Rockin' Around...

This is our first year that we have gotten to be in a house for Christmas. So, the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, O and I went to Hobby Lobby to pick out a few decorations and Christmas tree. We found this cute welcome sign with Santa for $6. A pretty good bargain to me!



O really liked this snowman that we found. Luckily, Hobby Lobby was running most of their Christmas decorations for 50% off. I also think that this snowman is very cute, especially looking so cozy by our fireplace. They also had some Santas and elves like this, but I thought we'd start with just one and see how it looked, and of course, how the hubby liked it. I really liked a lot of the decorations, but figured I should only buy a few things this year - it would be a fun tradition to go pick out a few new things each year together, or go after Christmas shopping and get them at an even better bargain!



We had already decided as a family that we would get an artificial tree as we didn't want to have to deal with a real one, though I did like having a real one when we grew up (but didn't like picking up the pine needles each year!) There were about 4 trees that were pretty enough and in our price range. I tried to take pics to send to the hubby, but he couldn't tell the differences. I told him that one had pinecones and berries (O's favorite), one had just pinecones, the other two were "basic" but one was slightly wider than the other. (all were prelit) As you can see, we got O's!




It was hard to pick out ornaments a lot this year - we just went for a basic theme of red and gold this year. I wanted red/blue/silver, but then I thought I would have a patriotic tree! Need to find all the ornaments that we received as gifts and packed away until we had a tree. Next year we will have more special ornaments on our tree!

KY visitors

Last weekend, my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew came out to visit us for the first time. It was really nice getting to show them where we live and share our experiences with them.

Took them a little longer than expected to get here that Friday, but they made it safely and that is all that matters. O loved getting to see everyone, especially his cousins. It was even nice enough that we took the kids to the park one day so they weren't just cooped up inside together.

My 30th birthday was on Sunday which was a good day. I was able to sleep in, we played some cards, took the kids to the park and went out to eat at Cheddars.

Overall, it was a great weekend getting to have family out here. I hope that they had as good of a time and hope that their kiddos got back on their normal sleeping schedule back at home!

Halloween

So, last night was Halloween and it was our first time being in our new house, and thus a neighborhood, for Halloween. Trick or Treating is from 6-8pm here. So we were outside taking a few pictures before things got started. So here is me and my little dragon.





Some people had a hard time telling exactly what O. was because from the front, it is hard to tell if he is a dragon or dinosaur, crocodile, or frog? So we told O. that he had a tail and we had to show it off. At least with the wings I think it is more obvious that we are a dragon. At least it was a warmer costume too!




Finally I asked him to show us his dragon face before we got started. At first he just looked at me funny and didn't know what I was asking him to do. But finally this is what I got. Isn't he a sweetie!

It appears that here, we don't go up and ring the doorbell or knock on the door. People either sit on their porhc or in the driveway with candy, so if you want as well, some people (like us as we were with O.) put a bowl of candy out on the porch.

We did really well with saying "trick or treat" and "thank you" at the beginning. But as time went on, he found out we were just getting more and more candy and began to lose his manners, with us reminding him to say "thank you". At about the last 5 houses, after he got candy, he'd say "more candy" and people would give him more - this was a little embarassing. Between houses I kept saying, "you only get one piece from each bowl". The last couple were ok.

Hopefully next year will be even better!