Christmas 2012

I'm playing catch-up.  Apparently with 2 iPhone, 1 family camera, and 1 video camera, I can't get all my pictures from one activity loaded on the computer with any sort of patience or enthusiasm.  I just haven't figured it out yet.  Hang with me. 

Merry Christmas 2012!   We had a nice one with the four of us at home this year with both boys extremely interested in the traditions of this very special month.  Questions, questions, questions!  We really had to be on our toes with coordinated answers to how things work.  Marley, our elf, was diligent in watching and reporting the boys' moves to Santa.  After our Christmas, we had a get-together in Winnfield and another in Pineville with extended family. 

Our Christmas Card Picture

 

One of 2 tap handles I made for Chris' beer

 

New Christmas PJ's

 

What a Christmas morning!

Caleb got a remote control shark

 

He also loved the interactive superhero book from his Aunt

 

Adam got a slingshot and got very good at shooting cranberries in about 5 minutes.

Thanksgiving 2012

We spent this Thanksgiving camping with my parents and sister at a new park near Lafayette.  It was a fantastic park for our favorite pastimes.  They had 3 bodies of water connected by a canoe trail.  Fishing wasn't successful but we got in a lot of practice.  Our Thanksgiving feast was delicious by campfire.

Notice the canoe trail in the background. 

 

Yes, that's a gator just ahead.  We ended up seeing 4.

 

Adam got his first shot at fishing from his kayak! 

 

My sister, Caleb, and I heading out for a Vermillion River ride.

 

Still trying.  It was just  too cold. 

 

Caleb Turns 3! What???

Our little guy is 3 and we went camping with family to celebrate. Caleb thinks of nothing but superheroes right now and so we sort of themed our small party around that. We played some games that the boys loved, had a cake with the Avengers on it, and opened present after present of dress up costumes.

They had to free 3 Avengers, Captain America, Black Widow, and Thor, from Mr. Freeze's Ice Prison!

They finally figured out that dropping the ice block smashed it best, until they were given hammers. They loved it and we loved watching them figure it out. 

 

Then we had an obstacle course they had to find their way through without breaking the lines.

 

Then the super heroes had to punch through some "walls" to find prizes like balloons, stamps, and erasers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Pictures Ever!

Thanks to a photographer friend of ours, we ended up with copies of these pictures she took for a church project.  I LOVE THEM!   Caleb has never looked at a camera in his life!

Halloween 2012

With Gigi and Grandpa dressing up as well, we donned our costumes and went to our friends' neighborhood to trick-or-treat together.  We have Captain America, Flash, and Hawk Eye

 

 

Grandpa (The Chef), Gigi (Flash), Captain America, Hawk Eye

 

Chris as Batman

 

This dude jumped out of the bushes and got me.  Scared the Beep out of me. 

 

CANDY!!!

 

 

Pre Halloween Festivities

Adam was determined to cut his own pumpkin.  With a stencil and some help from Daddy, he did it!

 

This was the awesome result

 

Caleb helped draw a face and Daddy cut it out

 

 

We visited Chris' great aunt Teta (99) to show off our costumes.

 

Teta won our Halloween Bingo game!

 

Our First Fair

While camping with some friends recently, we had the chance to attend our first small town fair.  It blew the kids minds!!  They had a decent amount of rides that both the boys qualified for on the height chart.  We got them all-you-can-ride bracelets and let them go. 

 

Adam and his friend Chloe are on the green one.  

 

 

Adam and Chloe rode the Scrambler at least 4 times without getting off.  Nobody puked!

 

Pure Joy!

 

What do you think he's thinking?