Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Santa

Warning!Santa spoiler alert!!!

This year my kids are VERY excited about Santa!

Izaac has been dreaming up Santa traps...we even had a bubble wrap floor for awhile.

He has been analyzing all of the Christmas specials and you can see his brain working. At one point he turned and looked at us and said "Is that how it happens?" Tobie and I only managed that parent head bob we all know to well. The only saving grace is that he believes in magic, and truly believes that Santa is magic. I don't have a problem letting him believe that because the memory and true spirit of Santa is truly magical. When the time comes, and he asks "THE" question, I will tell him. Tobie and I had this discussion the other night and we decided that the correct answer is "In the spirit, memory and love of Santa, your Dad and I put the gifts under the tree". I will cry that day...

Ivy was all worked up before we saw Santa, because she really did not know what to ask him for. She was in tears, not because she was frightened, but because she did not know an answer to the questions "What do you want for Christmas?" Of course we provided her with answers;-) We also told her is was OK to tell Santa to bring her what ever he thought she might want...see how we did that...


Just seeing this picture makes me get teary eyed. I hope it is not the last one where Izaac "believes". Luckily Ivy had calmed down by this time.

Both my kids understand that this is Jesus' day. Izaac came back from the children's mass last Sunday and whispered in my ear that he wants to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus on Christmas. And Ivy is fascinated with babies's, so baby Jesus is very interesting to her.

A healthy mix of God and Santa is what I am shooting for.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Gingerbread House

Every year the cousins get together at Gran and Papa's house to make a gingerbread house. This year Kyle missed because he was sick. So this time it was just the three younger cousins. We never partake in the eating of said gingerbread house...there are always waaaaay too many germs floating around on the thing. The kids have been known to put on a piece of candy, lick fingers and continue...there is a bit of an ick factor to the whole thing.


This year the base structure of the house was a chocloate cookie insead to the typical gingerbread...but I still will refrain.
Needless to say, they always turn out to be master pieces, and they are so proud of their creation.



Yummy!


Saturday, November 20, 2010

Happy Birthday Ivy

It seems just like yesterday that Ivy came into our world. Now she is 4!!! Time is moving way to fast! From an infant in our arms...
to a big girl blowing out her candles.


Lalaloopsy doll happiness!


Sunday, November 7, 2010

Monster House

This is a video taken one night before Tobie had the whole show ready.

Halloween 2010

Halloween is always a big decoration event at our house. This year Tobie stepped it up even further with a mouth that "moved" with the music. Tobie gathered some of the neighborhood kids to take a few photos before he took down all of the decorations.
The house in mid-song.

The kids could not resist getting in a morbid picture. Their idea, not Tobies:-)


Ivy was Jessie this year. She fell in love with the boots that I bought her to go with the outfit, and now she wears them all the time!



Friday, October 29, 2010

Galveston Beach House '10

My parents rented a beach house in Galveston again this summer, and we had a wonderful time. The kids enjoyed being beach bums.

Crabbing was an ongoing activity...we ate A LOT of crab!

This was a group picture gone bad:-)


Ivy loves playing in the sand. She would spend the whole day digging and building.



Isabel has turned out to be a good beach dog. She stays right with us, plays in the water and bird watches...





Sunday, October 24, 2010

Beach Trip With The Swanson Trio

Early trip to the beach this summer. Fun in the sand.
Working together.