Christmas 2011

We spent Christmas Eve at home, just the four of us.  Derek grilled some cider marinated pork chops that were super yummy.  We also had sweet potato fries, broccoli, and a “special drink” (cider mixed with seltzer water).  The kids really loved the drink and especially toasting.  Cori kept holding up her cup and saying, “hit".”  At one stage the kids were rhyming something about a bum.  I smiled at Derek and said, “What a dinner conversation.”  Eli immediately held up his glass and said, “Cheers!”

After dinner, we skyped with Elder/Uncle Ryan and the rest of the Willson clan in New Zealand and the kids opened a few presents from us and from them.

Cori got a sweet baby doll from Nana & Poppi that closes its eyes and sucks its thumb.

Santa brought the kids a playhouse.  When Eli came out of his room and saw it, he said, “I can’t believe it.  He brought us a whole house.”

Cori’s favorite part is the doorbell.

They got Raisinets in their stockings, so they ate them in their new kitchen.

Eli also got pirate gear in his stocking.

Christmas day was pretty hectic.  We did the Christmas morning thing, then church, then headed for Henryetta for lunch, a Christmas program, and two family get togethers. 

Grandma got Cori & Keegan matching dresses.

So many toys! All the grown up kids got Nerf guns from Santa.  They have been lots of fun.  We got everyone food storage stuff.

Christmas is exhausting! Cori conked out on Uncle Joey and soon-to-be Aunt Madison.

Christmas was fun, but I really enjoyed the day after, when everyone was still around and we could just relax together.  We played some basketball, played games, and watched movies.

Family Pics & Thanksgiving

I kind of went craft crazy for Thanksgiving, which is very unlike me.  Our turkey basket served the rolls on Thanksgiving Day.  The kids made all the feathers and we   had a lot of making it.  I hosted the nursery school Thanksgiving party, so I had all the kids bring a cup of their favorite snack and we made sharing cornucopias for the snack.

This was our Thanksgiving tree.

Halloween

The kids had lots of fun.  Cori was hillarious.  She would get a piece of candy and say, “Open Mommy.”  Then she would lick it for 30 sec, give it back to me, and go get another one.  Eli was very brave handing out candy to the scary trick-or-treaters.

This is Eli with his Nursery School friends Amanda, Megan, and Madsen.  He has school once a week and loves it.

Eli had three different costumes.  He wore the leopard to visit the nursing home, the astronaut for school, and Superman for our ward social and trick-or-treating.  Cori loved being a pretty bee.

Fall and Friends

In October, Shiralee, Pierre, and Riley visited us from England.  This is all of us at Stake & Shake after our trip to Bass Pro Shop.  Here are some of the other things we did together.

We went a lot of places, but I’m pretty sure one of Riley’s favorite things was playing in our back yard.  The first pic is at the park.

We visited the fire station with all of our playgroup friends.

The Zoo

at the park and on the train

in the petting zoo

The zebras are Cori’s favorite.

The Pumpkin Patch

Eli and Cori both loved riding the ponies.  We were impressed with how brave Cori was, she loved it.

All the kids loved feeding the animals.

Golf Fishing

Pierre wanted to fish, so Dad took the boys to fish at the golf course.  They did golf and fishing at the same time, very manly.  Papa taught Eli to putt.

Oktober Fest

We had a double date to Oktoberfest while Grandma & Papa watched the kids.  We kept missing the chicken dance so we ended up having to do it in the living room.