Locker Food

Mia has lockers in her bedroom and we got to use chalkboard pens and draw what we wanted.  Here was my contribution:

Cousins being cousins:

Famcember

Cousins:

1st Stop

1st Stop - Grandma and Grandpa's House

California kids.  Playing out in the garden and Piper eating tangerines right off the tree.  Citrus, I miss you terribly!!!

I can't believe Blake is getting too big for the beloved farm trike.

All the kids chose to sleep in Grandma's house and kicked Jessica off the blow up mattress and made her sleep on the couch.  She is a good sport!

We rewarded Aunt Jessica by trapping her in our RV as we drive across the valley to Oakhurst to stay at Andrew's other sister Sandy's for the family festivities.

Frazzle Sauce

I pay a babysitter to watch Piper for five hours, once a week, so that I can fulfill my work shift in Blake's school.  For the same price, I found an adorable Montessori school that is opening up right down the street from Reade's school.  Piper finally hit the 2 1/2 mark so she will go T/Th mornings for the same price I would be paying the babysitter.  I wouldn't have had the courage to put my boys in preschool this early, but my daughter is not used to sharing/playing with other kids outside of the home.  She can play date like a champion, but Heaven help we share space in public.  Anyways, she is starting in January and her teacher asked if she could come for a slow-start introduction this week.  Crazy sauce.  She loved it, but pointed to a little boy and yelled, "He called me buckethead" right before we left.  It is nice she has a school dog to hang out with.  The dog's school job is to sit on the rug and be pet by the children.

Reade got to drop Piper off for her first day.

Santa Lucia Pageant

Reade's preschool put on their annual Santa Lucia Pageant.

The first video is of Reade and his buddies being elves who tiptoe around while the other kids are sleeping.

Ice Skaters

We ice skated as a family for the first time this weekend.  We all started off a bit wobbly, but everyone got the hang of it by the time we finished our last lap.

   

Family Bikers

We are now Seattle Family bikers.  That means I take Reade back and forth from preschool via bike.  That means I am now going to sign us up for a bagillion group family biking activities.  That means I am encouraging Andrew to park his fancy, carbon road bike in the garage and get a beater road bike that can support attaching a tandem bike for Blake so they can bike together to his school a few neighborhoods over.  My poor spin bike is so lonely now.

We had our first Saturday family bike ride to get lunch at a local pizza and pasta shop:

I want all my kids to wear these all day, every day:

Piper and I stopped and got groceries at the cutest little market close to Reade's preschool.  $100 for a banana?  I don't care, I am family biking, yay!

Behind

Friends, people, more friends, more people.  That is how this week is going and I am more than pleased with the company we keep, but I think it is the first time in my life I have run out of energy for small talk.  This community is proving to be so strong and fabulous.  I love seeing other people's happiness for the holiday season.

 Reade has been busy making holiday treats at school:

Blake has been busy making geometrical things at school:

And he started Tae Kwon Do and just loves it:

The kids helped make the dough ornaments for this year's tree:

I made a bunch of sea stars and sand dollar dough ornaments so the tree would have an ocean theme:

Mall Angels

 One of the au pairs in my group asked if we could volunteer for our December Monthly Au Pair Meeting.  We headed to the local mall to work at the gift wrap station that benefits the University YMCA.  I bought the girls halos and made all of them wear them.  I told them they are my angels and most of them were not amused.  A woman had us wrap seven pairs of Ray Ban Sunglasses and then tipped the donation bucket $100.  People are nice and I am grateful for the giving spirit.

G Party

Google's Holiday Party was at the Pacific Science Center with the theme of Mad Men.  I loved the idea and was a bit bummed that there wasn't any real theme to the party other than "you are in a science museum."  I am not complaining and am thankful for the drinks, food, and people.  I was chatting with Andrew's co-workers and I heard, "Shannon."  I turned around, screamed very loudly, and was the happiest person to see Reade's past preschool teacher standing next to me.  She was a +1 with a SF Googler and I was so lucky to have great company for the last hour or so of the party.  I love myself Ms. Tehut.  Reade loved seeing the picture this morning.

I just want props for finding this dress at the thrift store the night before for $9.99.  I went back to the thrift store for the $2.99 brooch and the $2.99 necklace I wrapped around my wrist to call a bracelet.  I really wanted a skinny, gold watch, but they didn't have any.  I did the 60's bouffant with tons of hairspray, but I think it just looked like a rats nest.  I was a combination of Elvira and Amy Winehouse (RIP).

My List

All I hear is talk about the kid's Christmas lists.  I am going to be selfish now:

Cowboys Jacket

White Helmet

or a Cool Wood Grained Helmet

Cowboys Skyline Socks

Chill Cold Boo

My family will be leaving tomorrow.  I am sad.  I got to spend a lot of time with my nephew Nick and I think he is pretty rad to have around.  I know he is looking forward to some time without three yelling kids, but I hope he comes back to play another time.  Do I get to text an 18-year-old in hopes he will text me back?  Probably not, but I am going to try anyway.  And who else will drive out to the country to check out farmhouse rentals with me?  Ellen Hurst is the perfect companion for that one.  It snowed three days ago and there is still some snow on the side of the road.  I love that I get to see snow and not be inconvenienced by it.  Happy December 1st and let your days be merry.

Hip Hip Holidays

Prep

Here is the lead up to the big day (Cowboys vs. Eagles, er I mean Thanksgiving):

Watching the Seahawks win a couple of days ago.

Blake is very thankful for cousin Nicks who play video games.

Blake's school's Stone Soup production.

Snacks before a feast.

Andrew post-chop-off-his-finger fiasco.

This family always has a long dog around.

Stuffing to be made.

Turkeys captured in brine.

Ginpump Cookies

It felt warm and fuzzy to bake on this cool, rainy day.  

I tried out a ginger pumpkin cookie recipe.  These cookies are definitely better after they have cooled a bit.

A Dash of Sanity

Who's Ready?

Gear up for the holidays:

Amazon

    

Amazon

Amazon

Wrastlers

Want to see what sometimes happens before bed?

Nov.

 I am back from LA.  I brought back some pumpkin inspiration.  

1. I had the best appetizer ever!  Pumpkin toast with miso jam, goat cheese, and pumpkin seeds.

2. (Not pumpkin-y, but worth the shout out) Patron Silver with blackberry (uh, yum).

3. Did you know donut holes are called timbits in Canada?  Do you think they named them after Tim's bi... okay, nevermind.

Visit Emma Courtney's blog for a great recipe.

LA

I am really excited to be in LA learning how to be a great LCC.  I am enjoying meeting the high ups in the company and they are giving me the fuel to further the vision.