Owen's Christmas Performance

Owen had his first Christmas Program for Kindergarten.  All of the dual language classes in his school put on a Noche de Estrelles program.  Owen's class sung Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer in Spanish and did a cute little dance.  Owen was really excited about it and knew all the words and moves.

Norah's dance recital

Norah's very first dance recital was last night.  She was so excited for it and practiced her dance all the time.  Her teacher told her to smile really big and she tried to the whole time.

Train ride to Santa Fe

We rode the train up to Santa Fe, which is about 45 minutes away.  We had been wanting to do it for awhile and Brandon finally had the day off so we headed up.  About halfway through the trip the train felt like it was going to derail.  We stopped and they told us that we had hit a cow and that they needed to clean up.  It took them 30 minutes to clean up the cow goo and make sure the train was ok.  It was quite exciting.

The kids enjoying the ride 

The best sight from the train. 

The ride home.

Thanksgiving while 9 months Prego

With a baby coming 3 weeks after  we were on our own for Thanksgiving.  I didn't feel up to cooking all day and cleaning all night and so we opted for the next best option.  Golden Corral

It actually wasn't too bad.  We had all the traditional Thanksgiving food, plus some extras: steak, icecream, cotton candy.  It was a lot easier than cooking for just the two of us plus two kids who probably wouldn't have eaten anything anyway. 

Norah enjoying her cotton candy.  She picked out her own outfit.  It is all Packers colors cause for some reason that is her favorite football team and they were playing that day against Owen's favorite team: the Lion's.

Halloween

We were up in Idaho for Halloween this year.  It worked out nicely because both of the Grandparents Trunk-or-Treats were on different nights so we were able to hit them both up.

The princess and the ghost. 

Owen has been telling me for the last 2 years that he wanted to be a ghost so he got his wish. 

Norah wore the exact same outfit that she did last year by here choosing. 

The McArthur Grandkids 

The Wilde Grandkids 

Trunk-or-Treat 

Idaho- IF

We also went up to Idaho Falls to see Grandma and Grandpa Mc.  It is nice that our two families live close enough together.

The kids at the "farm" with Grandpa, picking pumpkins 

A little chalk drawing: Princess and Ballerina 

Owen and Grandpa shooting some hoops 

Norah posing by the pretty flowers. 

We went to Star Valley to see The Brog's.  The kids loved playing together and kept each other entertained the whole time.  It will be nice to live close enough to cousins someday... 

Norah and Beckham.  Norah was a little hesitant for the first 4 hours we were there but finally started to play with Beckham and ended up having a great time. 

Back at Grandma's house. The kids found a huge box of shredded paper and had a blast with it in the basement.  There was not an inch in the whole basement that wasn't covered with little bits of paper.  They loved it.  They even loved cleaning it up which took a good 45 minutes. 

Techno-kids 

Reading with Grandpa

Black Mail Photos

Need we say more

Idaho- Poky

Owen had a two week long break from school and Brandon's grandma died so we headed up to Idaho for a visit.

At the funeral. 

The kids had so much fun playing with Carter.  We went on a hike with Grandma and Grandpa and the loved it.  I was pretty sure they were going to get lost because they were having so much fun running and Grandpa was in charge. 

Pretty Miss Norah 

I think both of the kids inherited Brandon's love of climbing trees 

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Cousin Buddies 

Owen climbing trees.  He went really high up and didn't even care where he was. 

At Brooklyn's playground in Poky.  The kids had a blast playing there and still talk about it. 

Wrestling.  Owen was so good with the two little ones.  They loved spending time together. 

Aunt Boo and Lainey 

Grandpa and the kids with their walking sticks which eventually all got taken away due to sword fighting.

Lobos 2011

We were proud (?) season ticket holders for the University of New Mexico Lobos Football team this year.  We had a great time going even though they got blown out every game except for the one game that we missed and they won! The kids loved seeing Lucy and Louie the Lobos and Norah especially loved the Cheerleaders.

Our good friends, the Browns, also had tickets so we got to spend some quality time with them as well. 

Sleeping in Shades

Brandon thought it would be really funny to put the kids' sunglasses on them while they were sleeping.

And it was! 

Dancing Queen

Norah has been asking to take a dance class for a long time now.  After looking into it classes were a little pricey.  A couple of her other friends wanted to do something too but not spend that much money.  We talked one of our friends who used to be a little girls dance teacher into teaching them just at her house.  Miss Jamie was really excited to do it and so were the girls.  Norah has been wearing her ballet shoes around the house for weeks now tip toeing around.

Miss Jamie teaching the girls the rules. 

Doing some stretches.

Trying to figure out 2nd position 

All of the girls pointing their toes.  Norah, Luci, Cora, Maggie, and Ava. 

Norah loves walking on her tip toes.  Even better, she got to wear a crown while doing it. 

Still working on 2nd position. 

Norah had so much fun at her first dance class.  She keeps asking everyday if she gets to go again tomorrow. It is really cute to see her having so much fun.