Rock, Paper, Lizards....UHHH?

Marina was trying to teach a new game to Morgan the other day. She went on to explain that you do "rock, paper, lizards" with your hands. "Rock crumbles paper, lizard steps on rock, and paper gives lizard a paper-cut." It was very interesting trying to play it with her. I think I prefer the older version: "Rock, paper, SCISSORS" but Marina's way is certainly more entertaining and imaginative.

Our version of SNOW

The local park had a Reading & Literacy Fair in which the city trucked in a huge pile of "snow". My kids have only seen snow twice so they were enthralled. The boys were in their flip-flops and Micaela in her t-shirt. The day was a brisk 70's with sunshine. Now THIS is the way to do SNOW!

that's NOT dandruff

snow angel

Maybe we should have worn snow suits...

snow queen

You throw like a girl!

Polar Express

John's school does a special event during the holidays- a Christmas train ride up in Filmore on the North Pole Express. There's a "Santa", cookies, hot cocoa, and Christmas songs. This is the 2nd year he's taken the kids and they love it.

What do you think Santa... naughty or nice?

HMMMM, that's a TOUGH ONE!

Painting Dowtown Newhall

Downtown Newhall hosted a paint-the-store-windows contest on Dec 5th. The kids in our complex got into the festivities by painting EVERYTHING about Christmas (Santa, snowman, tree, star, reindeer, and Baby Jesus...) on the window of the Cookbooks store. While they didn't win the contest, they had so much fun in the process. That's what it's about.

Turkey

Turkey is my all time favorite meat! Every year I look forward to thanksgiving meal so I can stuff myself with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

(Micaela made the place cards.)

This year was the most relaxed Thanksgiving we've ever had. My darling husband got up at 6:30 to put the bird in the oven. I woke up sharply at 7:30 saying, "We GOTTA PUT The Turkey IN!" He was like, yah, already done, go back to sleep. He also made the mashed potatoes. I don't know his secret but John makes the BEST mashes in the wide western world. We hung out with our dear friends the Haags and it was so casual. We read the sale bills, ate pie, went for a walk, watched the kids ride bikes... it was my favorite Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Brunch

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving in two special ways. The day before Thanksgiving we got together with our dear friends the Gutmans to have brunch. The kids did crafts and played dress-up, of course.

What a spread!

They may not look it, but they ARE thankful.