Christmas...Oh how I already miss vacation!!!

Here's to catch you up on some of our holiday fun!
Before we left we had a great visit and dinner with Travis's aunt and uncle, Shirley and Dan.  We always enjoy their company.  Of course, Dalton was spoiled with some pretty cool Christmas presents...including a cozy sweatshirt that says "Dude!" on it!  (Apparently I say "dude!" often enough to be remembered in this way:)

A few days later we traveled up to my parents' house on Christmas Eve morning....Nothing exciting there, which is good since we have a kiddo that DOES NOT sleep in the car!  Seriously!?!?  Almost 5 hours in a car and not much sleeping going on for him.   Aren't all kids supposed to sleep in the car!?  Apparently Dalton missed that memo!

Christmas morning: Opening presents started out with our Ugly Hat Contest...and the winner is ....ME!  I specially crafted a lovely hat with hanging used toothbrushes and 7 Up cans, quite festive!

 No, that is NOT Annika's real hair...Thanks Uncle Dan for loaning us the hat for a GOOD laugh!

 And a CLOSE second in the Ugly Hat Contest goes to.....
Annika's hat!  (which holds 200 cotton balls all hot glued onto an old ball cap, just look at Annika's hand to prove it!:)

When we walked down the hallway on Christmas morning to discover that Santa had come, the first thing Dalton spotted under the tree was his new truck!  He even did a little dance with excitement and exclaimed "ooh!"  Other than that he could have cared less about unwrapping presents. 

 He LOVES playing with his cousin, Kellyn!!! JUST LOVES HER!!!

 Check out his smile!...Proof!

 "Cheese!"

 more cheese!

 Playing the computer with Grammy...He would wait for her to tell him to press the button...TOO CUTE!!!

 We had the most relaxing day...we even stayed in our jammies ALL day! 

My dad's birthday is 2 days after Christmas, which is always good to have another reason to eat cake!  This year, the whole family got together (including our Uncle Doug, Aunt Monika, and cousins Josie, Russell, Sadie, Bailey and Rogan) at Annika and Greg's house.  We even managed to get a family photo!

 The ladies of our family

Greg wrote a Twelve Days of Christmas song especially for Dad and each person in the family had a line relating to them....HILARIOUS!  and PRICELESS!  We spent the evening singing and listening to Greg and Josie sing some carols and other classics.  Very talented!

Rogan played with Poppi.

Dalton got a little restless so he got comfy and played on my iPhone...

 while Poppi and Grammy enjoyed the entertainment...

Then Mom and Russell danced...

and Kellyn and Poppi hugged...

 It was a very memorable night with our wonderful family! 

One of our last days up in Meadow Valley we were lucky enough to get a day in of snowmobiling at Bucks Lake with Annika and Greg ... SO MUCH FUN!  What a beautiful scene... And riding the snowmobile all around the lake and to the Lakeshore Lodge to have a beer...PERFECT DAY!  We even caught up with some high school teachers we had at QHS! 
Here's a really great photo of my sister and me at the Summit ....ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL scenery!   (My hair, NOT so great! Not to worry, the hair being ORANGE was NOT intended and thank God it is now a light brown...Funny story!)

 Here we are at Lakeshore Lodge.  There were quite a few people up there.

 Annika and Greg...Another great photo!

 Trav being Trav!  And wishing we had more daylight!

 Looking down the Summit...Beautiful sunset to the end a great day!

 The view from Bucks Summit

 A couple more pictures of Dalton and Kellyn

 The last day we were there Dalton discovered that he could get up in this chair and rock himself...FUN!  Nothing like being at Grammy and Poppi's house! 

I'll end with a few funny shots of Dalton and Kellyn...wrestling...

 Here's Dalton checkin out how to attack...

 and it's a SMACKDOWN!

We can't wait to see everyone again soon!  We feel very blessed to have spent all that time with family.

Santa...maybe not our best idea:)

Well, we guessed it...At 18 months, Dalton definitely has a mind of his own and we pretty much knew he would NOT dig Santa, but we decided to give it a try.  He is no worse for the wear, plus it was FREE!  Even better... 
Oh well, maybe next year:)  At least he had fun while waiting for Santa and getting a snowman balloon.

 Merry Christmas!  Funny, all morning when we talked about Santa he would say "Ho, Ho!"  and when we asked him what he wanted for Christmas he'd reply "bike"....He's been practicing with Nanny! 
No such luck when we got there!

He had much more fun at the toy store next door to Santa! 

Happy Holidays!

Just thought I would share some house pictures.  Almost all the Christmas decor is done, except for a small Christmas tree and some finishing touches.   We are looking very forward to the holidays!  We can't wait to spend time with family and friends.   Enjoy!

This is the entryway.. I tried something new with the doors this year. 

I put ribbons down two of them to hang Christmas cards on.  Hopefully the ribbons stay put:)
Here's the comfy living room...(yes I hid some of the kiddo's toys....I mean they really didn't match the decor.:)

 I think my favorite part is the kitchen this year.  I added little touches all over and had such fun!  I now see why my mom LOVES decorating for the holidays!  It is really is a time to ENJOY and be thankful for your home too!

 My Grandma Beer would be so happy to see her hutch decorated for Christmas and her table too! :)

 Here's some fun little kitchen touches in the window.

 Mint mocha anyone?

 Looking out from the kitchen to the living room.

Another favorite part is this little bit I added above the bar hutch.  The lighted branches, thanks Mom!, are just perfect there!

 I love our new stockings and hangers...Gotta love Target!

 Need I say more?

 The front porch still needs a little TLC and some finishing touches, but we love our new lights...which by the way, I seemed to have forgotten to turn on the cute penguin and lights for the picture...Brilliant!  LOL!

Here's to a wonderful holiday season! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, well, well....If it isn't me FINALLY posting again!?!?   I know, I stink....I have been a lil' busy!  In all reality, where DID Sept-Nov go?!?!  Thankfully I have this week off, so what better thing to do that catch up on some bloggin!?

We are all doing really well.   We certainly had LOTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR!!!  Dalton is growing up so fast!  We can't believe it!  He is talking a lot!  This morning it was raining and he pointed outside and said, "Rain."  I didn't even know he knew the word!  It is just so much fun hearing him talk!  He has the sweetest voice...I bet all moms say that about their kids right?!?

Ok, enough chit chat...Let's get to some PICTURES!  We have a lot to catch up on...From riding the train in Tilden Park, to visiting Godfather John at Grammy and Poppi's, to Halloween...We are absolutely LOVING it all!

It was a HOT September day so we thought we would escape the heat and head over the hill to Berkeley's Tilden Park.  It is always cooler there....But when we got there it was HOT there too! Oh well, we LOVED riding the rails with our lil man.  Dalton was so happy to see the train.  He was a little leary once we got one though...

 I took this photo from my lap when Dalton was sitting on Trav's lap.  I love the innocent face. 

 Still riding the rails...Here's my mellow kiddo!!!

 This picture makes me tear up.  Here's a Daddy and son moment on the train.  Dalton and Travis are such pals...I am one lucky lady!

I always look forward to October.  There is a lull in the school year for a couple weeks and we manage to get away for a trip to visit my parents in Meadow Valley.  It was wonderful!  My godfather John was there for a visit from Minnesota, so Dalton got to meet John for the first time too!  He was FASCINATED with his pipe.   Of course, he couldn't get enough of his Grammy...one of his biggest fans!

 John, Dalton and Grammy

 Yes, Grammy this is my nose....

 While we were hanging out on the front porch, Poppi was in his shop creating a new masterpiece, a violin!  (Course, we now all have hearing damage from the noise of his saw!)

Halloween seemed to creep up on us this year.  Thanks goodness Aunt Shirley and Uncle Dan got Dalton's costume for him MONTHS early!....Our little monkey was a perfect costume!  Doesn't he look thrilled about the costume?  LOL!  It really only took a minute and he was happy about it.

 We took him to the pumpkin farm at our local Farmer's Market.  How funny is that little tail?!?

 Look Mom, no hands!

 Peeking through the haystacks.

 What does a monkey do when he gets too hot?  Pull down the zipper Miami Vice style!

 After running around at the pumpkin patch, we went to see Auntie Marlene, Uncle Mike, and Trevor.  Dalton LOVES his cousin Trevor so much!  It took him back to see him as Scooby Doo! 

 

Dalton sitting on his favorite stool to take in a snack...Cheerios!

By the end of the evening after visiting family, including spending time with Nanny, Uncle Derek and Auntie Candace...we had ONE TIRED MONKEY! 

Promise to post Thanksgiving pictures soon!:)