Christmas traditions (old and new)

It's been a fun month and we've been enjoying a few Christmas activities as a family...

~Christmas jammies and then off to check out the neighborhood lights!  And as always, each night in December, Lily and William unwrapped one Christmas book to be read before bed. 

~We spent an evening at our favorite park…McCormick Stillman Train Park.  The railway is completely blinged out in holiday lights, fake snow, huge blow-up characters, and lots of Christmas music.  We arrived an hour early so I could get in line while Ryan and the kids ate dinner, rode the carousel, and scoped out the hot chocolate line.  However, William was so concerned that he would miss his train ride, he wouldn't stay away from me too long.  Luckily the train ride did not disappoint!

~After our ride, Lily sipped a hot chocolate while William played with the Thomas the Train table.  He could have stayed here for hours!  We were then off to walk around and explore Christmas lights up close and personal.  A great 'new' tradition this year…we'll definitely be back!

"waving to Santa" (a helicopter was flying by!)

Lily's class party

The Kindergarten room mom's outdid themselves organizing Lily's class Christmas party.  We made reindeer hats (with Lily's hands as antlers), played marshmallow bingo, decorated mugs, enjoyed a hot chocolate treat, and ate snowman donuts.  It was a special morning for me as I don't get into Lily's classroom very often (something to do with a crazy two year old boy!).  I loved focusing on my favorite gal, seeing her interact with classmates, and spending an hour just being together.  William was in attendance as well, but played quietly with a friend…I barely knew he was there!

A holiday party!

Our family friends, the Johnson's, work for Southwest Airlines (he is a pilot, she is a flight attendant).   They ended up with four extra tickets to the company's holiday party, and we were the lucky recipients.  The event was held in a hanger at the end of Sky Harbor airport, and William's favorite part was watching the planes take off right over his head.  

A few amazing highlights from our fun-filled day:

~A car show with lots of classic cars.  Lily and Emery's favorites were Tow-Mater and Lighting McQueen replicas.  

~A petting zoo with lots and lots of goats.  Also, pony rides, but William was too chicken to try and Lily was too busy riding the tilt-a-whirl with Daddy.  

~Balloon animals.  A princess sword and Olaf, the Snowman.  I stood in line for 30 minutes for these darn things so made them immediately pose for a picture before they popped. 

~Santa rode into the party on this plane for WWII.  We were then able to explore the inside and hear a little bit about the history of the plane.  It flew over 2000 combat hours during the war!

~Lily, William, and Ryan had a blast on this slide.  It reminded me a bit of the creepy slide from 'A Christmas Story' so I stayed on solid ground.

~Free range to sprint down the runway.  Heading toward the SW airplane for a photo inside one engine! 

Emery, Nash, William, Lily

But the highlight of the day…seeing the big guy up close and personal.  Lily asked for a princess and glasses (?) and William, well, he just wants his mommy for Christmas.  Fine with me!

Such a fun filled day with great family friends!  The party was a truly a child's dream and put us all in the holiday spirit.  

Turkey Day

This is the third year we've spent Thanksgiving in Arizona, and I believe we've settled into a fun, yet very relaxing, tradition.  A few highlights:

~Mom, Dad, and I shop for our "traditional" non-traditional meal of beef tenderloin and a bit of red wine at Costco.  

~Long walks around the neighborhood/Safeway/AJ's/Starbucks

~Dining out with and without kiddos

~Celebrating Papa Kurt's birthday each year!

~An amazing Thanksgiving meal.  In addition to the tenderloin, we dined on a family favorite, Cowboy Ciao's Stetson salad plus roasted asparagus, mashed potatoes (Ryan's impulse buy while at AJs!), and of course Costco pumpkin pie (ya'll know I do not bake!). I'm still full...

~Nanny and I enjoying a few shopping hours on Black Friday while the boys put up Christmas lights.  We then trade off for nap time while Papa Kurt and Ryan grab a quiet drink at our neighborhood restaurant.  

We have so very much to be thankful for, each and every year!