Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Cookie Making

Since Santa doesn't like store bought cookies we spent Christmas eve baking and decorating cookies for him.

Grace and I took care of the baking while Daddy was at work. She helped me at first but soon wanted her own piece of dough which she rolled, squished and cut for at least 45 minutes.





Once Daddy got home from work we decorated our cookies. Grace lost interest in putting sprinkles on the cookies that we would frost and then spent a lot of time dumping sprinkles from one bowl to the other.



We let her have the bottle of frosting and she was all about decorating cookies again. I think the cookies she frosted were the most beautiful.







I'm not sure who had more fun decorating. I almost think it was Mommy and Daddy, but I'm not sure.



We had so much fun that I thought we should decorate cookies for all holidays. Now where do I find Washington and Lincoln cookie cutters??

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Gingerbread Houses!

Last weekend Jen, Ian and Allison braved the snowy weather to join us in making gingerbread houses.



You may be interested to know that very little candy was eaten during this project. I think I caught Grace eating one gummy circle.





Grace kind of lost interest in decorating, but Ian stayed focus and made sure just about every spot had some candy.

Family Portrait

In Mexico we had a photographer come to do a family portrait. He was a super nice guy and took some great photos of my whole family and each of our indiviual families.



Here's everybody.



Here's a slide show of a few of my favorites.



If you would like to check out the whole album:
www.pictage.com/595560

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Christmas Party

Due to our lack of power this past weekend Grace and I head to Grandma's house on Friday. Daddy joined us on Saturday afternoon to get warm and come with use to a Christmas Party with Santa.

Grace helped Grandma decorate her Christmas tree.



Mini Santa was the hit of the party.



He makes a find center piece as well.



Santa brought presents for all the boys and girls. Grace would not sit on Santa's lap, but Spencer didn't mind. In case you were wondering I was informed but Nolan, the authority on Santa, that although this Santa's beard is real he is not the real Santa.



Grace loved the present Santa gave her.



But I think she liked Gray's a little better.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ice Storm

It's amazing how a little rain, well a lot of rain can make such a mess. There are a few pictures from last Friday morning. It sure was a mess around here, but it was really pretty.





My poor tree.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Christmas Card Time!

I've been trying to not obsess over getting the perfect Christmas card picture. I obsessed over it last year. I don't why, but I did. Maybe its because I cheated Grace's first Christmas by going to The Picture People.

I woke up this morning and saw the snow I knew it was the day. I think we got a good one, but you'll have to wait for your card to see it. Here are some that didn't make the cut.





After Grace's photo shoot we came inside to work on making decorations for our artifical Christmas tree. We're going to have two this year. The real tree we're going to put up in a few weeks with hopefully the help of our friends Jen, Russ, Ian and Allison. My plan for the artifical one was for Grace to make things for it. Our project was a whole family effort and I think we made a few cute decorations. Grace sure loves to glue things together!



A message from Grace:
aBZGHYDHUDKJKDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDMMMODLMDDDDDDDDDDDD.l/.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy belated Turkey Day! We went to Grandma Gail's house for a Turkey party, or a least that's house I explained it to Grace. That seemed to quite her continual request to go Trick-or-Treating.

Grace loves to play Grandma's piano.



Grace probably ate about two thirds of that turkey leg.



Such a silly! Grace walked around with that stool on her head for easily 5 minutes asking me if I liked her hat.



Grace's Christmas List:
http://www.kaboodle.com/kellykins/graces-list.html

Trip to Mexico

We spent a great week in Mexico with my family. The weather was great, the house we stayed in was beautiful and it was so much fun to watch Grace play with her cousins!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Halloween Part 3: The Big Show

We started Halloween morning by carving a pumpkin. Grace really got into the carving and even wanted to draw the face on herself, unfortunately I don't think I could have carved the face that Grace drew. I'm proud to say that Grace and I carved our pumpkin in matching shirts and crowns.





George and Sunny dressed up for Halloween. Cheshire was smart enough to avoid the hat.



[Alright, Daddy's turn.]
Then the big night. We got Grace all dressed up in her princess costume and wento ut front. Mommy took a picture.



Off we went. Last year, we visited 4 houses and that was somewhat unwillingly. We began with the house across the street. Grace resisted coming off the sidewalk. We did finally get up the stairs to where our neighbor was sitting. Grace just stood quietly as she got some candy. We went back down the stairs. Over to the next house. I asked if she wanted to go there. "no." We went up the street and around the corner. Lots of houses with no lights, and the ones that did have their lights on were rejected. We finally got to the corner of the next street. She pointed to one of the houses. "Do you want to go to that one?" She nods. I ask if she's going to say "trick or treat?"

"no."

At least she's honest about it. The cycle repeats for about a dozen or so houses. She picks out the house, I ask her if she's going to say "trick or treat," she says no. We go to the house, she tries to ring the bell regardless of whether anyone is already at the door, the person opens the door. Grace doesn't say anything, just takes a few candies. If there are several kinds, she grabs a few of only one kind. Sometime she gives some to me and says "for Daddy". Then we leave and go to the next house, me saying something like "thank you" or "Happy Halloween" as we leave.

About halfway through, it changes. Now instead of her walking between houses, I have to carry her. We go around the loop near our house and come back down our street. I point to our house and ask if she wants to go to it. "No, want more trick or treat. no want inside." So we finish off the rest of our street.

When we got home, Mommy told us she had gotten lonely because we were out for so long. We went inside, and dumped the contents of the loot bag out on the counter. Mommy and I pulled out the things Grace would like (Dum-dums, twizzlers, gummy things) and the stuff no one wanted (who gives out starlite mints or Brach's hard candies on Halloween anyways?), leaving the rest for us to divvy up.

A few more kids came by, then it was time to get to bed. Tomorrow was another big day...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Halloween Part 2

Halloween part 2 took place Saturday afternoon. Grace's friends Ian and Allison had a party. Grace had lots fun playing with Ian and meeting some new friends.

A quick snack before the party.



Ian's Daddy ranked up a big pile of leaves for the kids to play in and luckily the rain held off so they could play.



A Cozy Coupe is always a big hit when kids are around. Grace and Ian did a pretty good job of sharing.



How freakin' cute is this picture???



Grace's chicken suit lives on but I hate to say that Allison is cuter in it then Grace was. Allison sure is a beautiful baby!



Jen was taking pictures of Allison in the leaves and Allison was so cute that I took a couple too. Apparently I can't take a picture without Grace in it, so she moved in on Allison's picture.



When the wagon came out, Ian and Grace worked on their sharing again.



The leaves really were a great idea!



We definately had a fun afternoon! Jen threw a great party and we thank her very much! It so fun to watch as Grace and Ian start to really play together and talk to each other.


Stay tuned Halloween Part 3: The big show will come soon!