Thanksgiving

Since we moved to California we always do thanksgiving with my family. Why? Because the British don't celebrate thanksgiving. This year my mom decided that we would all go to Mexico for Thanksgiving. Again. Granted, Mexico is fun and the beach is nice but it is a long way to go. Rocky Point is a full days drive (including the 2 hour wait at the border) from my house which is much closer to some very nice beaches. Des was especially disappointed to miss the Black Friday sales which he thinks are the best part of the holiday. But enough complaining. We had fun and it was nice to see everyone!

We stopped to get those frozen fruit bars whose name I cannot spell (you know, the ones that are actually made of chunks of fruit). Collin usually can't eat all of one and it makes a huge mess so we got him ice cream this time. Apparently it was cold!

My dad took Collin and Bonnema out in the boat. Collin was apparently silent the whole time. When they got back he told me that a big wave came in the boat and got them all wet. I think he really enjoyed it despite the bath.

The first time my family went to Rocky Point - many years ago before I moved out and they stopped camping and started renting beach houses - some people told us about this great little bakery. It is a little place that bakes rolls and pastries in a wood fired oven. Here we are with our bread.

This is my Uncle David playing the guitar. He is a great musician and he even made that guitar!

Here is Collin playing in the sand. Surprisingly he was really good this year and stayed close to the house. Last year he made it halfway to the water, at night, before we noticed he was gone. Fortunately Peter is terrified of the ocean so I didn't have to worry about him.

Here is Trevor! He is the cutest little chunk ever, and happy as well! Aren't I a lucky auntie?

Eventually we did get around to thanksgiving dinner but we forgot to take a picture of the actual meal. I guess we were too busy eating all that good food! Here is one table of happy full people!

At the Park

They boys and I had Veteran's Day off on Monday. We decided to go to the park to get a little energy out. It seems that many people had the same idea and the park was really busy. It has been so hot here lately. I know that it is California but I really don't think that it should be eight five degrees in November. I am sure those of you who have very cold weather might disagree but it just isn't right.

Here are some pictures from the playground. Notice Collin's new haircut. I finally found just the right moment and was able to cut it without a huge fight.

Later in the week we had one of Collin's friends over. Here they are playing quietly in the back yard.
And so the holiday season begins. I scheduled a dentist appointment for myself for Monday morning foolishly thinking that I would have a few free hours as my children would both be in school. Not so. Both my children are off for the whole week for thanksgiving. I called the dentist's office and told them that I needed to reschedule my appointment because I didn't have anyone to watch my kids. The woman said that I should keep my appointment and bring my kids. They watch kids in the lobby all the time. It would be fine, they watch kids all the time. But my kids are difficult, they run away! She says it will be fine. We shall see.

Chalk Monsters

I pulled out the sidewalk chalk so my boys could color outside and not make such a mess. This was the result.

New quilts

I finally finished the baby quilt I was working on!


I have an endless supply of quilting projects waiting to be started (or finished). It seems that I like buying fabric more than I like actually quilting. I have made a rule that I am not allowed to start a new project until the last (more urgent) one is finished. So, as soon as I finished this last baby quilt I got started on a new one:
So should I use a pink or green fabric with these flowers? I think life must be easier for those who use patterns. I usually just make it up as I go which is probably why I am so slow.

Halloween Leftovers

This is a picture of Des' Transformer costume. He was a teeny bit embarrassed when he saw the pictures but he did proudly wear it to work. He even won a $25 gift card in his office costume contest!I made a pact with my friend Care that we would both throw out all our remaining Halloween candy today so I am going to do it now.

Halloween

I am not the biggest fan of holidays because they are generally so much work. This picture shows why I bother making my kids costumes. The other three boys in Peter's class all wore the same Thomas costume! Where is the fun in that?

Here are the boys in their costumes. Peter was an elephant and because he loved playing with the cape from last year so much I let him wear it again. Super Elephant!! He loved it so much he wore the nose all through preschool (they took the rest of the costume off). Collin is Alpha Pig from Super Why. I never actually got to see him in his costume because I had class last night.

Des took they boys to the Trunk or Treat. Here are the boys in the back of the van eating candy.

Letters and Dancing

Peter has gotten very interested in learning his letters. He loves to type on the computer. He is kind of hard to understand but he is actually saying the names of the letters before he types them!

The boys have been dancing to the beginning of Super Why. They are so funny trying to copy they actions in the song. Who says that TV makes kids into couch potatoes? This was during the fires so all the bags in the background are waiting for the evacuation that didn't happen.