Thankful

We received the most wonderful surprise this Thanksgiving.  Mom + Bob were with us!  It was a whirlwind tour...they were with us less than 24 hours.  It was wonderful though.  The boys and I got up bright + early (at least by today's standards) Thanksgiving morning to pick them up at the airport.  

The boys quickly latched on to them.  It is like they knew they only had a short time and needed to soak it all in.  It was so cute how Milo walked up to my Mom with this book and said, "Read this."  He was so tickled!

I thought for sure Ian had fallen asleep because we didn't hear a peep out of him for a long time.  But nope, they were both awake and enjoying Santa Paws.  

My brother took some good photos of the grandkids + grandparents.  This was just one I took with my phone and jazzed up a bit with PicMonkey:)  So blessed.  

We enjoyed our holiday week and knew we had to make the most of Saturday night.  Movie night with popcorn - is there any other way to do it?  

Grandma left the boys with a holiday treat.  The melting snowman!  It is pretty cute.  I think we are going to make a mini album one (hopefully snowy) day soon.  

We took a mini road trip on Saturday.  A short drive to Ft. Collins.  The boys were so quiet in the back seat, so I turned around and this is what I found.  I wasn't sure whether it was cute or creepy.  Ha!  

Then we get to Once Upon A Child and Ian finds this...

it was our first negotiation:)  He + Milo had to share it and they had to pay for it from the money in their piggy banks.  He probably would have agreed to anything to get this Boba Fett helmet.  They did a pretty good job of sharing it.  Ian insisted on wearing it into all the stores we went into that day.  He was amazingly agreeable to my refusal to let him wear it during lunch.  

Monday was a short back to reality for us.  Casey went to work and Ian went to school, but later that night we had a puking preschooler on our hands:(  I kept both boys home with me on Tuesday.  Milo wanted to wear footie pj's like Ian and the only pair I could find were 18 months Christmas footie pj's from last Christmas...and they fit, perfectly!  Awesome.  

Ian was feeling better, but I still couldn't take him to day care.  We had a nice day of lounging in our pj's, watching movies, and naps.  Later in the day I went upstairs and found Ian had nicely hung their superhero capes on his dresser.  Does it get any cuter?

Name one thing that can top your sick day at home?  Daddy coming home from work with a huge cardboard box turned into playhouse!  It was an instant hit and hours of fun.  I am confident it is the only reason I got to sleep past 8 AM this morning.  Praise the almighty playhouse!

Halloween Fun Part II

My boys were all about Halloween this year!  I wasn't sure what Milo was going to think about it all, but he took it all in stride.  Ian was Captain Rex Clone Trooper and Milo was Yoda.  The boys made up their own weapons (A+ for creativity if you ask me) - Ian used a snorkel and Milo just a random wand we had laying around the house.  

The Saturday before Halloween was the annual Halloween parade down Main St.  It seems like every year we are running late and end up squeezing in at the end of the line...this time with the Zombie band behind us. They were pretty cool, but Milo wasn't digging it.  

The first of many stops down Main Street.  The downtown vendors are so great!

My favorite family this year!

A happier 'lil guy once he was able to ditch the Zombie band:)

Later that night, Peyton joined us while her parents went out to dinner.  My little brother turned 33!  That is hard for me to believe actually.  And it makes me feel a little old.  Ha!

The next night we went over to their house to celebrate.  Heather made a great meal and the kids had fun being silly together.

I think this pic is too cute - Peyton giving her Daddy a high five after he blew out all his candles.

Aunt Heather had silly mustaches for everyone too.  What a great evening!

Ian and his BFF, Cruz, in their costumes.  They had a fun party and got to trick or treat throughout their school building.  I really wanted to stay, but Milo just couldn't hang in for that long.  He wore his costume and all he wanted to do was be with his big brother.  Milo plunked down for the class picture, but got kicked out:(  It was the last straw for that little guy, so we headed home for a nap.  Ian didn't seem to mind - he actually said, "Don't worry, Mom.  I will just hang out with someone else's Mommy."  I love that he is so independent!

Later that night, Ella and Ava joined us at our house for neighborhood trick or treating.  It is a long-standing tradition and I am so glad everyone was feeling well this year so we could pull it off.  Kate gets the coolest Mom award this year because she brought glow sticks for everyone.  Milo was so excited to have his own light saber!  He couldn't stop smiling.  Ava just wanted to eat hers;) 

The first house

The last house 

(for the whole gang anyway, Ava and Milo had to make an early departure)

A true Jedi never leaves his light saber behind...

And the party was still going strong the next morning!

I can't believe it is now November.  Wow.  It is officially holiday season and I kicked it off with a holiday show at Magic Fairy Candles the first weekend in November.  It was a good test for me.  The Mollie McGee show is not far off and I needed something to get me "in the spirit".

Above is my lovely little display.  I think it turned out quite beautiful.  It was a great weekend - good food, good people, and sprinkled with a bit of holiday cheer.  I don't think anyone was ready to admit it is holiday season yet though...despite the fabulous scent of the Yuletide candle burning in the background.  

My boys love coming to Kim's (and she loves seeing them!) because she has a tub 'o trucks behind her register.  Ian always asks politely and I have to say I am impressed with their ability to pick up and put away.  Probably one of the reasons Kim loves them;)  Oh, that and the fact that they call her Kim and aren't shy about it.  It is so fun watching these guys grow up.  I am one lucky gal!