It's Beginning To Look Alot...

Like Christmas...

In true Jeff..A.K.A Chevy Chase form we are barely done unpacking and just arrived home yesterday but the garage has tables up and Santas workshop is in full swing in the garage.

The inside of the house is pretty much done. The outside will have to wait, only because of some heavy rain. We took the kids to the drive through Christmas land (twice). They look forward to it each year and counting down the days til the big Christmas Storyland opens at the fairgrounds.

 They were so excited after they got the Christmas train working under the tree. Jeff and I have had this way before the kids came along and every year we hold our breath to see if it still steams... it still did this year but I think this may be the last year...

And  this.. well, this may be a problem. Chompers hanging..literally, in the tree. He has left it alone this evening so we are waiting to put up ornaments. 

A Purrfect Traveler

So as the saying goes.. Home is where you hang your hat or..litter box.

We brought our cat on our week long car adventure. When we pulled out of the driveway, I turned to Jeff and said" This is either going to be a disaster, or AWESOME!".. it turned out to be awesome.

If only the kids traveled as well as Chompers:)

He cozied up between the kids carseats and napped, watched Alvin and the Chipmunks and looked out the window. He never made a mess, he was nice and considerate of peoples things and was an all around good cat. Our family welcomed him with open arms which made it even easier. It was an awesome adventure with a one of a kind cat. He looved all the attention from new people, exploring a hotel room and new homes. He has an adventurous soul, being a housecat will seem so boring now.

 Jumping for one of his beloved pipecleaners at Grandpa's house while watching kids play outside.

 Thank goodness for the subaru. He had all the luxuries of home in the back... and no, the water didn't spill and there was no food mess.

 Taking a little car catnap on Greta. She loved when he did this.

 In his fav spot in between the kids where he was constantly petted. I swear he thinks he is one of the kids and not a cat.

 Taking an evening nap.

In the drivers seat... I know it is wierd taking a cat on a trip but I have to say it was so easy and I would take him on a car trip to family again with no question. It won't always happen but he is young and it was a long trip during a holiday. We are now crazy cat people and he is a crazy cat.

Yearly Stalking of Father Christmas

Nothing brings in the Chirstmas season more than visiting family, seeing snow, visiting Leavenworth and of course, Gret and my yearly stalking of Father Christmas. Check out here.

 Kids taking a walking trail to downtown Leavenworth.

 We always have to stop for Gingerbread cookies

 fun with grandpa.. look at the smiles on those little snowball throwing turkeys. Noone was safe.

 Gret loooves nutcrackers, she always has. We visited the very fun nutcracker museum.

 The kids with their parade lanterns they decorated.

 And our pic... see ya next year father Christmas.

Greta walking in the lantern parade and ringing in the season.



Leg Two: Thanksgiving

 Over the river and through the desert, to grandpa's house we go.

My Aunt Barb, Dad, Jeff and I worked together on Thanksgiving dinner. Besides my dressing being too dry and Jeff's raisen sauce turning into a science experiment, the meal was great :)

 The kids were so excited the night before for the Macy's day parade. They danced and jumped for joy together when Santa was on the scene. They woke up VERY early, not to miss the parade..which started at nine... oh well...it's just sleep, right?

 me and my lil munchkins

 Grandpa gave these two little rascals an early Christmas too.

These two finally got to play in the cold. The snow was a bit icy but they didn't care. We live in an area now that doesn't get snow so this was a treat!



Leg One: Thanksgiving

First off a BIG thank you to mother nature this year for letting us make the Washington loop to visit our family for Thanksgiving. It didn't work out last year, which was really disappointing. We had a wonderful time seeing everyone. Our first leg of the trip was a visit to Pullman to see friends, which was great. I miss them and hadn't seen them all in a year or two. Then onto Spokane to spend a few days with Jeff's family. Greta had sleepovers with Gigi and we all celebrated an early Christmas with all the cousins getting their pic taken together with Santa. It is fun to watch the cousins together. Greta is the oldest and is perfect for the job of oldest cousin. Once we were filled with butterhorns, a trip to hobby Lobby, a visit to the big tree downtown, and a car full of toys we headed out for leg two of the trip.

Fieldin at GiGis house for early Christmas

Greta and Gigi

The kids and Grandpa Chuck

Visit To Santa

 The kids started the holiday season with a yearly trip to visit Santa. Fieldin cried and cried last year when around Santa, this year he has made a couple visits and actually got cut off by Santa at one point and sent on his way with a candy cane... there were other kids in line and Fieldin is VERY chatty with Santa this year. He is going right to the top boss of presents and wants to make sure he is heard.

 Greta was very good and decided to cut her list in half. She was there for awhile so not sure if that was true. .....

 They got a fun bag of goodies from Santa and Gret won a pointsetta so it was a great night.

and another great memory for the scrapbook. 

Another Photo Dump

 Another pathetic photo dump. I thought I had been a bit better taking photos but I guess not. I am embarrassed to say 90% of them were of the cat.....

 playtime with the cat

 A pretty common view these days. Greta sitting anywhere absorbed in a book. I love it!

 The cat likes to dress up.. yeah, you read me right.. such an interesting cat. Here he is in his jester collar which the kids find hilarious. He will even nap in it.... He is laying by his prized pipecleaner. It is looking pretty rough but I don't have the guts to toss it. He plays with others but THIS one is his favorite.

 Once again strange cat. While doing leaf rubbings with the kids, the kids buried him in leaves. He was so happy. He also likes to sleep under blankets.

Me and my co-pilot. Always up to something. 

Cruisin' Cat

 If I say it once, I will say it a million times... I would have never guessed myself to be a cat person but I think it is just because Chompers is the cat he is. He loves playing in water, plays fetch ALL day long, is afraid of heights, lets the kids dress him up and as it turns out he is an explorer. No matter if he is in the carrier or roaming free for a quick trip down the hill, Chompers cat loves a ride in the car.

 He likes to sit up by the kids head rest and look out the windows, Or lay between their car seats so they can pet him. He also likes to sit on Gretas lap.

Leaf Collecting

 We took Fieldin leaf collecting the other day so we could make leaf prints. He grabbed his backpack and was on a mission. We went to the arboretum because we assumed we would find the best variety of leaves there.

 He did fill up his backpack even though must of then ended up in the pond.

 Happy little collector

 I love the smells and colors of Fall

 We saw a deer that was a bit too tame

The best part of collecting leaves... it wears out Fieldin :) 

Snacktime Chats

The kids were having an after school snack at the counter sitting side by side. It was a perfect time to ask them some questions.. here's how it turned out...

Me: Greta, what do you like about Fieldin?

Greta: "He never breaks my toys." "he never does, he's nice to my things"

"I think he's cute, he's nice, he's the funniest person I know, he's a picky eater, I love him, I like to dress up with him, he is smart and sometimes he says "pee sauce"". giggle giggle.

Me: What bothers you about Fieldin?

Greta: "I don't like when he hits, I don't like it when he poops his pants so it is a good thing he uses the potty, also when he hides my toys in his room to be funny"

Me: "Anything else about your brother?"

Greta: "He's a really good brother, I like kissing and hugging him. One time when he was scared, he got into bed with me and I liked helping him turn on his flashlight and not be scared of the dark"

Now it gets a little crazy....

Me: "Fieldin, what do you like about Greta? "

Fieldin: "Burp"..giggle giggle

Greta: "Say you love me, I know you do"

Fieldin: "Burp". Both in hysterics.

Greta: "Get that sticker out of my hair, Fieldin"

Fieldin: "Burp"...both in hysterics

Greta: "Do you like it when I teach you new things?"

Fieldin: "Burp"...giggle giggle.

Greta: "That means yes"

Fieldin: " No, that means poop!" Both in hysterics again.

Me: "Okay.. okay.. is Greta nice, Fieldin? "

Fieldin: "Yes... No... she's MAD!

Both kiddos in major hysterics

Fieldin: "She's funny"

Greta: "I'm his best friend"

Fieldin shakes his head yes and smiles...



Ignoring It...

I have been ignoring the blog lately...

Life has been a bit routine.. school pick ups, drop off, appointments, soccer, swimming, homework etc.. I wouldn't have this any other way. I am one that thrives on routine and everyday life.

I have really been focused on Fieldin lately.. He is done with toilet training( give me a woot woot) we are just fine tuning now. He and I have been watching little Einsteins, doing puzzles and chilling. Usually my restless nature doesn't let me just sit but lately I've been lazy and enjoying time with him. Enjoying the time he holds my hands or thumb and gives me slimey kisses. This season of life is so short. I want to soak up these memories with the kids like a sponge.

I've even taken some time off from my camera. No pictures in the last week but I did get a lot of fetch play in with the cat.

I need to get back into jotting down whats going on for our journal so here's some things going on around here:

1. Gret's working on her yearly thankful book.
2. Chompers cat LOVES taking rides in the car. He's always up for a joyride, a game of fetch or a chance to play in water...quirky cat.
3. I haven't changed a diaper in a couple weeks and I like it.... alot. My first break in 6 years! I think I've done my time at plugging landfills, now I have to recycle everything for the rest of my life to make up for those heaps of diapers at the dump.
4. I have been eating way too much pumpkin... pumpkin everything.. If I have an orange tint to me it is not a bad spray on tan it is from the pumpkin... if I am orange please let me know, seriously!
5. I've been trying to work on paper crafts in my spare time, Thanksgiving treats and scrapbooking for the kids.
6. I volunteer every other Friday at Gret's school. I wish I could do more. They are a great group of kids and I enjoy it so much! I also love the fact they will eat lunch with me and hang out with me at recess....
7. Greta's Easter lilly keeps blooming and blooming and.....
8.  Greta's reading Nancy Drew. So cool. Love those mysteries.
9. Fieldin is starting to draw stick people. Greta thinks they are sweet.
10. The kiddos are all pyshed for Christmas and we have officially started listening to holiday music as of last Monday. Toy store ads are all over the house with things circled all over, Gretas telling Fieldin stories of past Christmas days gone by and I am ready for a tree!
11. The time change screwed up all our internal clocks. The kids have been getting up at 5:30 or 6 EVERY morning...
12. We've all been a bit lazy. Tis the season, right?

I hope all of you are enjoying the season and the everyday.

Halloween 2011

 We had a very fun day on Halloween and some very good trick or treating.

 Spider man and Rapunzel on the porch

 It was hard to keep up with the little mans excitement but he finally puttered out.

Fieldin was especially excited when the Fire Dept drove threw the neighborhood handing out treat bags and hats.

Hope Everyone  Had A Happy Halloween Yesterday and A Satisfied Sweet Tooth Today!