Parrrrtaaay

This last weekend was full of partying. We started out with a surprise party on Friday night. Andrew's co-worker's wife made this beautiful cheesecake for her husband. I always love a birthday party during the holidays:


The Google party followed on Saturday night. It was at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. We dropped Blake and Reade off at a babysitter's in the city. Poor girl, she had to deal with Reade crying for four hours. He really wanted to sleep in his own bed. While she was dealing with our offspring, we drank alcohol, mingled with co-workers, and ran around looking at rain forests and getting our pictures taken. This year they added horse drawn carriage rides, but the line was too long so we went back in and hit up the dessert table (yum!). Thanks again Google for a great time:


The family met up on Sunday to experience the Dicken's Fair. Family came from near and far to watch Jessica put on a great caroling show. Those people can sing. Aunt Sandy was the Christmas angel because she held Reade for over two hours while he slept. He just couldn't take anymore partying I guess. Jessica will be at it for another weekend if anyone wants to stop by and see her:


We all got some sleep, but I am still zonked. Now for the holiday rush...

Mall Santa

I couldn't pass up the mall Santa this year. I would blame Santa for Reade's screaming, but I think the truth lies somewhere between being strapped in the stroller pre-Santa and being out of mommy's arms. Fun, kitschy, and adorable all wrapped into one:

Blankies

My mom's friend Anne Riley (check out her website here) made these adorable blankies for Blake and Reade. They are the perfect size for the kids' car seats. Blake loves the robots and Reade loves the cars and tools. We are spoiled with great, crafty people around us.

She picked out the fabrics herself and does a great job of coordinating them:


Thanks Anne! They will be used all the time.

I can't wait to have some free time so Reade can be added to the family:


Picasa has a new photo editor named Picnik. It is fun to mess with my pictures now.

Snow

We drove up the road from Ellen and David's to play in the snow after Thanksgiving. So much fun.

Snow boots:


What Reade did for his first time at the snow:


Snow plows make good igloos:


Twins:


I just may be the most respected member of this family:

Change

I am going to start this post with some baby bath photos (sick of 'em yet?). Here is Reade bathing in both grandparent's sinks for vacation (all of us are finally home under the same roof).

Grammie's sink:


Grandma El's sink:


Here is a story about a mom with two children. One time, her toddler slept in the bed with her because her husband was away. She put a new diaper on the boy because he woke up at 6am and she hoped he would fall back asleep. Fifteen minutes later, the baby woke and all three of them headed downstairs. The toddler took off his diaper and left it on the floor. When the tired mom sat down to change the baby's diaper, she noticed the other diaper on the floor. She took into account the five minute rule and wrapped her baby in the giant toddler's diaper. So much for clean kids. Savage mother.

I promised finished project pictures, but I hardly took any. Here is Jessica working on the dress she made because she is a caroler at the Dicken's Fair in SF. Everyone should go see her.

Working her fingers to the bone:


David got a job in Santa Clara and will now be our neighbors (in Mountain View). We are excited and can't wait to have them nearby. They will keep their Oakhurst home so they can have their farm retreat to relax in on the weekends.

Reade sitting on things to move:


They packed the truck and are now unpacked in Mountain View:

Busy

Big boys play outside (with patient Aunt Jessica):

To discover end-of-fall nature:

While humming sewing machines create winter things:

I am using photos from a few days ago so stay tuned for some major progress. There are Christmas trees, projects close to done, and horsing around all waiting for upload!