Thankful

Thanksgiving this year was fun and fulfilling! We have so much to be thankful for including our friends, family, health, happiness and beautiful children. The weather was amazing, the company was fun and entertaining and the food did not dissapoint, and the kids were pretty darn cute as always! We started the morning off having an early doughnut breakfast with Auntie Bri, Auntie Lou and Grey. Daddy went to play golf with Papa and Poppi. Gamma and Nana were busy preparing the meal to come. Then we were off to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a yummy meal. The boys played football in the street and Brody wished he could play as well. Mad was a great cheerleader on the side. It was SO hot outside and we couldn't believe it was November. After a fabulous meal we headed over to Gamma and Poppi's house for round 2. Here we played a trivia game about the original Thanksgiving, thanks to Nana. We also enjoyed a yummy desert. It was a great day with our family. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful families.

Brod and Auntie Lou on Thanksgiving morning at Auntie Bri's

Greyson enjoying his donut!


Maddy loving hers too!

Playing trains... Mad and Brod love trains right now

So thankful for these two babes!

Maddy, Brody and their cousins Jack and Hayley

Our family!

Mad getting her glasses because it was so bright, she said.

Brody and Grandpa cheering on the football players.

#1 Cheerleader

Football in the street- they were all sweating so much.

I am thankful for this man!

Brody getting in on the action.

My family very in to the trivia game.

Nana and Mom leading the game!

The puzzle princess

How cute is this smile?? I love it! This is when I found her about half way done.

We went to the market tonight and in the toy aisle there were some puzzles. Maddy loves doing puzzles and usually we do them together. She has a 24 piece Cinderella one that she does with Daddy. Well I saw a Dora one. She is really into Dora right now. She has been such a sweet sister lately and so I told her I would get her the puzzle. When we got home I was making Brod's dinner and she asked me to open the puzzle. I didn't realize she had started doing it by herself at the table. I decided not to help her and watch to see if she could do it herself. I spied on her in amazement. She would manipulate the pieces and keep turning them until they fit. I watched her fit one piece after another until she had three, two, one pieces left. She completed this 24 piece Dora puzzle all by herself. You could say I am one VERY proud mommy!

Making progress...

Turning the pieces to fit

Serious concentration

The final product!

Watch the video and see how surprised she was when I asked her who was helping her- obviously no one mommy and excuse my natural reaction when Brody takes a spill.

Big Bath for Brod

Um, why did it take me SO long to put him in the big bath??? Yeah, I don't know. I think sometimes my brain is on autopilot and I forget those simple things like Brody is 11 months and can take a big bath and not sit in that baby seat. So anyway, tonight Mad and Brod took a big bath together. Usually Mad sits in the bath and Brody is in the seat in the bath. So- goodbye to the baby seat and hello big bubble baths!!

Rockin the Hawk

Brody's hair is getting so long in the center. He is kind of sporting a mullet in the back too (which I cut today-thanks V! :)). It is not long enough yet for a cut, so I like to put it in a hawk. Mike does not like it. The second I came back in the room Daddy had already combed it back down. However, I did get some cute pictures before it was demolished. :)

Tree Lighting Tradition

Last night we went to our second annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Fashion Island with my parents and Bri, Geoff and Grey. We started the tradition last year when Maddy was 21 months and I was 8 months pregnant with Brody. This year Brody is almost a year and Maddy is almost 3. I can't believe how fast this year flew by. I remember going to the tree lighting ceremony when I was a little girl with my family and GG. We have pictures in front of the tree and I can remember getting hot chocolate too. Such fun memories! I hope my kids grow up with the same memories and the excitement as Christmas draws closer. It felt kind of funny celebrating and getting excited for Christmas before Thanksgiving, but it doesn't matter because you could feel the Christmas spirit in the air.

On our way from the car. Started the night off with their beanies on. Who do you think had hers off within 5 minutes? Yep. And Brod kept it on all night.

A family picture at the tree lighting. This was the first time Maddy wore this Juicy Peacoat and got lots of compliments on it. Thank you Violet Affleck!
Maddy was more interested in the show than taking pictures.

This was pretty much Brody's face all evening. He was fascinated by the lights, the singing and the dancers. He kept waving to everyone on the stage, which didn't surprise us because of his friendly nature.

All bundled up to celebrate the start of the Christmas season.

Would have been such a cute picture but Grey gave his mama a little elbow kind of saying, "let me watch the show guys." Still very cute of the Moysas!

I love this one! Gamma and Poppy with their grandkids (minus Grey).

Like old times- a picture of just us with no kids.

The show!

The beautiful tree! This year they moved it next to Santa's workshop. It looks really pretty over there.

Me and my girl!

Sis got so hot running around and being silly with Grey that she had to shed the coat. They were such troopers waiting over 30 minutes to eat at CPK. They definitely entertained themsELVES and were ready to eat.

Holding hands and waiting patiently.

My little guy waiting in the stroller.

It was a very fun night and the kids were pooped by the time we got home. Mike and I were able to have a glass of wine and watch a show while our precious babes slept peacefully (dreaming of Santa I am sure :). I love my life!

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MAC AND CHEESE!



I am pretty sure she taught him...

Turkey Crafts

I brought home some paint, feathers and a turkey poem...

...painted her hand....

...and his...

...and made turkeys...

Thanksgiving time is here and we are excited!

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year! Maddy was so excited about trick or treating and about being Cinderella. Brody was a dog after he grew out of his monkey costume during the month of October. We celebrated with the Bricks, Moysas, Rodgers, my parents, and other family friends. The kids were all so adorable. Ladera is a fun place to trick or treat. The streets are packed with families. Some of the parents pull around coolers and some houses pass out jello shots and beers to the adults and candy to the kids. We started by having a yummy dinner at the Brick's house and playing and then off to trick or treat. We can't wait until next year when Brody walks around with his sister.

Having fun in the tent. This dog was on the prowl.

Prettiest Cinderella around!
Such a sweetie!

Brody's 1st Halloween!

Yummy dinner!

Pure doggy- eating his paws.

All ready to go trick or treating. Where is banana boy??

Gamma and Cinderella. Poppy and Pete stayed to watch baseball and pass out candy.

This little doggy was getting tired but didn't want to miss out on the fun.

The crew... well half of us.

Mad was so protective of Grey all night.

Cute cousins.