Christmas at Our House

We have had such a fun time getting ready for Christmas this year. I think Ava and Sam are both at such fun ages, and we have been able to begin some new traditions. I just wanted to give a glimpse of what Christmas looks like at our house this year.

Our tree

Can I just say that I think the most beautiful trees are the ones full of homemade ornaments.  I will never have a fancy tree - I can't wait until mine is just covered with ornaments from the kids!

Ava and I had a blast making the gingerbread house - Sam had a blast eating half of it :)

It would not have been the same here without our Elf on the Shelf - Sprinkles.  Sam seriously can't stand it every morning until he finds him. And I have to say James has had probably just as much fun finding spots for him!  And to make it even more fun Sprinkles occasionally leaves little gifts for the kids - this morning he left Christmas pajamas!!

I love everything about Christmas cards - making them, sending them, getting them!!  I always keep them and will have fun looking at them again next Christmas!!

Ava REALLY wanted to be Santa Claus in the bathtub - Sam did not!!

 Our new Christmas pj's from Sprinkles!!

I hope everyone else has had as much fun getting ready for the holidays!! 

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a busy (and really fun) Thanksgiving holiday.  First, we celebrated on Wednesday night with my Daddy, Andrea, Erica's crew, Jordan, and Conner. We missed you Jacob :(  We had a very non-traditional meal -  spaghetti and meatballs.  We also celebrated Tyler's (my oldest nephew) birthday.  He is 14 years old which I absolutely cannot believe.  In two years he will be driving!!!!!

Conner and Sam are hiding from monsters under the table

The birthday boy

Jordan with the girls

The girls had such a fun time playing dress up with Jordan- what a good uncle!!

and a good Papa too :)

On Thursday we went to my mom's and had Thanksgiving lunch with Matthew and Erica's family.  It was a delicious lunch, and all of the kids had so much fun playing

Mama with all the kids

and then with just the girls

We took this picture first and Sam wasn't in the mood - obviously!! 

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving.  I can't believe it is already time for Christmas!!!

Thanksgiving Feast

Last Thursday Ava's Mother's Day Out class put on a program and had a Thanksgiving Feast.  James and I were so lucky to go together and have lunch with our little girl!!  She had so much fun playing with her friends after lunch!!

Ava made several goodies for us.  One was a Thanksgiving place mat listing all of the things that she was thankfull for.  The first thing listed - Elle (our dog).  First of all, her teacher was baffled that anyone would name their dog Elle (she spelled it "L").  I assured her that Ava was right and that was her name.  Then I wanted to make sure with the teacher that she didn't say Elle first - she did - haha!!  The order -- Elle, Sam, Mommy, and James. Oh well- third is not too bad- at least I wasn't fourth :)

I hope I can get the video figured out on this blog, because I have another cute one!! 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pirainos

Gymnastics Girl

We have been going to a combo gymnastics, ballet, and tap class for several months now.  We just LOVE it. I have to say that I was a little worried because I didn't know what to expect.  However, Ava is in her element there.  She is so excited in the morning when it is her dance day.  We have made new friends, and my normally shy, quiet little girl is such an extrovert when she is there. 

Last week the moms got to go in and watch (take videos) of the girls doing gymnastics. I just thought I would share some of my footage, but I can't upload my video for soem reason- BOO!!  I will keep trying because it is worth it :)

Halloween Fun.....a little late

We had a great Halloween weekend.  I have just been to busy to sit down and write about it.  Ava had a lot of input about the Halloween costumes this year - she felt VERY strongly about being Jessie from Toy Story.  Then Ava and I decided together that Sam should be Buzz - maybe next year Sam can pick out his own costume :)

The kids and I had SO much fun decorating these pumpkins. I just didn't want to carve a pumpkin this year and was so excited when I found these cute Potato Head decorations at Target.  I cannot even explain how excited they both were every time we went outside.  I just took them apart yesterday. 

James' parents (Grandma and Grandpa) came to spend Halloween weekend with us.  We made a little trip to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday.  The highlight for both kids was riding the ponies!

Sam and Grandpa

I was working REALLY hard to get smiles - not to be!!

The whole gang

Sam and Ava on the hayride

Ava said that she really needs a pony now - HA!

On Sunday night we had such a great time trick or treating with our little Jessie and Buzz.  James had to nearly drag me home along with the kids - I kept saying, "Just one more!"

 Miss America - Ava waving at the trick-or-treaters as they walk by!

 I got very few pictures of Sam - he was too busy to be still for my pictures!

 Here we are at Rob and Margaret's house - ready to go!

 The thing that I always want to remember about this Halloween is how sweet my kids were when they went up to the houses to get candy.  They were so polite, and Ava took such good care of her little brother.  She held his hand and waited for him, and when Sam was reluctant to talk she talked for him.  I am so glad that I have been blessed with these two kids :)

Playgroup Fun

We have had some really fun playgroups lately, and I thought I would share.  The kids and I enjoy spending our Friday mornings with this wonderful group!

A couple weeks ago we went to Funland in North Little Rock which has little carnival rides for kids.  The last time we went Sam had no fear and rode everything, and Ava was a little hesitant.  This time around was the opposite - Ava was fearless, and it just wasn't Sam's day!

Poor little thing had a hard day!  He was so excited and ran to get on every ride, but when I turned around to leave he started screaming like this. 

Ava and her little friends!  She was rocking this Ferris wheel which nearly gave me a heart attack but you could hear all the girls giggling!

The next playgroup we went to the Faulkner County Fair to see all of the animals.  Both kids loved it, and we talked about it for days. 

 Finally, this morning we went to the Fire station for a little tour with all the kiddos.  Both of my kids were afraid of the firefighters and would not get a picture.  But Sam really wanted to ring the bell and finally had his chance at the end of the day!

Ava was reaching for me to get her down, and Sam didn't even pretend to be interested in the picture (he is in the bottom right corner)!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  And because I don't want to be disowned - Go Hogs!! (although deep down I am an Aggie fan too)!!

Dumbo

Look at what happens to my poor little Sam when he gets a mosquito bite.  We went to the doctor today, and he assured me that there isn't anything to worry about!

I hope that everyone is having a good week.  We are trying to get over a terrible loss for James' Aggies football team last night - next weekend will be fun to watch the Aggies and the Hogs play!  It is so gorgeous outside that I am planning to spend the weekend outside with the kids - hopefully without running into any mosquitoes!

Party Time

We had a little party for Sam on his birthday.  It was very low-key; we only invited family and our friends Joey and Jennifer.  It was Cars theme.  Every time you ask Sam what kind of birthday he is going to have he says, "Vroom" - his word for car!  

Tyler and Erica

Mimi, Sam, and Papa

We watched the Razorback game before the party- and I was so glad the Hogs pulled off the win :)

 Sam had a lot of help with the presents!

Sam and Woody (or as Sam says Woowy)

Mama and Sam

Erica and Sam

 Haven and Ava (my little fashionista picked out her clothes for the party)

We all had a great time - especially the birthday boy!