Excited for Christmas

This year, I am totally excited about Christmas. It's been a long time that I've been this excited about the holidays. I think with our new home and having two children now, it's become more fun to begin some new traditions. In the years past, we never took the time to decorate. But this year Kaitelyn is really getting into it and I can't wait to set out some cookies and milk for Santa this year :-)

Each year my friend Maddy and I get together at her home and make a wreath for our front doors. Then the first part of December, we caravan with a group of friends to the Olympics for our annual tree hunt. This year, my children will have a stocking and we will bake cookies for Santa and his reindeer.

Growing up, I never really had a chance to help decorate for the holidays, nor did I have a stocking. I vowed that I would have stockings for my children and have them help with the decorations. In doing so, I found a deal through Walmart online for some personalized stockings. I had Kaitelyn pick out hers and I picked out the moose for Reed. The personalization was free and shipping was only $.97. The stockings are hanging on our mirror in the foyer for now until we get our Christmas Tree.

An afternoon in the park

A few weeks ago, I stopped by the Credit Union to visit my old work pals. It's always a treat to stop by and visit for an hour with everyone, I miss those marketing folk. The boys are so good with keeping Kaitelyn entertained while I catch up with everyone.

Afterwards, the kids and I walked over to the downtown water park. It was our first time visiting it since it's completion earlier this year. Kaitelyn loved the fountains and climbing on the big rocks.

I love this picture of Reed taking in the views.
Reminds me of a little old man.

Kaitelyn tasting the water

Hmmm....now how do I get over this wall and into that water?

Kaitelyn being a teacher

trying to catch up

two little cuties sitting on a farm

Kaitelyn sportin her quad

those are some pretty cool wheels

bike buddies

look mommy...i'm all clean

help....i'm hangin by my fingertips.

Mommy, I love you this much!!

A walk through Manchester Park:

Halloween 2009

This year was Kaitelyn's 4th Halloween and Reed's first. Kaitelyn could not wait to go trick or treating this year. When I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween, she said "A Princess". So, we were at Costco one day and she picked out this Cinderella dress. But...after a couple of weeks and up until Halloween, she kept telling me that we needed to get a new costume, she wanted to be "Ariel, the mermaid". Needless to say, we stuck with Cinderella and she felt so special all evening.

Reed got to be a little monkey from Kaitelyn's 2nd year. The costume fit him perfectly. He wasn't too fond of the monkey hat though.

We headed to downtown Gig Harbor, the businesses were handing out candy all along the waterfront. Kaitelyn had lots of fun. Our friends, Chris and Paige joined us and they enjoyed walking along with us and seeing all the cute little trick or treaters. After our workout, we had dinner together at "Blazin Onion" off the Olympic Dr exit. It is now my favorite burger joint. The prices were decent and the amount of food was perfect. I had a Hickory BBQ Burger, it was perfect!!

After our dinner, Kaitelyn wanted to do more trick or treating. So we stopped in on a neighborhood we were kinda familiar with and let her do the door to door treating. Luke went with her while I stayed behind with Reed, but she thought it was really neat. Apparently we picked a good neighborhood, there were lines of cars parked all along the streets. Kaitelyn came back telling me how much people liked her princess dress and princess wand.

It was a long day and evening, but we were able to wrap the evening up by spending some time with our good friends, the Conraths. Kaitelyn was excited to stop by their home to see Clara in her bumblebee outfit and of course to load up on more candy. This was the best Halloween so far and it's only going to get better. I'm really looking forward to next year's festivities and the joy and excitement from both Kaitelyn and Reed. I am incredibly blessed!









Kaitelyn reminded me right before we loaded up in the van that we forgot to put here earrings on for the pictures. So I had to snap a few pics of her with here earrings on in front of the garage.

She is so precious!!