Rainy Day Saturday

The Rain Gods finally spoke and blessed us with some much needed rain over the weekend. We even got a little hail at our house. Paige was thrilled to be able to put her umbrella, coat, and galoshes to good use. Too bad it was a quick storm, we definitely could use more around here.

Thanksgiving

Brian and I enjoy hosting Thanksgiving at our house and this year was no exception. It was a beautiful Southern California day and everyone was in great spirits. Brian did an amazing job with the giant bird we got. There was plenty of moist, juicy turkey for everyone. Our family was very generous by each bringing a side dish made with love. I swear food tastes different when heart and soul is put in it, or maybe it's just all the wine I had beforehand.

And, finally a recent picture of me with my parents and my brother. I think the last one taken of just the four of us was on our wedding day.

I Did It!

Today was Nick's last day of gym class. When we arrived, he was so happy to be there, he ran around the place like he was a pro in his own mind. He clearly ended his gym experience on a positive note even though he started out shy and a little bit reluctant to try some new things. The video really captures his enthusiasm and joy. I wasn't planning on signing up for the next session which starts in January, but I'm rethinking after today.

Game Night

Paige is getting to the age where we can really start having fun with board games. We've been trying to play a family game each night after dinner and it's been so fun. She loves Candyland, probably because she wins every time. She's got some luck on her side. We've also played Memory, Old Maid, and Cinderella. Nick likes to watch and if we aren't watching him closely enough, he likes to swipe game pieces. All this game play gets me looking forward to my favorite games as a kid: Life, Monopoly, Stratego. My brother and I used to play for hours. Side note: This recent picture of Brian shows off his new smile. He's still dealing with a bit of swelling, but is very happy to be eating regular food again. I think he's eagerly awaiting Thanksgiving more than anyone I know.

Fallen

Fall is in full swing and I have been completely taken over by the household chores, gearing up for Thanksgiving, and shopping for the holidays. I don't like leaving anything to the last minute, it gets me way too wacky. I believe in being prepared and ready for anything. We are hosting Thanksgiving again this year which we absolutely love to do, but with that means the house needs to be in tip-top shape. I also love making little placecards and scouring new recipes. I've also started my Christmas shopping. It started last week when I went with Brian to a conference he was attending in Indian Wells. The kids stayed with my parents and I was able to get started on my shopping. I was amazed with how much I accomplished with two days to myself. So, my oh-so-long to-do list has left me with little time to post anything new here, but I'll be back to it soon. Until then, gobble, gobble.

Big Boy Bed

After weeks and weeks of struggling with getting Nick to nap, we caved and got him his big boy bed. Crawling out of his crib is no longer an exciting thing to do. I really thought we'd be able to keep him in his crib until about three, but here we are. Nick has a case of being child number two and, to him, he wants to do everything sooner than Paige did. So, the crib is sitting in our garage awaiting our nephew's arrival in March. That's very exciting news for us, we're going to be an aunt, uncle, and big cousins! We cannot wait! Look how peacefully he's sleeping in his new bed. If only he were an angel like that all the time...

Turning Four

As Paige turns four, I've been reflecting on how much of a little girl she has become. No more toddler sizes, sippy cups, or tricycles. She's moving on up faster than I ever thought possible. She loves all things sparkly, bright, and fun. She dreams up games for all of us to play. I think Brian might actually start to believe he is Prince Phillip soon and I, Maleficent. For a quiet, somewhat shy girl, dancing and swimming bring out the best in her. Sitting on her bed with a pile of books and stuffed animals bring her comfort, but a hug makes everything better. Paige's affection warms up all of us and we are so blessed to have her as daughter. We gave her a purple bicycle for her birthday and she has been riding around the cul-de-sac. It's a little big for her, but know that she'll grow into it sooner than later. I asked her what she liked most about being four and her response was, "I run faster."

Halloween & A Birthday Too

Paige's birthday falling on Halloween lends itself to a pretty easily planned birthday party. We had a few friends and our family come over to play some games, eat some cake, and have some fun. The weather cooperated beautifully. It was a gorgeous day! But, best of all, Paige enjoyed her day from start to finish and is still beaming about turning four.

Lily won the "Who can wrap their parent like a mummy the fastest" game.Cinderella ties in nicely with Halloween given the pumpkin factor and all. Going out trick-or-treating was great especially for Paige. I think she practically ran the entire loop of the neighborhood and at one point asked if I'd hold her bag of candy because it was getting, "so heavy!"