Thanksgiving Pictures

I finally loaded the pictures from Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Here Boopy convinced GG Cedarholm to color with her. I don't think it took too much convincing.

Big Boy was thrilled that Grandma & Grandpa Vaughn had a toy box set up for the kids. A favorite treat was the electric train set! It even made a presence at the dinner table!

Little Miss Boopy, who really thinks she is in charge, insisted on being a helper in the kitchen. I'm certain that the mashed potatoes tasted better simply because she helped stir them!

A nice family dinner.

Notice the train box? Boopy wanted me to take a picture of her taking a yummy yummy bite of turkey. Yes, she's the girl who eats everything and anything. Papa and I feel bad for her future dates!

Big Boy couldn't be out shined! A great job for a boy who is super picky! I was very proud that he tried the items we requested.

All in all a very nice relaxing Thanksgiving! Here's hoping that you all had a great one too!

Easter Day

Due to the crazy busy week prior to Easter, it was already planned to be pretty low key which it kind of stayed. We got up around 8 am so that the kids could hunt eggs and we could get everyone ready to go to Merced for church with GG Cedarholm. The kids really enjoyed the little goodies in their baskets from the Easter bunny. Boopy got the Lucky Ducks game, while Big Boy got a tail pull game. Both had fun Easter eggs with goodies, Big Boy's had a matchbox vehicle in it and Boopy had a miniature My Little Pony.

In the hallway upstairs the Easter bunny followed a tradition I grew up with and scattered change (pennies, nickels, dimes, etc.) on the floor leading to the Easter eggs. Boopy, who is very much into money these days, was quite excited, while Big Boy was more into the eggs.

Here they are checking out more plastic eggs with goodies hidden downstairs by the Easter bunny.

After a busy few hours home, we drove up to Merced and enjoyed a nice Easter service with GG Cedarholm. After church we went back to her house where the Easter bunny had made brunch and hid MORE eggs, this time with CANDY, for the kids.

Waiting for GG at her front door - I played a bit with Photoshop.

Papa Vaughn helped Big Boy put together the wooden airplane he got in his basket at home and then the kids got ready to head out to the backyard for egg hunting.

And while that would have made for a fairly eventful Easter day, we ended up with a bit more adventure than originally planned. Grandma Vaughn was originally going to drive down to meet in Merced for church, brunch and egg fun. Unfortunately, she fell ill and ended up in the hospital the night before and was being held for observation. So, since she couldn't come to us, we went to her! GG, Papa, the kids and me all drove the hour north and hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Vaughn in Grandma's hospital room. Not wanting to wear her out, we didn't stay long, but in the meantime the kids had a good time entertaining everyone and playing peek-a-boo with the room divider curtain.

Veteran's Day Parade & Weekend Recap

This weekend as usual was all about spending time together and having some family fun. Well, sort of...I snuck in some girl scrapbooking time on Saturday but family bonding was still achieved.

Friday night was spent as a family running errands. We first started at Whole Foods to explore and pick up some herbal treatment that my coworker mentioned for curing the cruddy nighttime cough that Charles has been battling for quite some time. At this point we figured why not try it. So anyway, the kids were excited that they had "Moo-drinks" there so they got a quite treat.

Then it was off to a stop to Toysrus, which of course the kids LOVED! Sometimes, I wonder though if Papa Vaughn doesn't love it more! We stopped initially to look at a bike they had on sale for one of their quick 2 day sales only. We've been on a mission to find the best bikes for both kids to ask Santa for. Big Boy is ready for a big boy bike with training wheels and Boopy thinks she can ride Big Boy's tricycles. Which incidentally if her legs were just a bit longer, I'm sure she could. We've discussed having Santa get her a little bike with training wheels so she can be like brother, but it will only be worth it if it's cheap enough since she'll have his tricycles to ride and won't take long outgrow a small bike. Anyway, Toysrus advertised a cute little bike that would possibly fit Boopy if not now in the near future for $20! Unfortunately they were a bit misleading and that price was for unassembled bikes, which of course they were out off and it would cost another $10 for one already assembled! Not worth it for a bike that was just okay and considering Black Friday is coming up, I'm sure there will be prices just as good later on. So, out jaunt at Toysrus turned into a Cars hunt! We found out recently through a friend that they have released some new Cars die cast cars so it's back to the hunt for Papa Vaughn, who insists that Big Boy have at least one of every Cars car out there! The picture to the right is Papa Vaughn on a mission! There weren't any new ones on the display racks but another crazy parent and him found a ladder and had to go through the "secret" section above to see what they could find. Alas, we left empty handed as none of the news ones were there. If any of you shopping hunters, (ie: Grandpas & Grandmas) just happen to be in a Wal-mart of Toyrus and stumble across any of the following, these are the ones we now need: Cactus McQueen, Tongue McQueen, Blue Ghost Light Ramone, the Yeti, the Blimp, and I'm sure a couple of others I can't think of right now.

As for the kids, they got bored of Papa digging for Cars and fell in love with these Big Rig toys that make noise and actually drive. They sat there forever just staring at the wheels spinning around and cracking up over it. It was hard to peel them, especially Big Boy who has a LOVE for big trucks, away from them. Hmm...maybe Santa should consider this toy as well...

So that was our fun family Friday night. Saturday started with semi-sleeping in. Big Boy as usual, got up early but did a great job playing quietly with his toys and on the computer. Boopy let us sleep until somewhere around 7:30-8:00 am. I then enjoyed a day of scrapbooking with Kristen and "Dr" Kathie while Papa Vaughn and Big Boy enjoyed a boy day. The two of them ran a few errands and then went and saw the Bee Movie. I really love that they can enjoy some boy bonding time, so cute!

The evening brought us a drive to pick up GG and bring her back to enjoy the rest of the weekend with us. It's so great that she doesn't mind our crazy house and is willing to come stay with us. Papa Vaughn and I enjoy her company as do Big Boy and Boopy who were always checking to make sure GG was around. I wish it was feasible to spend this type of quality time with all the Great Grandmas - maybe some day we can work out a trip to Virginia and Arkansas.
Sunday we enjoyed a semi leisure morning and then headed out to the Veteran's Day parade downtown. For some reason I had never heard about what a big deal this parade is in town. It was estimated that 35,000 to 40,000 people would turn out. I wouldn't be surprised if they all did as there were plenty of people lined up and down the streets that we saw. The parade started at the appropriate 11:11 am with fireworks and gunfire. I was worried that it had startled the kids, as it had startled me, but Boopy just keep asking for more and Big Boy clapped. Aside from the overcast cold day and light rain we endured it was well worth the hour or so that we stayed at the parade. To be able to show support for our troops is a wonderful thing.

Big Boy really liked the umbrella and spending time with GG.

Boopy giving some love to GG and Big Boy making sure Boopy was watching for the parade.

Misc. pictures of parade watching. I love the flag behind Big Boy and his serious face. He just sat there soaking it all in as if he was studying every little thing going by.

Boopy being silly with her toy bug from McDonald's and Big Boy being silly in the car after the parade.

After the parade we had lunch at a new restaurant not far from home which we all enjoyed and will definitely go back. Then it was nap time for Boopy and a quick girl shopping trip for GG and me. The evening brought a chance to enjoy dinner, which I must add was full of funny kid stuff and I'm hoping doesn't scare GG off from ever eating with us again, and then watching the regular Sunday night shows (Extreme Home Makeover, Desperate Housewives and Brother and Sisters). Papa Vaughn has Monday off so he'll take GG home and get to enjoy some more daddy time with the kids. Can't say that I'm not a bit jealous as I'm stuck going to work. But how nice will it be for GG get to spend some more time with Papa Vaughn and the kids to have daddy to themselves!