Christmas!

Christmas Eve! Brand new Christmas PJs!

Stocking opening! We asked the to wait until 7:00 am to get up and they did!

One of Conner's favorite gifts.

Opening Gifts!

Happiness overload!

Ben's Yule Log.

Trying to get a family photo!  Didn't realize Ben was making faces in every single Shot!

Auntie Kim getting down with the new family toy. Xbox with Kinect.

Let's try one without Ben!

Mom and her girls!

A Very Harry Birthday...

This year the boys decided to have separate birthday parties.  They also wanted them before Christmas (Last year they had one together after Christmas.) So it's been extra hectic around here.

On Sunday, we threw a Harry Potter Birthday for Conner.  It was small. Just a few friends from school, his neighbor friend and of course, Aidan!

Aidan and Conner had Hogwarts Robes already, but I made some simple ones for the other guests.  I also made a ton of wands for them to choose from. 

Here is Conner wearing with wand and cauldron wearing the glasses from the "Pin the Glasses on Harry Game"...

 

Potions class...

The Cake that was decorated an hour before everyone arrived.  Conner wanted 3 dimensional characters on top but since we'd run out of time he settled for two dimensional.  Conner helped to decorate it (He was very specific about what their hair had to look like!) and he added the hands, mouths and Harry's Scar.

 

The Wizard Twins!

 

All the party guests (one boy was sick on the day and couldn't attend)...

  

It was a great party.  Conner loved having his own day.

Christmas tree shopping...

Hide and Seek in the trees!

This one looks good!

Euan looks lost...

The perfect tree!

Aidan and Conner secure the tree to the car!

Thanksgiving...

 Thanksgiving was very mellow this year.  Just me the kids, Auntie Kim, Uncle Dino and Ben (Euan is in England for business.) The table was set and centerpiece created by Conner and his friend S...

Lola enjoying a bit of sun...

Taking a break from a chess game to checkout a awesome football play...

Cocktails! Champagne for the grownups, sparkling cider for the kids...

 Aidan's and Ben's turn at chess...

 The Meal...

Thankful for dear family and sweet friends!

A Recital

The boys had there first music recital this weekend.

Conner on the Violin...

 And Aidan on the Guitar...

It was very sweet.  They were the newest players (a couple of months).  Conner was the very first to play and he had no problems.  Aidan was a little more nervous and played very quietly.  They were very inspired hearing the students that had been playing longer than they had!

Halloween!

Halloween was fun and not too crazy this year!  Euan didn't get back from Scotland until later in the evening so the boys went trick-or-treating with the neighbors while I greeted the crowds at our house.

Aidan (Skeleton on the left) and Conner (a warlock) with Han Solo, a twin skeleton, a witch and a Peacock...

Me and my oh so charming next-door-neighbor (he was a Will Ferrell character)...

There's no place like home...

And last but certainly not least, a picture of my nephew Ben in the Ice Cream cone costume I made him.  He supposedly got extra candy for being so cute (I'm going to get a cut of it!)...

Halloween Parade

It's been ages since I posted any photos!  So sorry!  As you know it's been a little crazy around here.  Things are settling back into a routine (just in time for the holidays/birthdays).  Here are some photos from the boys halloween parade at school this morning.  Not the best but hope to get better pictures this afternoon of their costumes.

Aidan is the skeleton behind his teacher Mrs. Kreuzberger... (there were quite a few Giants costumes as you can imagine.  At least the colors are appropriate for Halloween)

Conner holding the hand of his teacher Ms. Nebolan.  He was a little nervous about the scary costumes.  He is a fruit bat.  Notice the green grapes in his right hand...

More pictures to come...

A trip to the beach...

 Yesterday morning our friends from school invited us to join them on a trip to Limantour Beach.  We were prepared for cold and cloudy skies but the day turned out sunny and warm. Lots of crab sitings, water and sand play...

Watching the crab burrow back into the sand!

Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival

Euan took the boys overnight to Monterey to see the Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival. 

They seemed to have a great time and meet the queen....

And I got over 24 hours of solitude....bliss!

Squaw Valley Trip

We spent a week in Squaw Valley courtesy of Papa. It was a wonderful time spent with Auntie Kim and Ben.  Papa was able to join us at the end of the week.  One of the things the kids (and adults) enjoyed most was a raft ride down the Truckee River. This is something I had found memories of as a child. The trip was a 2 1/2 hour  gentle ride with a few small rapids.  Of course, I didn't get any photos because there was a very strong chance of the camera getting wet.

The first day we went on a lovely hike up the Shirley Trail.  This is a great hike that starts in the parking lot of where we stayed.

There was lots of fun things to do in the Squaw Valley Village.  

Miniature golf and bunging jumping...

Here is Ben and Aidan on the Zipline...

Conner on the big chair...

There was also a lot of relaxing things to do at the condo.  

Aidan playing Shuffle board...

Conner in the pool...

The last weekend of our stay the Village was sponsoring the Wanderlust Festival.  A yoga and independent music festival.  This made for fun watching of very calm people by day and listening to very loud music from our rooms at night.  (I'm so old).

It was a great trip.  Thanks so much Papa!