Kid Ornaments 2013!

As per tradition, we buy the kids one ornament each Christmas that represents them for that year.

Cole, this has been the year of cars for you! We have adored your obsession with Lightning McQueen (and all cars in general). You can never get enough Light 2 tweens, and sacrament meeting has been a cinch to get through (so long as we remember to pack the cars).

And, Kate, this was the year you put singing classes to the test and did a beautiful job at it too! This was no surprise to us. You have always loved putting on “talent shows”, singing songs, watching musicals, and performing for others!

So let’s unveil this year’s ornaments….

The Lightning McQueen ornament for brother. And the (pink) microphone for Sister! I think your ornaments suit you perfectly;)

A Major Award!

“Would you look at that? Would you look at THAT?!!”

“But what is it?”

Miss Kate bringing home not one, but two trophies for winning her school’s Reflections Contest!

Kate entered both the Photography and Visual Arts categories. We thought she might have a shot for photography since there are fewer entrants in that category, but who knew she’d grab a win from the very popular visual arts category too?

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Posing with her photo, “My Gnome and I” (L); posing with her visual arts pic, “My Dream” (based on being a pet shop owner someday;) (R)

Sweet Cole was sure his trophy was coming. He sat and waited patiently for his name to be called. It didn’t happen. Luckily, the dad had a Dundie Award trophy waiting at home with Coley Bear’s name on it, making everyone happy in the end;)

So proud of both my little people! Yeah, I’m that mom.

Coley Bear’s Birthday

Good morning, Baby Boy! You’re 3!

Have you ever seen a kid with better facial expressions?

Cole’s actual birthday was on Thursday, October 24th. We opened presents and went out to dinner as a family, but his birthday parties (and CAKE) wouldn’t be till Sunday when we celebrated with extended family. We figured he wouldn’t know any different and would go with the flow of things. We were wrong. All day long this boy asked about his cake. We tried explaining we’d do the cake at his parties. He wouldn’t have it. We ended up buying a small cake so he could blow out some candles on his REAL birthday. Come on, parents. Get with it!

Sunday came and we had 2 parties; one at Grandma Sherrie’s with my family, and the other at our house with Dave’s family. Mr. Cole has had his birthday theme picked out for a year now, and the decorations on-hand for 2 months now. A Lightning McQueen birthday. Could it be any other way? NO.

Handmade cake and cupcakes by the talented hubby

Blowing out candles

Trying on new presents for size; and testing them out too;)

Presents this year: assorted super hero gifts, a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, a helicopter, Teenage Mutant Ninja gear, Navy Seal dress-ups with grenades and a gun, Monster puppets, cars, Lightning McQueen Legos, rocket launcher, Woody doll and dress-ups, Dusty Crophopper plane, Darth Tater, and a Target gift card. Not bad, son.

Yesterday Cole sulked, “I need my birthday back!” I think he had blast!

 

Cole at 3:

-Momma’s boy through and through

-Loves his big sister more than anyone

-A tender-hearted, sensitive soul

-Growing into a little comedian

-Loves wrestling with uncles & Sunday evenings

-Best friend, Trey

-Loves to sing, ride bikes, and watch t.v.;)

-Fave Books: Me Want Pet, Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom, Five Little Pumpkins

-Loves all boy toys and all things Disney, but most especially Lightning McQueen

-Has a serious need to get out and go places in the car

-Considers orange Juice a food, and “Meeds” it several times a day

-Still does not feed himself, and requests Mom to feed him

-Eats few things: dinosaur oatmeal, pizza, mac n cheese, ramen noodles, yogurt (that’s about it)

-Has stolen our hearts and makes us often wonder how on EARTH we got this one!

All Hallow’s Eve

This year’s Halloween was WONDERFUL! So much better than last year’s puke fest for Dave and me (TMI, but it’s the truth).

Coley and I started off our morning at Sissy’s school parade. I meant to have Coley dress up, but we ran out of time in the morning and went as is. Big Mistake. Brother was not happy. And he made me pay for it the whole time we there;)

It made all the battling with Junior worthwhile once we got to see Big Sissy! Cutest darn Lalaloopsy and kid I’ve ever seen!

 

Kate got to carry on her parade over at the Charleston Assisted Living Center. It’s right next door to her school so it’s a convenient and fun show for both the seniors and the school kids. Dave’s parents actually have callings there as the Branch President/Relief Society President. So Grandma and Grandpa got to see her too! If you ask Sissy, The Charleston was her favorite part of the school day!

 

After the show, Coley and I stopped by his all-time favorite Halloween House (I figured we better get one last look before it goes down). This whole month he has requested drive by’s so he could see HIS dinosaur. His “favorite purple dinosaur that’s happy.”

  

We got out of the car and walked around (like the sign invites you to do). He could have done it 100 more times, but once was good for me;) 

 

Later that afternoon, Coley and I returned to Kate’s class for her Halloween party. This time Cole was dressed in his costume. Coincidentally, so was I. Cole would not let me leave the house without putting mine on too. Dead serious.

Right when we got there, Cole squeezed his big sister saying, “Kate! Kate! I missed you!”--nearly in tears, mind you. He can be such the sensitive little boy, especially when it comes to Kate.

 

I got to run a bean bag toss game which was easy and fun. But more fun than anything was having Cole rotate through the stations with the rest of the big kids. This is the first time he’s ever been big enough to actually participate. Needless to say, he was sad to leave Kate’s school:

And then came trick-or-treating time! Dave and I always take turns going out with the kids and passing out candy. I went out first while Dave stayed at home. Sissy zoomed around on her scooter, while Coley and I kept up with the stroller (I’m guessing next year he’ll need to scoot too).

 

When it came my turn to pass out treats, I discovered there were no resting moments. I had to stand at the door, constantly opening and closing. Alas, I threw on a zombie mask and sat on the porch to pass treats. I kind of can’t believe I didn’t do this before! It was so fun! I got to sit back and observe all the little people running around the neighborhood, but best of all, I got to make them nervous when they came to our porch;) I was silent and did hand motions and most kids got quite the kick out of it. And when the little ones were scared I’d take off the mask and put on my happy/smiley/feel good face. It was really a blast.

 

When Dave and the kids returned from trick-or-treating for the night, Kate was surprised to see me!  She was laughing saying, “Mom?! What are you doing!!!??”

Cole, on the other hand, began nervously crying, “Mom? Your eyes! What happened?!”

 

I took the mask off to reassure him that I was still normal-looking, and then he laughed about it too. From that point on, Kate took over my job, while Cole assisted at her side (or rather, filled his cheeks with treats). It was pretty cute!

Spooky with the Dave’s fog machine and lighting effects, huh?

 

And now drumroll, please! Are you ready for this year’s total of Trick-or-Treaters?

It’s a record breaking year, folks…

 

236!

Not bad!

Ward Halloween Party

Our ward is successful at many things, but its Halloween Party might take the cake. It’s a night of costume contests, chili cook-off’s, baking cook-off’s, a spook alley, pumpkin bowling, bingo, pin the tail, memory, fish ponds, obstacle courses, face painting, and what have you. It’s Kate’s absolute favorite celebration. And likely, Cole’s, in years to come.

Dave and I really got into the spirit and bought a couple’s costume for $16 whole dollars!

I entered a kitty litter cake into the Spooky Dessert contest. I had “heard” that the gross treats win; otherwise, I might not have been so brave.

Safe to eat, BTW

At the evening’s end, we had some winners! Kate won 3rd place in the kids’ costume contest. And I took home the gold for my dessert! I was quickly dethroned as Cole grew concerned about not winning a trophy for his costume. “No, Cole. You won the contest too! See here’s your trophy;)!”

Cutting Pumpkins and Such

Pumpkins were included with our season passes to Cornbelly’s; always a nice thing until it comes time to actually carve. Kate asks for weeks. The parents usually have some excuse to not carve. And then it comes down to the wire, and we have to do it.

Cole was in a “bit of a mood.” And then he carved the Mom’s finger. And then she was in a “bit of a mood.”

But all’s well that ends well. I was responsible for the “helping” of Cole’s Mickey Mouse pumpkin. Kate did the white pumpkin with a “scary” face that also said “Boo.” And the Dad’s was the winky face.

Sea World & La Jolla Cove

We had a nice sleep-in morning after our late night with Mickey the Mouse. I can’t say Cole ever really sleeps in, but this morning was about the best he did the whole trip. Today’s agenda…Sea World!

There’s that tongue again!

 

Outside (and inside) the Penguin Encounter (one of my personal faves):



Sea turtles!

 

Feeding the seals. This is one thing you have to do fast. If you stand too long holding your fish, the seagulls will fly in and steal them straight from your hand.

 

Mmm…tasty!

 

The Shamu Show (let’s be honest)…HUGE downer! I understand that the trainers don’t want to be eaten (so that’s why they don’t swim with the whales anymore), but it sure makes for a less than exciting show nowadays.

 

The dolphin show, however, fabulous! Sissy loved the main character, Marina. She commented that she wants to be Marina in the show one day Who wouldn’t want to wear pink, prance around a stage, and swim with dolphins, after all?

 

How lucky that she got to meet her after the show too!

 

Riding and meeting Elmo:

 

One of the cutest pics:

Little brother did not much like bouncing. He found it difficult to walk on the giant jumper, let alone jump. He was asked to vacate the jumper before the time was even up because he just laid there. Sad face!

 

Petting the Bat Rays:

Sky riding over the ocean (Kate’s favorite part and Dad’s least favorite part):

 

And how about a sugar stick as a parting gift? The kids were thrilled.

 

We’d read up about La Jolla Cove and stopped by there on the way home. Amazing. Why on earth did I not know about this place sooner? Mom’s favorite part of the trip.

It’s hard to see, but in the dark zone of the cove are hundreds of sea lions stacked on top of each other. I’ve never seen anything like this in real life. Sea World, yes, but real life, no.

 

 

Here’s one little guy we were able to get right up close to. He had fishing line and a hook caught in his skin:(

Such a beautiful place! And the cutest beach town ever. Glad I got to see it, and definitely won’t be my last.

 

We had dinner at Panera that night. Then back at the hotel we let the kids play and build in the lobby castle for a while. Sweet Cole, lost another hat for the second time this night in the lobby. Luckily, the hotel mailed his Mickey Ears to us a few days after we got back!

 

And that, friends, marks the end of our trip. One of my favorites ever, for sure!