Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Santa smurf

In 1982 when I was just 6 years old I already had my crafty gene. My mom purchased a needle point project for me to do, who knew that over 25 years later I would still have that project.

back to when I was 6. I was in 1st grade and when I finished the project I wanted to take it to school for show and tell. I was very proud of myself (and still am) for what I had accompished. So mom let me and I got lots of praise from my teacher and friends for a job well done.

It was the last day of school before the Christmas break and when I got home later that day my mom and I discvered that the Santa smurf was no where to be found! I dont remember all the little details, like did she call the school to see if I had left it there or what, but I remember her going in to full search mode. I remember us driving out to the bus barn where the school buses were kept and her finding my bus that brings me home and searching it. Of course she found it sitting on the seat where I had left it behind. All this late at night and right before CHristmas when she already had a million other things to do.

Thank you mom, to this day it is one of my most cherished items and it is always proudly displayed right on the front of my Christmas tree!

little green men

Are there even words to express the joy he takes in finger painting?


Sunday, December 28, 2008

Yum!

Just because.....

Some of the treats I made for Christmas



Eli's new tractor!

Eli has long had a love of tractors so when we saw a ad for this we knew he had to have it. Thank you to Grandpa Jerry in Texas and Great Grandpa and Grandma in Minnesota for helping to buy this for him. He is in absolute love with it! For the past few days since getting it he cant keep his hands off it. He says hello to it everytime he walks by it and every morning when he gets up. Now we are just waiting for the snow to melt so we can take it outside to try it out.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas 2008

It was a whirlwind of a couple days (and mommy is ready for a day of rest) but Christmas was so much fun for all of us. Thank you everyone so much for everything. Eli had a wonderful Christmas and we made memories that will last us a lifetime. Here are some pictures of the chaos that was our holiday.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Dunn's


Everyone hanging our before dinner

Darrin doing some lounging watching the Polar Express


My dear friend Sandra holding Kai


Sandras friend Joe and Ashley getting ready to play cards


mom and me decorating cookies




Presents!






The dumb look is because Sandra got me a really generous gift and I am just stuned!




Later that night. Brian and I had lots to do to get things ready for Eli the next morning. So up we were at midnight on Christmas putting together a tractor and wrapping last minute presents.






Christmas morning at home







Christmas day at Grandpa and Grandma Arnolds


Eli LOVES trains!


Helping daddy hook up Grandmas Wii

Sunday, December 21, 2008

SANTA!

We went to see Santa last Thursday during a snow storm. I figured nobody would be there so there would'nt be a line. I was right! We had been talking with Eli about Santa for a few weeks now so that when he did meet him he wouldnt be scared. All our hard work paid off. Notice Kai just goes with the flow. Man with big white beard, no problem!







And just for fun Eli last year with Santa



A little story from the Seattle times about our Santa

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2004080953_santa19n.html

Candy Canes not good enough to eat





Thursday, December 18, 2008

Snow day

Brian worked a short day and came home so we could all go spend some time in the snow, and boy is there a ton with more still falling. This has been Eli's first expierence with the white stuff and attimes he loves it and others he is really not sure what to think.

Remember Ralphie (the younger brother) from a Christmas story? what do you think, Eli could maybe audition for his part in the remake?





A little video too.

Danta?

My mom came over yesterday so that I could get some painting done in our bathroom (yes we are still remodeling!) so I had a craft project ready to go for her and Eli to make. I think they both had a blast and Eli really loved glueing the cotton balls onto Santa's (or Danta, as Eli calls him)face and hat.



Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Jayda's dance recital

Jayda had here first Christmas dance recital on Sunday, she did awesome and remembered all her steps. look like we have a new little dancer in our family to follow in Aunties foot steps.

Jayda is the second reindeer on the far end


Meltdown

Sometimes even your favorite things cant save you from waking up on the wrong side of the bed. Eli had one of those mornings.

Monday, December 15, 2008

The Chandler family grows a little more

Today we welcomed a new nephew into our family. Little Griffin Lee was born today December 15th.

Welcome to the world little man. Your Uncle, Aunt, and cousins can't wait to meet you.




Look what a happy big brother Miles is! It makes my heart melt

Sunday, December 14, 2008