So This Is (Was) Christmas

The Christmas Season this year was kind of a weak effort on my part.   My inability to tolerate frigid cold temperatures, a funeral, a wicked flu virus systematically taking down each member of our family and the fact that I could not get over the fact that Thanksgiving was just so late this year are only some of the reasons I was acting a little Scroogish.  But we did manage to slide in some of our favorite activities of years past...and even attempted a new family activity. Some of my neighbor gifts actually even got delivered.  And true to form, after Christmas morning was over I pretty much forgot I have access to a camera, so if it happened after about noon on Christmas it lives on only in my memories...

I spy with my little eye:
Letters to Santa (along with a joyfully received response!)//Decorating for Christmas//A visit from our Christmas Elf//Festival of Trees//Cookie Making Day//Christmas Crafts//Ogden Christmas Village//Neighbor Gifts//Christmas Eve games and crackers//Tracking Santa//Leaving Santa his cookie fix//Presents, presents and more presents.

Till next year, Christmas!

In Like A Lion..

and also out like a lion!  March was jam packed with all sorts of fun activities and seriously flew by.  April is on track to be the same way.  

So before I forget all the delightfulness, a quick peek at the March madness.

I spy with my little eye...
*Outings to McDonalds and the Children's Museum.  Harper has officially crossed over into fully participating in the cesspool of  winter ick that covers both places.  You'll notice it doesn't keep me from going either place.  Winter is desperate times, you guys.
* First time taking both kids swimming by myself.  No drownings to report, so I have high hopes for this summer.
* Turning all our food green for St Patrick's Day.  Holden went nuts for this holiday.  It seriously rivals Easter in his book.
* Speaking of Easter, we kick started the Easter season by making some chocolate dipped cinnamon bunnies. Unpictured--the bags and bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs that also made their way into our bellies well before Easter got here.
* Practicing wrestling moves with dad.
* Test driving adorable Spring wardrobes
* So many fun playdates with friends!  I love the end of hibernation season.
* Errands.  So many errands.  Good thing those two can entertain each other and Holden is easily bribed with quarter machines.

And after all that, we still had Easter to take care of.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, Easter is my favorite holiday.   Hands down.  A bold statement, I know, but I don't take it back.

I spy with my little eye...
* Egg dying.  Poor Harper had to watch from afar while munching on one of those weird clear crayons that comes with the egg dying kit.  Maybe next year, kid.
* Easter basket bliss eggs all ready to be found.
* Adorable Sunday best for all.

13 Days Of Halloween

So, remember last year, when I was all sick and pregnant and failed Halloween big time?  Yeah, me too.  This year I was determined not to repeat history.  I mean, really.  How often do you get to be the parent of a four year old during holidays?  Hardly ever.  I wasn't about to waste this.  So, I decided we would do a Halloweenish activity for each of the 13 days leading up to Halloween.  And we did, but I am sure not going to blog about it all.   It gets one photo collage, and that's it.

I spy with my little eye:  

Multitudes of Halloween baked goods, crafts and games.

Halloween Party with friends (sidenote:  We were Saved by The Bell characters, but apparently we were the only Superfans, because no one recognized us, even with our Bayside Tigers T-Shirts.  Oh well, still counts as coordinating Halloween costumes.  Also, if you look really, REALLY close you can see that I did in fact put blonde back in my hair.)  

Pumpkin picking AND carving...And a little Hallo"weenie" dinner to go with it.  

Celebrations at Preschool, Grandpa's office and the trunk of our car.

Also, regular Halloween happened.  Harper was not having her costume.  She wouldn't even be photographed in it without sitting on Reo's lap.   Holden loved his.  He insisted on being a zombie from Plants Vs. Zombies, even though I was quite sure no one would know who the heck he was supposed to be.   I was about half right.  Both of them loved their skeleton jammies.  What's not to love?  We've all been loving Holden's Halloween candy.

Pheww.. Halloween is exhausting!
Also, full disclosure, I still didn't decorate.