to one another!

Oh I almost forgot my favorite photo.  My favorite photo because I'm sure if I dug deep enough into the old family albums we have this picture of me and my sisters and brother when we were little hanging out in the spa tub in our room.  I don't know why but wearing your swim suit in a giant tub in the middle of a hotel room was so much fun!

Polite Pete the Pirate

Regan loves loves loves Pirates more specifically Polite Peet the Pirate by Hullabaloo!

Well they call me Polite Peet the Pirate
I sail the seven salty seas
I rob and I loot
I pillage and I plunder
But I always say thank you and please!

Sometimes Daddy plays along too! :)

Buddies

A few weeks ago we had a playdate with the Jones's.  The kids made their own pizzas and played and played and played.  Turns out going to their house makes for a very easy day for me.  The best thing about Regan's buddies is their mom is one of my buddies from high school!  So I a also got to eat pizza and play too! :)

Letterboxing

We found our first letterbox!  Mim will be so proud!  About a year ago Mim told us about letterboxing, my first thought about what letterboxing was is not appropriate to post but I knew if it was coming from my mom I must be wrong about what letterboxing means.

People have hidden letterboxes (stamps) in parks along hiking trails to be found.  When you find a letterbox you sign their "guest book" with your own stamp and trail name and then you can keep a book for yourself to collect the letterboxes you find.  You can find more info here.

Regan is very into treasure hunts right now so I figured it was a good age to give it a try.  So off we went to find a letterbox I thought would be easy.  Then there was a creek to cross, fallen trees to climb through and that is when I decided this was not going to be easy with me, Regan and Ayla.  So I found a new letterbox to track down.  The next set of clues we followed were placed perfectly for kids to search for.  We almost missed it but right before giving up we checked one more spot.  I sort of just kicked around quickly not expecting to find anything and then there it was!

Thank you FamiLee of 4 for giving us a fun free morning and making it kid friendly!

5 Little Ducks Went Out One Day

Over the hill and far away...

Well really there were 10 little ducks, one pony, 4 horses, 3 goats, 4 pregnant bunnies, 30 chicks, 1 emu, 3 mini cows, and a dog on our recent visit to the Ranahan side of the family.  The country half of our family does not own all of those animals many belong to the neighbor but the neighbor was nice enough to let us come take a peek at her critters too.

Peeking in at the baby ducks.

The baby ducks came out to play and they were sooooo CUTE!

This is Molly the pony that is just "Regan's size!"

Riding Molly

Grandma is Free to Play!

Grandma just retired!  We had no idea what to get her.  They plan on doing a lot of traveling so I thought of getting her a nice weekender bag but I think she already has plenty of luggage because they already travel a lot!  So then I read something that said get them something that has to do with how they will spend their time and well David and I are hoping they will spend their time with the kids.  actually I don't think we have to hope I am pretty it is a done deal.  So I ran around with the kids getting pictures and gift cards and merry-go-round tokens and here is the gift we came up with.  It was fun and we hope she likes it and can't wait to help fill up her time! :)

I love the picture with the hearts.  I wanted to do it for valentine's day but never got around to it so I have been waiting for another reason to do it.  I got the idea from a blog that makes me smile Color Me Katie.