Santa 2012

This weekend was all about Santa! On Friday night we told Kallie we were going to visit Santa in the morning. She was very excited in fact, when she woke up the first thing she said was "Go visit Santa?" Luckily we were able to convince her that Santa was still sleeping and that we would go for a visit after breakfast.

She loved every minute of her visit with Santa. She jumped right up on Santa's lap and said "cheese"! When Santa asked Kallie what she wanted for Christmas she told him she wanted a snowman, Rudolph and a Christmas tree!!!

As most of you probably know my mom's one request every year is a picture of all of her kids, spouses and grand-kids with Santa. Of course she told us when we were younger that we could stop once we got married and then it was once we had kids . . . well here we are still going strong today!

Santa Train

This year we decided to take a trip on the Santa train with the Minnaar family.  The train starts in North Bend heads to Snoqualmie and back.  When you get to Snoqualmie you enjoy hot cocoa cookies and most importantly a visit with Santa!  Kallie and Coop loved ever minute.

A few weeks ago Kallie proclaimed that she was going to sit next to Santa not on his lap and maybe hold his hand.  With that said we were unsure of how this visit would go.  Luckily Coop went first and broke the ice . . . she hopped right up on Santa's lap.  When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas she confidently said "Chocolate cheese and a Christmas tree"!

3rd Annual Christmas Tree Hunt

Saturday we set out on our 3rd Annual Christmas Tree Hunt. This year we went to Trinity Farms in May Valley with my parents and my brother's family. We lucked out with the break in the rain and after about an hour we had all found the perfect tree.

 Kallie liked hunting for a tree with her cousins but once she realized it was going to take longer that ten minutes she decided she was over it and started to cry. I ended up carrying her screaming for about 10 more minutes while everyone that walked by just smiled ans said they had been there before! I hate to admit this but we ended up going to the pre-cut section and buying our tree there this year.

 Although the hunt for our perfect tree was not a huge hit the choo-choo train was. Kallie was so excited to ride the train with her cousins and then again with her Grammy.

Family Traditions

Family traditions are something I have been excited for ever since Kallie was born two years ago. I think it is important we continue the traditions we had when we were little and create our own Bates family traditions. 

Singing Christmas carols with Eric's family on Christmas Eve
Opening one present on Christmas Eve - Always a fun new pair of PJ's
Getting our family photo with Santa (yes we still have to do this)
Reading Christmas Stories (Golden Books) - I just bought Rudolph, A Christmas story and Twas the Night before Christmas

We have started a few traditions of our own over the last few years - I hope Kallie continues these traditions when she has her own family.

Cutting down a Christmas tree
Buying a family ornament for our Christmas tree
Buying Kallie a pair of PJ's to open every Christmas eve
Getting a picture with Santa
Driving around to look at Christmas lights
and our most recent tradition will start on 12/1 each year - Elf on a Shelf


Meet Crack Crack - Thank you Kallie for the lovely name

So much to be thankful for - Thanksgiving 2012

This year we decided to switch things up a bit and host Eric's family for Thanksgiving. We were both a bit nervous since we have never cooked a turkey but everything turned out great! Every year we go around the room and say what we are thankful for and each year I struggle with what to say. I am thankful for so many things in my life it is hard to choose just one.

I am thankful that . . .

-I married my best friend

-We were blessed to be the parents of our amazing daughter who has brought more joy to our lives than we ever though was possible.

-I have such a supportive and loving family (Boatman, Bates & Doyle)

-Georgia is thriving and is getting to be a child like she deserves to be

-My family is healthy

-I am enjoying live to it's fullest every day!

Happy Halloween

Kallie talked about being a Fairy Princess for weeks so we were definitely ready when Halloween arrived. We started the day with a surprise Hello Kitty Halloween shirt for her to wear to school which she was very excited about. That afternoon, daycare had their annual Pumpkin Parade. All of the kiddos from ages 3 months to 5 years get dressed up and strut their stuff in front of Starbucks. Last year I had to walk with Kallie since she wasn't actually walking but this year she did it all by herself with all of her classmates (OK, I lied once she saw me I ended up walking with her).

That evening we went home to do some trick or treating with our neighbors who have a daughter (Sara) just a few months younger than Kallie. The both had a blast and wanted to keep going and going. I have to admit it is really fun to live in neighborhood that has so many trick or treaters. We ran out of candy at 8pm!

All and all it was a great night. Kallie still talks about trick or treating so I guess it was a big hit. The best part was that she had no idea she was getting candy so she never even had one piece . . . but I did give her a little bowl of ice cream to celebrate our fun night.

Pre-Halloween Fun!

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I was so excited to find out that our neighborhood was hosting a costume parade for the kiddos.  We did not tell Kallie about the parade until she woke up from her nap.  Once we told her she was ready to put on her Fair Princess costume.  We were happy b/c the previous night we were at Target frantically looking for a Minnie Mouse costume b/c she changed her mind and didn’t want to be a Fairy Princess anymore.  . . I have a feeling that won’t be our last scramble to find the perfect costumer.  

We met all of the other neighborhood families at the park and walked the loop.  Kallie was having so much fun!  She sang “The aunts go marching one by one hooray” the entire way which cracked everyone up.  We ended the parade at the park with treats and one big play date.  

After the parade Kallie kept her costume on and we were off to Grammy and Papa’s to celebrate Brian’s 40^th bday.  The kids all came in costume and even carved a pumpkin with Papa.  All and all it was a great weekend and we are looking forward to the Halloween Parade at Starbucks and trick-or-treating!