thanksgiving

we had such a great afternoon/evening with the uffelmans yesterday.  the dinner, the wine, the setting, the company - everything was just great.  so thankful for our friendship and the friendship our kids have with one another.  brent and brian had a chance to catch up over a cocktail or two (or 14).  we are all tired today but it was so fun and so worth it.  looking forward to next year already!

today has been a quiet day with time spent at home with the exception of my outing to starbucks this morning and brent's errand to lowe's.  the amazing weather continued and we spent time in the backyard doing yard work and playing.  we are so thankful - for our wonderful family, our dear friends, for being healthy and happy.  blessings to all and happy thanksgiving!  

brian's thanksgiving creation

the best hostess and host

kid's table

great day

what a wonderful sunday.  brent brought me my coffee.  he and max joined friends and went fishing.  although finn and i missed them, i knew max would love the experience to go fishing in the ocean for the first time.  i was right.  they caught fish and octopus and saw seals and had so much fun.  very cool.  finn and i swept the driveway (because he wanted to) and spent time at the park where he played baseball and climbed on the monkey bars.  we talked and had lunch and played at home.  i had time to go through tons of paperwork while he napped which felt productive.  when brent and max got home, we hung out and brent cooked the best chicken - ever.  all three boys got to bed early and i am now having some time for myself, watching the american music awards.  it has been a great day.  

first tooth lost!

max lost his first tooth today!  i actually don't even think it was loose but the lollypop daddy brought home from dallas last night helped it along...  the tooth is now waiting in the pocket of the tooth fairy pillow (that i thankfully bought on amazon recently).  i hope the tooth fairy comes through and brings him something great.

disneyland

we did it.  we visited the happiest place on earth.  disneyland, that is.  we drove down and spent two full days at disney - one day at disneyland and the second at california adventures.  the boys didn't know where we were going and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived!

max's favorite experiences from the trip:

space mountain ride

star tours ride

the race car ride at cars land

tractor ride at cars land

it's a small world ride

watching disney movies in the lobby of the hotel

building a race car at "ridemakerz"

buying mickey mouse ears

finn's favorite memories:

meeting mickey mouse

spending time at toontown where mickey lives

the race car ride at cars land

star tours ride

it's a small world ride

building his mater fire truck at "ridemakerz"

buying mickey mouse ears

linda's favorites:

drinking champagne in the hotel lobby while the boys were watching disney movies on the tv nearby

riding the cars ride at cars land

people watching

seeing the boys so excited about being there!

brent's favorites:

dinner at the truck stop on the way to anaheim (he must be joking - it was nothing short of horrific)

having a cocktail in the lobby of the fabulous hotel in front of the fire place

riding the space mountain and cars rides with max

we had a great trip and a really nice time.  the hotel was only a few steps away from the parks and so very nice.  brent and i agree that two days was just right.  finn said the other day that he is going to live with mickey mouse in mickey's house and they are going to eat treats all day..candy and ice-cream and cake.   

i know that halloween just passed and we haven't even gotten to thanksgiving, but max and finn are ready for christmas.  this evening, they are writing/drawing letters to santa.  while drawing, finn says:

"i am making this for santa.  he is going to be so happy, sa glad (swedish for so happy). he is going to bring us presents and apples and m&m's and cookies and cake and ice-cream.  and we are going to eat it all.  and for max too."

sounds good to me!

sunday afternoon and brent and i just returned from an overnight stay in napa with our friends craig and andrea.  we had a great wine tasting experience, especially at alpha omega winery where joe took great care of us.  the wine was spectacular, the setting beautiful and we learned so much.  we also enjoyed some great food in st helena and downtown napa.  our boys were at home with the amazing gals emeline and grace.  not sure what we would do without them...it is so nice to have a break once in a while, if only for 30 or so hours.  our sweet boys - how we missed you.  you are adorable and wonderful and we love you!  it is nice to get away and even better to get back home!

the weekend

it is sunday morning.  max and brent went to peet's and brought home coffee.  finn and i are being lazy and hanging out on the couch with ipad, laptop and books.  we set the clocks back an hour = yay!  the sun is shining and we will have another beautiful fall day.

yesterday was my birthday.  yet another year older.  it feels okay being 35...  although i feel a little under the weather - still, such a nice weekend.  i got a fabulous pedicure and reorganized my closet.  my family gave me two pairs of boots (ready for fall!), my friend delivered beautiful flowers and i received lots of sweet calls, texts and emails from friends and family.  our little family went to los altos grill for dinner and it was wonderful.  i feel blessed and lucky!

friday night = movie night!

bed head!

los altos grill

at dinner (finn looks less than happy..)

halloween

the boys looked forward to halloween since the beginning of october.  it finally came (and went) last week.  max got into his ninja costume on thursday morning in preparation for the school halloween parade.  i stayed and watched him and all the other first graders parade around the gym in front of the entire school.  first came kindergarten, then tk (transitional kindergarten) who looked a bit scared...then first grade and on up from there, grade by grade through grade 8.  what a difference a year makes.  i remember max in his batman costume last year, walking around the gym, looking at everyone.  he had just started at st. martin's a couple of months prior and was still trying to get used to school and trying to figure out his place there.  now, he and his buddies gave high fives to the older kids as they walked around the gym showing off their costumes.  they looked much more comfortable and self confident.

i picked up both max and finn early from school in the afternoon so they could have some downtime, eat an early dinner and be at the uffelmans by 6pm to start the fun of trick or treating!  we met up with other st. martin families and the kids walked (ran) together.  finn didn't seem to remember how to do it from last year but quickly got the hang of it!  after visiting a couple of houses, he looked at me and said "i want to do it again"!  so they did.  again, and again and again until their baskets were filled to the rim with candy and the clock was past 8pm.  it was time to get going since the following day was a school day.  a fun evening was had by all!  the boys chose 3 items to eat on the way home.  a quick bath and careful teeth brushing and in bed by 9.  whew!

trick or treat

a horse and a hippie..

ninja, fireman, luke skywalker and strawberry shortcake

my ninja up close

st. martin friends

we celebrated brent's birthday on 10/21.  max gave dad a ceramic plane he painted at petroglyphs. 

handsome boys

ready for halloween!

dancing

i don't want to go to school today