Cookies and Crafts

We have been very busy this holiday season with all of the cookies and crafts (craps as Taylor calls them) that we have been making. We have done it all. Sugar cookies, peanut butter balls, paper mache wreaths, salt clay ornaments, potato stamped wrapping paper and candy cane playdough. I love this time of year. It seems like the projects just never end which keeps our days very full and the television off.

Advent Calendar

The kids have used my advent calendar since they were babies. My grandma made it for me when I was little so although it is falling apart I think it is amazing. They love putting the ornaments on the tree and like the gifts our elf & santa bring even more. These are the pics from the December 1st. Taylor and Ethan got new Christmas books. We are in love with the Fancy Nancy Christmas book right now.

Tree Lighting

We love our little community in Las Vegas. They have fun events like a fall festival, a Memorial Day celebration, and a tree lighting. Even though it was super cold and windy we made the 5 minute walk down to where they have the giant tree to watch Santa light it up.

Mom and the kids

Ethan enjoying one of the many free cookies at the event,

The kids made some super cute mouse candy cane crafts.

We had to wait 30 minutes in the cold to see the big guy, but it was worth it

Greg and the kids getting ready to go

Taylor fell asleep on the walk home

I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

This girl loves everything pink so of course we had to buy a little pink tree for her room.

Christmas is Coming

We are all ready for Christmas around here!

Taylor and Ethan love playing with this magnetic ice skating toy that I had when I was a kid.

Taylor had a lot of fun decorating the tree and Ethan is having fun undecorating the tree. Taylor got to put the 1st ornament up this year. She chose her new Barbie ballerina ornament that Nana gave her.

The kids love snuggling with their Christmas blankets that Nana made for them.

We have read Elf on the Shelf numerous times. Taylor understands but Ethan is totally clueless. Maybe next year he will behave for the Elf.

This boy loves Christmas

Turkey Time

We found a ton of pine cones on our walk the other. We just couldn't help ourselves. We had to make turkey name cards for our Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Food Truck!

Greg is totally obsessed with the whole food truck sensation that is hitting Las Vegas. He follows several trucks on facebook. I must say, some of the food is amazing. I just have a hard time driving across town to eat outside on a curb. Luckily, the other week there was a food truck festival just 5 minutes from our house. There were over 20 trucks at the location and a band was playing music. We had the best time and ate way too much!

Natural History Museum

We went to the Natural History Museum the other week with some friends. It is a really old museum in Las Vegas, but the kids always have fun.

Checking out the animals

Looking at the sharks and stingrays

I love this aquarium because the kids get to put their heads inside it

Ethan spent a ton of time digging for bones and fossils

My Little Shopper

Taylor is not a big fan of shopping, but she loves going to Whole Foods since they have mini carts for her to push around. I love how happy she is when we are there, but she drives me crazy because every time I turn around she is putting cookies or something unhealthy into her cart.

UNLV Basketball

Almost everyone knows that we are huge UNLV basketball fans. Greg has had season tickets his entire life. The kids and I try to go to as many games as we can, but there are so many games. We have been to about 4 games so far and we are having the best season. We just beat #1 ranked North Carolina last night!!!!! Here are some pictures from our first rebel game this season.

Mom and the kiddos outside the stadium

Our little Rebel Girl

Ethan and Dad in their rebel red

Taylor fell asleep about 10 minutes into the game. I don't know how she can sleep through the games, but she's been doing it since she was a baby.

Playgroup Thanksgiving

We hosted our playgroup's Thanksgiving this year at our house. It was so fun to have all the kids over to eat and play (actually it was a complete chaotic mess since we had about 20 kids there). We ate too much and made silly turkey hats.

Family Photos

We had a our family photos taken last week. They need some editing, but I think they turned out great. Ethan cooperated for all of 5 minutes so I am amazed that we got so many cute ones.