Oh The Fun Of Photo Gifts And Christmas Cards

Don't you love the convenience of shopping in your pajamas? I do. We do a lot of online shopping at our house so when it comes to ordering photos its a no brainer, order online!

We live across the country from many family member and have used shutterfly to order multiple products as gifts for them in the past because, lets face it, what grandma or grandpa doesn't want to see a picture of their grandkids. We have ordered your basic 4x6 prints, puzzles, mouse pads and mugs all of which the grandparents loved and couldn't stop talking about. My little sister even received some awesome playing cards as a wedding present with her engagement photo on it, what an awesome idea! We have loved every product we have purchased, seen or been given. This year we are sending a photo album filled with photos highlighting this past year to a loved one that we haven't seen in six years. I am sure that this will bring a smile to his face on Christmas morning.

This year we will be sending out photo Christmas cards of our adorable girls using this design, or maybe this one or this one, oh there are so many to choose from it will be tough to decide.

Just like every year at this time we look forward to getting the mail and seeing all of our friends and families smiling faces on their holiday cards!

While The Parents Are Away The Kids Will Play

Especially if the babysitter is Grandma! Brent and I flew to Spokane, Washington on September 29 and returned home on October 3rd, but that trip gets its own post. My mom flew in on the 28th to take care of the girls for us. And boy oh boy did they have a blast, it was so good for the girls to have Grandma's undivided attention, and it was great for Ava. We were a little worried with how she would do because she never does great with the family when we go visit them, maybe it was because she was on her own turf but she did awesome from the moment Grandma got off the plane.

Ava and I picked Grandma Debbie up from the airport and went to lunch, we headed home to pick up Trena from the bus, had dinner went to bed, got up and headed back to the airport to drop us off.

As soon as we were off, they were off having fun too! Trena even got to miss a day of school to play with grandma.

Day 1:

They did crafts, which included a frame for me.


Kicked back and watched some TV

Picnics in the family room



There was some dancing

Day 2:

Our favorite Storytime at the Library

And got some Library books


Out to lunch for pizza,


games


and silly prizes


Home again for naps and nap time Monopoly


Ava wouldn't let go of Grandmas phone, here she is hiding it behind her back pretending she doesn't have it


"no, you Grandma"


DAY 3:

Brought cartoons


A walk to McDonalds to play


Picking up sister from the bus stop


Surprises from Mom and Dad


Building towers


Practicing how high we can jump



Ava too


Making Jiffy Pop Popcorn and watching Alvin and The Chipmunks the Squekell

DAY 4:


Picnic at the park


Complete with silly string


and tickling

Then home to play with some Twirly Twigs


In flight


Ava is determined to do it too


DAY 5:

A cinnamon roll conference picnic



More chair jumping attempts


And then off to pick up Mom and Dad at the Airport.

That left me with one day to spend with my mom

So we went shopping, here A is modeling an adorable spider headband



And then out to dinner for Thai food


And then we were off to the airport again


I was sad that I didn't get to spend more time with my Mom, but so glad that my mom was able to get such quality time with the girls.

Mom, thanks again for coming and watching the girls so that Brent and I could have some time away. We love you.

97% of September

I know I know total blog slacker. So for the faithful handful who actually do read our blog, I am repenting and updating. Warning: This post will be long.

September was a fun fast month. It was filled with lots of excitement some of which sadly will not be shed to light on this blog. We had day trips to Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios, as well as a couple trips to the lake. Lots of zucchini eating.

We had so much zucchini from our garden that we have enjoyed trying new zucchini casseroles, and of course as always adding it to spaghetti sauce. We have made chocolate chip zucchini muffins multiple times and chocolate zucchini cupcakes as well. We even froze a bunch for later use.

Here are the girls eating their cupcakes 8/31/10.

Ava being silly with Dad, don't they look so much alike 9/4/10.


Vampire/Igor girl 9/5/10



We went to knotts on 9/6/10, and right before we turned into the park Ava threw up all over. Lovely eh. We figured it was just that she car sick and we went on into the park and she was fine the rest of the day.





Brent and I went to Knotts back in March of 2004 when we were dating and had our picture taken on this bench, so we had to do it again.

Then:



Now:



We finally got around to framing some of Katrena's art work from the class she took last fall. Bad mom, I know 9/10/10.

Ava with her great sense of style, as she danced around the room 9/13/10:


Spring Valley Lake 9/15/10:




I loved how Ava would go out in the water and then come running back, saying "Too cold, too cold" over and over.




I hate that I hardly got any pics of Trena but she was playing too far out with the friends she made.


Next up for our September fun was Universal Studios 9/19/10:

We didn't take many photos and most of the photos taken were of Ava while she waited with mom or dad as the other was on a ride with Katrena.






The girls loved the sword fight between Zorro and his lady love


Spring Valley Lake (trip 2) 9/21/10:

We found this adorable otter on clearance for $2 and Trena loves it.

Playing drums with dad, 9/24/10

New hair from from mom (first dye job in 14 months, yikes). Please ignore the drying clothes behind me and weird smile. Oh and I FINALLY got new glasses too. 9/25/10


And last but not least on September 26, was Brent's 31st Birthday.

So that about sums up September. The other 3% is fabulous enough that it deserves its own post. So stay tuned, and MAYBE I'll post before December.