Trolley Tour of Lights

On Tuesday evening we chartered a trolley for the Christmas light tour with a bunch of other family friends to check out all the outrageous light displays in Santa Barbara.  Unfortunately the flu got in the way of my plans to attend, so Todd, being the Super Dad that he is, took both kids on the tour.

 Kyla and Reese

Sammie

Jillian and Baby Beck

How cozy does Beck's outfit look?!

 Sarah, Laurie and Connor

 Marina, Katie and Baby Lola

 I love this picture of Margaret with the wind blowing through her hair

 Isabella, Sam and Reese

Phil with Baby Leila and Todd with Baby Thatcher

Rainy Days = Baking

Last week when it rained all day and all night EVERYDAY we spent a lot of time in the kitchen.

Sam making Sugar Cookies

Waiting for them to bake

Waiting for them to cool.....

 

Still waiting....

 

Getting impatient....

 

Thatchey is excited!

 

And now impatient!

The final outcome!

 

The snowman she made for Daddy.  Looks delicious, right?

Oh Christmas Tree

 One kid is constantly redecorating it while the other is eating the ornaments.

Hence the half filled tree.....

And this morning Samantha literally hid herself inside the tree and Thatcher was trying to find her. 

My Little Angel

Sam has been extra, EXTRA sweet lately.  If I feel a battle coming on I just mention the words, "Santa Claus" or "Naughty List".  Works like a charm. Santa will be a year-round thing in our household.

He Can Clap!

The novelty of Thatcher being able to clap has not warn off for us parents.  I am sure Thatcher is hoping we think it gets old soon.  "Thatch CLAP!  Thatcher, show us how you CLAP! Thatchy Boy, you can do it, CLAP!"

Blackberry

Thatcher had his first taste of Blackberries.  He likes it!

Random Phone Pictures

This is a little blurry but I wanted to show how we ride around the house lately.  Samantha got a plasma car for her birthday and we play "Bus Stop".  I pick up and drop off the kids at different "stops" in our house: Trader Joe's, Ralphs, Costco, Home Depot, Preschool, Friend's homes.  Basically the same rotation we do in my "real" bus.  ;)

This is Thatcher at the Christmas Parade.  He sat upright with Todd, in the sling, snoozing away.

Lollipop got sick over Thanksgiving and spent some time at the vet's office.  She got to wear this fancy wrap around her leg. 

Samantha wanted to go swimming during the 80 degree weather we had last week.  A drink bucket was the best we could do.

Our tree this year! 

Okay not really, but the mall has a nice tree.  Unfortunately our tree is lacking a bit this year in that I could only decorate the top half of the tree.  It is absolutely impossible to keep Thatcher away from the ornaments, lights, pine needles....

Before we put up the Christmas decorations and lights outside, we had to get rid of the gigantic pumpkin from Halloween/Thanksgiving.  Todd and Sam had fun carving it before it went off to the dump.

And last but definitely not least,

our two cuties!