Thanksgiving 2010

This Thanksgiving we headed north again to spend my week off of work up in Bayside.  The week flew by and the kids kept us very busy.  On our way north we stopped by one of my oldest friend Elisabeth's house and she took some Christmas family photos of us.  Jonah was not in the best of moods and the photo session was came to a very quick end when he fell apart, but Elisabeth was able to snap a few great pictures.

Once in Humboldt we kept pretty busy.  There was some general maintenance to do around the house, we visited with friends, spent a few hours at drop in gymnastics, and spent a beautiful Thanksgiving morning on the beach.

Jonah was a little clingy  while we were at the gym, but Cairo got right in there and tried everything.

The first few days in Bayside were full of rain, but by Thanksgiving everything was dry, crisp, and sunny.  We took advantage of the beautiful weather and took the kids to the jetty for a nice walk and a snack.

Cairo took this picture for us.  Not bad.

Cairo's second try was even better!  Good job Cairo.

Driftwood on the beach.

Cairo decided she was going to try and pick it up...

... but it didn't budge..

Snack time.

Summer, fall, spring, or winter- no trip to the beach would be complete without playing in the sand.

Notice, there are NO pictures from our Thanksgiving meal in Ferndale.  While our morning walk on the beach was fun, the kids missed their naps. This created monster children.  Cairo refused to eat and had very poor table manners and Jonah was trying to get into everything- EVERYTHING.  Erik and I both scarfed down one serving of the food and had to take an early exit.  Not only did we get no pictures from Thanksgiving, we barely got to talk to the family.  I can't wait to have a holiday meal that doesn't involve me trying to get a child to eat or behave or do anything else but enjoy the food and the company.

Pretend

Cairo is a dreamer.  She loves to play pretend.  These days she is making everything she gets her hands on have conversations with each other- dolls, bracelets, silverware, stickers.  Her typical themes involve either friends, marriage, or family.  She seems really fascinated with the social relationships around her.  I find that listening to the things she says is insightful.  It gives me an idea of her view on the world and the relationships of the people around her.  It gives me a chance to see how her mind ticks.  Cairo is so lucky to have such positive influences of family, friends, and love in her life.  She is already beginning to understand and appreciate the value of friendship and love.

The Leaning Tower of J Bear

hand built, with love by Jonah Bear

Don't believe what you see!

These kids cause a ruckus around the house.  Don't believe those innocent faces!  They are really monsters!

Chef Erik

I can't say enough about how wonderful it is to have a husband that cooks.  Since I have been with Erik his love for cooking has really developed and I have reaped the benefits of it.  He has exposed me to new foods, flavors, and a whole new thought process about food.  I am more than happy to do the dishes and clean the kitchen!

Some people love to read through food magazines or look at recipes and say, "Yum, we should make that," but they never follow through with it.  Lucky me, Erik looks at a magazine, finds something that looks good, and makes it!  He recently got copies of a new cooking magazine full of really good everyday meals.  He decided to try a few.  This one is a chicken polenta.  The polenta was creamy (due to milk and cheese), the chicken had a fresh lemony flavor, and the sauce was a delicious tomato base with capers, onions, kalamata olives, and prosciutto.  Yum! Of course, he also made chopped brussel sprouts.  Not my favorite veggie, but I ate my serving.

Halloween

 We had a great Halloween.  We vegged out in the morning,  carved our pumpkins, went trick-or-treating, and handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters.  Jonah got a little possessive of the candy.  He kept grabbing handfuls out of the bowl and putting it on the chair.  Then, he would take the candy and put it back into the bowl.  Whenever my mom would take the bowl to give candy to the trick-or-treaters, Jonah would scream "MINE!!!!" and run after the bowl, grab it, and try to yank it back.  At this point he has no idea what is inside the little packets that make that crinkly noise, but I am sure that it is only a matter of time.

Pre-Halloween

This year we have had a lot of Halloween activities leading up to the day itself.  I think it is confusing Cairo a little because each day she is asking, "Is it Halloween today?"  and we tell her no, then dress her up in her costume and take her trick or treating or to some carnival.

Halloween 2010
Friday, 10/29
Costume Parade at school and Fall Harvest celebration- All the classes marched around the courtyard, sat and sang songs, and then headed back inside for a party- cupcakes and all.  Yum!

Holding hands with the little girls in her class.

Singing Songs

I thought this was funny.  As I was sitting there taking pictures I looked back at the other parents and started to crack up at all the cameras.  I wonder what the kids thought of this view.

Showed the kids costumes off at work- After taking Jonah to the doctor (we waited there FOREVER!) I had enough time to pick Cairo up and show the kids off at work before getting them home for lunch and naps.

Bradoaks Halloween Carnival- A great fundraiser done by the local elementary school (the one I went to).  After the kids (Cairo, Jonah, and Xander) were up from their naps we walked down to the school.  We only intended on staying for a half hour, but there was so much to do we stayed for two hours.  There were tons of games and activities.  We picked out two pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, went down the huge blow up slide (twice), did face painting, played lots of games, and had something to eat while we enjoyed the music.  The place was packed.

Walking down to the carnival

Eating some dinner

Trying to get a good family picture.  No go- Cairo, Jonah.

Take 2- Erik!!!  Grrrr....

Take 3-  Cairo Raine!  I give up...

This year's pumpkins!

Cairo got these socks as a gift... she loves them.

Saturday 10/30
Boo at the Zoo- The next morning we headed for the zoo. Because we are zoo members, we got to get in an hour and a half early to enjoy the Halloween festivities- petting creepy crawly creatures and trick-or-treating.  We also got to enjoy the animals.  Jonah especially liked a monkey that was yelling and making a huge ruckus.  Cairo was sure that the lion was going to dress up like a picture, but, alas, he didn't.  Maybe next year.  Erik and I got a kick out of the hippo and its big butt.  I am not sure why Erik and I found it so funny... maybe Halloween brings out the kid in us both.  :o)

He he he.  A hippo butt.  He he he...

If Jonah was going to be a cat, it would be a Jaguar.  Look at its short legs.

Vulture.

Community Carnival and Trick-or-Treating in Downtown Monrovia- After naps, we headed down to Myrtle Ave and Library Park.  They close down the downtown streets and trick-or-treaters flood the area to go trick-or-treating from business to business.  At the park kids get to enjoy free games and activities, a pumpkin carving contest (maybe in a few years), and a costume contest.  We missed most of the costume contest, but we did get in some good trick-or-treating and game playing.  We finished the afternoon off with some dinner at the Monrovian Family Restaurant.

On the way back to the car we passed by the fire station and we saw this sign.  I couldn't resist putting my three year old in front of it....

Pumpkin Carving- All the kids helped Uncle Paul carve his pumpkin.  Jonah was very enthusiastic and kept telling everyone to move.  He wanted to do it his self, but Xander and Cairo managed to do their fair share of pumpkin gutting.  None for me thankyouverymuch!  I hate the smell of raw pumpkin.

... all that and it isn't even Halloween yet.... until tomorrow!