The P family annual tree trip!

Last year, the P family was nice enough to bring us down a Christmas tree from their annual trip up to the mountains to cut down a tree. Last year, we traded them for a raspberry teething paci (tree for a paci, fair trade, right!?) This year, we decided to join in the fun.

So we gathered all the cold weather gear we could find (including Jenna's awesome snowsuit sent out from New Jersey courtesy of Nana) and picked up some super cute rain boots for Jenna. We bought the next size up to hopefully last her the season. That proved to be a bit of a mistake. As we hiked through the snow (while I carried her) I would hear 'uh oh, uh oh, uh oh!' I looked down... Jenna was wearing one boot... turn around and 3 feet behind us was the other hello kitty boot on the ground... pick it up, put it on start walking again... repeat. Over and over and over. Meh, at least they're cute!

We found our tree pretty quickly, and returned to replace her boot once again ;)
Here we are with the Christmas tree of 2009. Isn't it purdy!? Yeah, I love it. Too bad it was WAY too tall for our little ceilings. Maybe next year we'll be in a house with vaulted ceilings!? Maybe?

Landon wasn't digging the sled. I think he was playing along, but just wasn't excited about it. He liked being there, but preferred to be held.

Jenna, on the other hand... once she discovered the sled... it was all over. If we picked her up, she was ANGRY! Put me down people! Don't you know there's a sled and snow to play in!?

Can you say 'love'!?

We picked her up yet again for a quick photo op. See the displeasure on her face!? WHY AM I NOT DOWN ON THE GROUND!?

Stomping around in the snow...

The P family dogs came along for some fun, too!

Someone pull this!

Yep, Landon wasn't into it... They really are opposite in their mannerisms.

Sally brought along the best chili ever! Perfect on such a cold day!

More sled action. I know you're shocked.

She figured if she just laid down then she wouldn't have to maneuver in that 'can't put my arms down' snowsuit and she could just enjoy the ride.

LOTS of trees!

Ours is loaded up and ready go 4 wheelin once again! This is the first time the 4Runner's been on fresh snow. We had a blast 4 wheeling :)

The P family with their tree! (They have vaulted ceilings, can you tell!?)

The night before the trip I went to get gas at 9:30 pm. When I got in the car to go, the driver's side headlight was out. With no auto parts stores open at that time of night, I just filled up and we were on our way the next day. We let the caravan know our issue and they kept an eye out for our one eye on the drive up. On the drive back down to the bay, we stopped in Auburn for gas. As we were leaving the gas station, we noticed the other light was out. It was 6pm, in November, pitch black out with NO headlights! We pulled over with the group, looked up the nearest Target and headed that direction with our high beams on blinding only one party of our caravan. On our way, we saw an open Kragen Auto Parts, on a Sunday evening, at 6:30 pm in Auburn. A quick u-turn and stop and we were on the road again.

The trip was beyond fun. It was a suuuper long day, Jenna barely napped at all (30 minutes there, 30 minutes after loading up and 30 minutes before getting home. We left our house at 7am and didn't get home until 9 at night.

I think it's pretty safe to say that we'll be adding this tradition to our agenda next year for sure!

Just a glimpse...

Each day, my heart skips a beat at the mere thought of just a glimpse. I know, hope and dream that the day will go well. In the morning I consider sneaking a peek before work but realize that would be foolish and cruel. I wish the paparazzi would stalk her like they do the celebrities.

When I do get a moment, when I get that first glimpse of her, my heart is pounding, my smile is wide and I look forward to the minute that I get to hug her. Of course, the second she's handed over, she leans way off to the side pointing, yelling either a) banannaaaa!!!! or b) shooooeeeessss!!!!!



Who needs your Mama at the end of the day when there are banana's and shoes to reach for? In the end, it's still worth it for the unsolicited hug or kiss.

She just makes me smile...

It's that time of year! Halloween was yesterday and I didn't think I shot *that* many photos, but in the end.... I did.

There are photos of me when I was about Jenna's age (or maybe younger, I don't really remember) when My parents were carving up the pumpkins and let me play with the innerds... I was not brave enough to let Jenna play with the guts of the pumpkin, but we put her in her high chair while we carved the little pumpkin and I shot some photos. I love the look of concentration on her face. She had a good time!

She loved putting the crayons in the eyes of the pumpkin... over and over and over.

Yucky! she wipes her hands when there's goo on them... I think she had just reached in the pumpkin...
This goes HERE!?
Jenna was Minnie Mouse this year... and a cute one she was! This is at Day Care, I stayed behind to shoot just one image..... I never get to drop her off so I went in late to work to see all the kiddos dressed up... I love this image.
My pretty girl having her ears straightened out by Irma.

Getting used to the ears


We've taught her to 'sniff' the flowers.

bloomers...
practicing trick or treating. When it came time for the real thing... the girl RAN between the houses... she loved, loved, loved going from door to door. Wasn't interested in the candy, but was interested in getting the show on the road. When we came back to the house she was UPSET! She wanted to keep on keepin on...
My beautiful girl likes to sit at the dining room table.
A bad case of diaper rash yielded the 'naked chef'.

Blogger Challenge #5

What is your favorite Halloween candy of all time?

Yes. I love Halloween candy. I love that they're bite sized (think small plates!) so I can have 5 different types instead of a whole candy bar. I'm not a big fan of tootsie rolls... they just aren't my cup of tea, but I love the sour, the cheap chocolate, the fruity, pretty much all Halloween candy.

We'll be taking Jenna trick or treating this year, only to a few houses before putting her to bed (hopefully late to prepare for the time change!) but once she's asleep, I can't wait to dig through her goods! Weeee!!!

Blogger Challenge #4

What was your (or your child's) "best" Halloween costume ever? (Bonus points for photos!)

I pink puffy heart Jenna as a little squirt from last year. The costume was essentially a hoodie and a pair of pants. It was WAY too big for her, but she was just adorable in it, working on her head control during tummy time was awesome to watch. She was also a flower last year and that was a bit hit, too. However, it was warm last October and I had to take her out of the costume after only a short amount of time because she was roasty toasty.

My favorite costume? In the 6th grade, I was a headless person. My Mom came up with the costume idea. I wore a pair of my dads pants, pulled up to my shoulders (I don't remember what I did with my arms all day long!) a shirt hung on a frame of coat hangers and stuffed with newspaper that sat on my shoulders. The arms of the shirt came together just under my chin... sooo I looked like I was walking around carrying my own head. During the parade at lunch, the coat hangers came undone and collapsed on me, but it was a pretty cool idea, none-the-less.