Christmas Eve Mass

Eva has joined the choir at church this year. They sang at the early mass on Christmas Eve. What a sweet sound that was!

Gingerbread Men

Eva really wanted to make gingerbread men this year. That's not a cookie we usually make as part of our Christmas baking, but she wanted to do it. They turned out pretty cute and were quite tasty, as well. I see more gingerbread men for many Christmases to come.

Santa

Parade of Lights

We went to AT's parents' house in a small mountain town to watch and participate in the parade of lights. It was a fun afternoon of chili, hot cocoa and decorating the "float," which was really just the truck decorated and the kids sitting in the back. We are hoping to make this a yearly tradition. We had such a good time!

 Getting ready.

Heading out to the parade route.

This wasn't our float. 

To be honest, we didn't realize our group was coming down the street until they were just past us. We realize it takes A LOT of lights to stand out! HA! Lesson learned for next year.

Nutcracker

Eva and Daddy went to see the Nutcraker again this year. They went to a different production this year and decided they'll go back to the original from now on. Regardless, they had a great time together.

 Getting ready to go.

Taking a look at her new nutcracker.

One of Eva's favorite parts.

Happy Thanksgiving

We enjoyed a nice, quiet Thanksgiving at home with Aunt S and our neighbor, Cooki.

Eva G made a feather in school to celebrate Thanksgiving. It says, "I'm thankful for food and family and my mom and water and crayons and my dad." Quite a variety of thankfulness.

Hard to believe she'll go back to school for 3 weeks and then it's Christmas break and she'll have completed her first semester of Kindergarten. It's gone by so quickly!

Happy Halloween

It was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle this year.

Jack o' Lanterns

Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

The cousins trying out the "little kids" maze before going out to the big corn maze. 

The cousins on their way through the maze. It was supposed to be kids racing the adults. The adults didn't know that, though and they made it through long before we did. 

On the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch.

 How to decide which one from all of the choices?

Finally found the one. 

And a bonus! 

There were lots of watermelons still in the field. The small watermelon we brought home was quite tasty. 

Balloon Fiesta Fun

This was the nicest weather we've ever had any year we've gone. And it was the nicest day of the whole weekend. It was the only time the balloons went up the 3 or 4 days we were in New Mexico. Always so much fun.

Strolling and Sipping in Soggy Santa Fe

Fall Colors

We went on this

To see this

                                 

And on our way back, this happened:

First she lost it. Really, lost it.  She didn't even know it had fallen out. We were in and out of the car the rest of the day and somehow Daddy found it right near her carseat in the evening. But then we lost it again so she had to leave a note for the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy seemed to be just fine with the note and left another 50 cent piece!

Matt And Binoculars

Eva created this balloon family, including her brother Matt. No, we have no idea who Matt is. But he's pretty cute, huh?

Something's Missing

 Yep, Eva G lost her first tooth! It came out this morning at Nana's. She was so excited.

 Then we went to see a fantastic musical that was based on what the kids in the audience said. When it was over the kids got to go on the stage and color on the floor. While she was there, Eva was talking to one of the actors and had quite the discussion about lost teeth.

To top it all off, she got to feed the overly tame chipmunks that wait for a handful of sunflower seeds, which can be purchased from the gum ball machine turned sunflower seed machine!

After this fun day, it was back to Nana's to wait for the tooth fairy. (she left a .50 piece!)

First Day of Kindergarten

Believe it or not, Eva G started Kindergarten today.

We are in disbelief here that it could possibly be time for her to already start school. How did the years go by so quickly?

We are excited for her and for all of the new things she's about to experience. Of course, we're a little sad, too. It's hard to let that little person go out into the world; to drop her off in the morning and trust that she's going to be fine for the whole day. But we know that she is. And we have to remind her of that too. She's a little new nervous and is working on getting the nerves and the excitement in the right balance. In a week or two, all 3 of us are gonna be old pros at this.

My favorite color is: red

When I grow up I want to be: an astronaut

My favorite book is: Fire in the forest!

 Getting some first day smooches from Katie

 On their way to class…

Oh, boy! Here we go...