Let's Build a House

This past weekend we continued to check off our Christmas to do list.  This time we pushed up our sleeves and built a gingerbread house.  I was a slacker mom and just bought the kit at the store and, boy did I learn my lesson.  I do not consider myself a world class gingerbread house builder, but the icing in the kit was not kid or adult friendly.  It was just impossible to spread, so next year homemade will be the way to go.  Most importantly, Addie had a blast playing/eating the candy and building a house.

Let's Talk About The Lights...

To kick off our family's holiday season, we loaded up and went to the Opryland Hotel to look at the lights.  We had a great time walking around and gazing at the twinkle lights.  Addison really did enjoy the lights this year.  I tell a big difference this year because she is really realizing the tinsel and decorations that go with the season this year.  When we were leaving the hotel, Addison just chanted, " Let's talk about the lights!!!"  Here's to a great Christmas Season.

Touching the lights with Daddy.

Our family Christmas picture.  Our last one as a trio.

Do you think she has been naughty or nice?

Get Your Pedals Running...

Addie is finally putting her feet on the pedals!!!!!!!  I have been working with her for about four months trying to perfect her tricycle skills and she finally did it a few weeks ago (As you can tell from the ghost in the yard and the green leaves on the tree.  I must get better about my blogging habits.)  So long Flintstone feet.

Getting in position....

Downward stroke...

And she is off!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!

    This year Addie's "two year old theme" is Minnie Mouse.  We had a Princess Minnie cake for her two year birthday and now she was Minnie for Halloween.  We had a great time with this costume and it was nice that Addie was excited and understood the Trick-or-Treat concept.  If you cannot remember, last year she did not want to dress up and it took dressing up our dog as a bee to get Addie to wear her bee costume.  The only item she did not like about her costume were the mouse ears.  Addie is not a fan of headbands, so we took the ears off the headband and made them into barrettes.    

Looking for "Minnie" good treats!!!!

After going to a few houses, we went to the church's Fall Festival.  Addie was so excited about the bouncy houses and cotton candy that awaited.  All she could talk about for two days was the cotton candy she was going to get at the Fall Festival.  The funny thing about this was when Addie's dream was granted, she did not want to try the cotton candy.  Yes, my picky child did not want to try fluffy SUGAR!!!!  So she just waved it around until a sucker caught her eye.

After we waved our cotton candy around a bit, visited with our friends, and ate chili, we were off to the fun and games.  Addie really did have a great time this year with the games.  She played, ran, and bounced.  It really was a great night.

Addie fishing for more candy with candy in her hand.

Our "Minnie Mouse" bounced right out of her ears.

The post sugar crash.... sweet dreams.

Pumpkin Carving on Halloween Eve...

Since it took so long to get pumpkins (see pumpkin patch blog), our carving night almost wasn't.  Addie chose the smallest pumpkin out of our assortment.  While I was getting everything ready for our carving bonanza, I asked if Addie wanted to sit on the counter to help and watch.  To my surprise, I turn around and Addie had read my mind and was already on the counter.

Does this picture illustrate the years of trouble on our hands or what?  She used the door pulls as a ladder, and to quote Addie "Look mommy, me real high up."  After I gave her a lecture about not to climb onto the counter and then took a picture, which negated my lecture, we got to carving.  Addie carved a pumpkin with her preschool class on Wednesday, so she knew the drill and was eager to help.

 

Addie scooping out the smelly pumpkin guts.  I am sooooo happy to give this job away.  Addie said she wanted a happy jack-o-lantern so I tried my best to oblige.  She also picked out the shapes for the nose and eyes.  We named our jack-o-lantern "Crazy Jack".