November 2012

Counting our blessings these days...

Ada helping daddy on a mosaic in the backyard.

Will working on his own project in the backyard.  Here with a spattering of some of his random "tools". PVC piping, empty shoe box, laundry basket, BBQ tongs, princess tackle box, tea cup...

Big girls that help mommy get weekly vegetables at the farmers market earn a popsicle. Or, in our house, a "pop-si-corn". Here Ada sweet talked her brother into taking over his too. That, my friends, is the look of a master negotiator. 

Charmer negotiator. In tap shoes.

More fun at the farmers market. Face painting.

Butterfly girl!

Ada also the fashionista. Wardrobe by Ada usually includes a dress with skirt underneath. No socks. Never any socks.

Will and Chip helping collect pine cones for Thanksgiving arts and crafts at Grandma and Chips.

Here you go mom.

Cool magnet toy at Grandma and Chips.

Candy cane snuggles for baby.

Thanksgiving is my most favorite time of year. This has been the second year in a row it begins the night prior to Thanksgiving with a Tia sleep over. Kids loved snuggles and storytime in Tia's bed.

Dad joined us this year in our second annual Turkey Trot bright and early Thanksgiving morning.

Ada fueling up before the race.

Kids loved cheering from the stroller and finding turkey costumes  along the 5K. And once the finish line was in sight they hopped ship and crossed with us. Ada took off with Tia and sprinted the whole way across.

Will was a bit nervous after hitting the ground. All those eyes on him cheering him along caused some performance anxiety. But we made it, hand in hand. Then, it was all smiles!

The Thanksgiving festivities then began. Bloody Mary Brunch with a full house. Even Nana came for the party all the way from Wisconsin!  Turkey crafts were a hit!

Wills turkey. Race bib still on.

Ada and Leah taking a crack at it.

Turkey cheese!

Some crazy Tia-AJ-turkey-princess-wizard backyard game pre dinner.

What followed was a long, relaxed weekend at home with Nana.

Teaching hang loose.

Wills final product. Hang loose dude.

Pumpkin pie leftovers. They pulled their lawn chairs together like this. Will turned to Ada and went "This is yummy Ada".

Ada needing to stretch out to finish her piece of pie.

Dad and Will at the farmers market. Sunglasses duo.

"Popsicorn" break.

We met friends and family at Greasewood Flat for a good 'ol fashioned Arizona time, filled with beer, burgers, country music, and a couple donkeys.

Note the dress with skirt combo. Momma tricked some socks on her this time.

Oh and sand. Did I mention they have sand there?

Nana and Ada playing a sand stomping game I didnt understand.

Weekends with Nana lead to grocery store snapshots.

And princess cookie making. This is the best pose Ada could give me to capture the moment. Here's the box mom. She is saying cheese, for the record.

More Tia story time.

Nana with her grandkids.

Part of our AZ family.

Great Thanksgiving weekend!

Ada wasted no time, however, getting ready for Christmas. She had her "letter" to Santa done early. She wanted some pictures of babies and Cinderella ripped out of a mail catalogue, to which she glued on her letter. She says the letter states she wants two babies, a crib, a stroller, and Cinderella. And Happy Birthday. It says Happy Birthday.