Christmas Cookies

Instead of battling crowds and traffic to go shopping on Black Friday, it is our tradition to make cookies. It started when I was a child, and Gran has kept the tradition alive. Caleb has been doing it every year since he was old enough to, and today, Eli got to do it, too. The boys had fun rolling out the sugar cookie dough, cutting out different shapes, and decorating them. Their favorite part was eating them, though.

Step #1 - Roll out the dough

Step #2 - Use cookie cutters to make different shaped cookies

Step #3 - Consult Gran, the expert cookie maker

Step #4 - Smile at Mommy taking pictures of the whole process

Step #5 - Begin decorating the cookies

Step #6 - Meticulously create patterns on the cookies you decorate.

Step #7 - Admire the decorated cookies before cooking them

Step #8 - Eat your yummy handiwork

Thanksgiving 2008

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Gran and Pop Pop's house this year as we normally do. Here are a few highlights.

The picture we will use for Christmas cards this year. Thanks, Nikki, for taking the shot!

Getting our grub on

Mommy and Caleb

Caleb and Wesley

Off to Gran and Pop Pop's We Go!

We drove to Gran and Pop Pop's house today to spend a few days together celebrating Thanksgiving. Since it is a two and a half hour drive, I set up the DVD player for the boys to watch. They both happily put their headphones on and watched movies the whole way there.

Fun Family Time

Auntie Mack, Lily, and Anabel came to visit us for a few days this week. Caleb had really been missing his favorite girl Lily, so he was very excited about spending time with her. Both Caleb and Lily start their VPK programs next week, so we figured this would be a good time to have one last hurrah together! The kids' school schedules are going to make it difficult to visit each other for more than a weekend until next summer.

The big kids slept in the same room for the first time. They did pretty well over all. Lily started off on the floor the first night but ended up sleeping in the bottom bunk under Caleb. There was some talking and giggling, but they did eventually fall asleep.

The cousins had lots of fun playing together. Dressing up was a theme, but strangely, I have no pictures of Caleb (the costume king) dressed up. I am not sure how that happened.

Mom Mom came over to visit yesterday which was nice. Caleb was in a funny mood when we took pictures, so he is not in any of the ones I took.

I think a fun time was had by all!

A Splashin' Good Time

While Allen was in Las Vegas, I took the boys to the Wyndham Orlando Resort on International Drive. I found a great rate online and saw that they had several pools, so we made a reservation. I didn't realize until we got there that I had stayed there as a teenager for a Spanish competition. The hotel had a different name back then and looked a bit different.

Caleb loved the kiddie pool there and had a blast playing in it. We went to the pool early in the morning and had it all to ourselves. Eli was hesitant at first, but then he enjoyed riding in his car float. He enjoyed Caleb pulling him around the pool.

The resort was nice, and we wish we could have stayed longer. We are considering going back there to stay with Daddy some time soon. I-Drive is just far enough away from home to make it seem like a vacation without having to drive for a long time or pay an arm and a leg for gas.