Happy Advent & Merry Chrsitmas

The boys love getting ready for Christmas almost as much as they love Christmas.

We start the day after Thanksgiving by putting up the lights on the house. A couple days later we put on our Christmas hats and decorated the tree.
The Monday after Thanksgiving we went to visit Santa at his workshop at Bass Pro Shop. Kae really wanted to do this as early as possible so the elves would have plenty of time to build the firehouse he wanted.After talking with Santa the boys got to play on the merry-go-round and wander around the store.
The last day of Kindergarten the Kindergarteners sang some songs (including Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer) and then decorated cookies and gingerbread houses.
After school was out the boys and I made cookies for my cookie exchange and cinnamon dough ornaments for our friends and neighbors.

The Thursday before Christmas Gigi (the boys' great grandmother) arrived from Texas. Friday we all went bowling and then came home and did some Wii bowling.
Christmas eve we went to church to see Kae and his choir sing at church. Then we drove around and looked at lights. When we got home the little boys put on their PJs and got the cookies and egg nog ready for Santa. Then we checked the computer to see where Santa was. It showed Santa in the Central time zone. When I told the boys that Santa was over The United States they ran downstairs and went straight to bed so they would be asleep when Santa came. It was the easiest time I have ever had putting them to bed.
When they woke up Christmas morning, the boys were super excited to see what Santa had brought and what was in all the presents under the tree. Kae even helped pass out the presents.Kae got his firehouse and some fireman stuff from Gigi. Izee got superhero dress-up clothes from Mommy.Daddy got a new radio for his car.Gigi got a really pretty bracelet.Poppi got an outdoor speaker. Nonna got a popcorn popper. The boys were super excited for her to try it out.I got a pressure caner. I'm excited to try canning some homemade broth and maybe some spaghetti sauce or salsa this summer when my garden explodes with tomatoes.
Gigi left the next morning, but before she headed back to Texas we had breakfast together and got a picture of the 4 generation together.

Leaves

Daddy raked the leaves but ran out of bags. He left one pile of leaves in the yard. The next day Izee found the leaf pile.
After Kae got done with school, Izee showed him the leaf pile.

The boys both had a great time rolling around and throwing leaves.

Thanksgiving

The Friday before Thanksgiving Izee and I joined Kae and his Kindergarten class for their feast. The kids got to dress as either a Native American or a Pilgrim. Kae went as a Native American and Izee went as a Pilgrim.
We had a delicious feast of turkey, cheese, rolls, fruit and veggies.After the food the Kindergartener's showed us some of their awesome dance moves.Then all the kids got set free in the classroom to read and play. Kae showed Izee the reading carpet and some of the toys they get to play with in Kindergarten.
Izee had so much fun! He asked the teacher if he can come back and be a Kindergartener when he gets "little bitty bigger".

Uncle Ethan and Aunt Jenny drove in for Thanksgiving. We were too busy chatting, cooking, playing Wii and eating to take any pictures on Thanksgiving day. We had a delicious meal!

The day after Thanksgiving, when our turkey coma wore off, the boys and I went ice skating with Aunt Jenny. (Uncle Ethan, Nonna, Poppi and Daddy stayed at home to put up Christmas lights.)

Saturday Poppi, Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Ethan and Aunt Jenny went on a tour of New Belgium Brewery. It was a very fun tour and included tastings of 5 different beers. The final stop on the tour was the slide. Mommy didn't do the slide but she got great pictures of everyone else sliding.

(Uncle Ethan)

(Aunt Jenny)

(Daddy)

(Poppi)

We also took Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ethan to our local downtown for our tree lighting and to see the Christmas lights.

A Super Halloween!

Kae and Izee are super into superheroes. They decided about a month before Halloween that they wanted to be Batman and Robin. Then they told Mommy she should be Wonder Woman and Daddy he should be Superman. Even Nonna and Poppi were told they should be superheroes. I let the boys try on their costumes when they arrived but then I made them wait for the Halloween Festivities before they could wear them again.
Parade
Every year the Saturday before Halloween is the city parade. You can either watch it or walk in it. Every year since Kae was born we have walked in the parade. The kids love it! They love walking in the parade but they also love seeing all the other costumes. On the way back to the car from the parade, we stopped in the park for a super snowball fight.
Day of The Dead
After the parade we headed to the museum for The Day of The Dead Celebration. The celebration included, a Day of The Dead exhibit, decorating sugar skulls, paper flowers and a delicious meal of tamales, rice and beans.

Halloween Night
The trick-or-treating started in Nonna's and Poppi's neighborhood. We added Batgirl and Green Lantern to our Super Friends.After Super Daddy got off work, we met him at home and headed over to the local church for Trunk-or-Treating.
Now we have enough candy to last us till Easter. :)