Christmas Preparations

My big brother and I have been very busy getting our house ready for Santa! We did take time out for him to get a new fishie, though. Santa needed a new pet, and so he got Conner's one night. I guess he knew Conner would be happy to share. This is Conner's new fish. He's navy blue and white, and so Conner named him JoePa.

This is our Elf! His name is Iviel. He came to stay with us, and every night that silly elf goes back to tell Santa if we've behaved. Then he flies back and hides in a DIFFERENT spot in our house!

I'm helping Mommy decorate our Christmas tree!

Mommy took some time with her friends to go run a 5k with Santa. Mommy was very happy when she got home. She beat Santa!

Conner likes to help decorate the tree, too.

Last week Mommy and I went to Conner's school so we could check if he has been a good boy or a bad boy. Notice him talking during Circle Time.

Holy Cow!!! Look who came!!!!

He even stopped to talk to me!

Conner got to be the Line Leader. He did a good job, and he was very proud of himself.

They're all lined up to sit on Santa's lap.

Conner sat on Santa's lap, and he said Conner has been good. Conner told Santa he wants a motorcycle ride. Mommy said that is NOT going to happen.

Conner and I each got a present from Santa, even though I was too scared to sit on the Big Guy's lap.

He and his friends all thought Conner's new monster truck was very cool. I got a toy hippo!

And them just a few days ago, we did something very special. Mommy and Daddy took us to the zoo, like we've done lots of times before. But this time there were some animals I have never, ever seen before. SANTA'S REINDEER WERE AT THE ZOO!!!!!!! Not all of them. Daddy said some of them needed extra training and had to stay behind.

AND- SANTA!!!! Conner sat in his sleigh and everything!

And then we got cupcakes... Mmm...

Here's Conner with Santa! I was feeling a little bit shy, so I just gave him five. He said we've been good!

Better late than never!

Oops! These pictures are out of order, but I'm only 1, so I'm just going to pretend that didn't happen.

Here's my big brother at the end of the night, counting his loot!

Mmm, looks good!

Better late than never, here we are in our Halloween costumes!!! We were very, very busy that night, and we had a great time. I was Bakerella, the lady who makes the very cool cake pops. I wore my hat ALL night, but I was afraid to walk up to the houses like Conner and our friend Hannah. Mommy had to push me, but the nice people gave me candy anyway.

Here we are walking along! If you look REALLY carefully, you'll see that Conner isn't wearing shoes. We were hurrying to get out, and Mommy forgot! She had to run home to get them.

Here I am at the end of the night- still wearing my hat!

Conner was on the move that night, and Mommy had a very hard time getting him to stand still for pictures. He ran up the door to all the houses AND he said Please and Thank You! Mommy was very proud, and so was Daddy.

Carving pumpkins

Our Daddy bought us pumpkins for Halloween, and yesterday we carved them into Jack-O-Lanterns! Well, he did the carving and I helped. Katie didn't want anything to do with them.

She was curious at first.

She wanted to know what the goopy stuff was inside the pumpkins. My job was to get all that stuff out.

It was very hard work, but I loved it.

Daddy tried to get her to help...

but she didn't want to! Notice her arms tucked tight behind her back. I think the goop was too slimy. Silly girl.

I had a ball with it!

Katie observed from a distance.

Mommy showed me how to mash the goopy stuff in my hands- so fun!

I had to thump on the bottom to get the last seeds out.

Mommy said it's a miracle the pumpkin is still intact.

Katie's pumpkin has a kitty and bats on it!

Mine has a scary face. Eeeek!

I loved this, and now I want to do it every weekend!

Pre-Bedtime Shenanigans

We like to try to get into all kinds of mischief before bedtime. My big brother told me that delays the bedtime itself. Here are some pictures from when Mommy and Daddy were trying to get us to go night night.

I read books as a delaying tactic. Secretly, I just like to read!

This book was very entertaining.

If I look pretty, Mommy might forget!

I tell her the sounds all the animals make. Mooooo!

My big brother likes to run around and play outside. Mommy told me that just makes him sleepier, but that's a secret. Shh.

He was playing King of the Dirt Pile.

He loves to run!

There he goes again!

Lat night he started riding his old Big Wheel, too.

I don't have any idea what he was doing in this picture, but it was SO funny! Mommy laughed and laughed when she saw it.

He hurt his toe, and you know boys- he thought the thing was going to fall off. Boys are wimps, I'm learning VERY quickly.

He was showing off his picture he made in school!

But, finally, we both caved in and went to sleep...