Luigi the Christmas Elf

Santa's Scout Elf is here!!!

Tonight we named our special Elf friend, Luigi. We tossed around a few other names, but when Amelia said Luigi, we all giggled and decided that would be a perfect name for our little Elf. Luigi has a very important job given to him by the big guy himself, Santa. Luigi reports back to the North Pole every night about all of the good things we have done throughout the day.
There is only one rule...you mustn't touch him for he will loose his magic and he won't be able to fly home. Luigi has one rule too. He can never talk, says Santa.
We look forward to each morning leading up to Christmas Day, to see where Luigi finds for his daily resting place.


Tonight we met a very special new friend, a Santa's Scout Elf!

It's Tree Trimming Time!

The Tree is Up!!!

Amelia and Daddy are setting up the tree stand.
After the lights were finally added (had to get new lights after finding a bulb had MELTED on one of the strands from last year, so out with the possible old and dangerous strands and in with the new), James was quick to add some of his special ornaments.

Amelia enjoyed the layered look of adding ornaments to the tree. It often we find a single branch with 2 or 3 ornaments hanging from it! So cute!

All done! Let's light her up!

It's Christmas Time!!!

Thanksgiving on The Hamilton's Side

OK, Mommy dropped the ball trying to capture some of the special moments shared by the family at yesterday's Thanksgiving, well today was even worse! At least Mommy caught a snapshot of Amelia sitting on Nana's counter trying to find the letter shaped cookies to spell her name. We all had a wonderful day spent at Nana and Papa Bob's house. We had more yummy turkey ( which made all four of us very happy) and all of the fixings. We played downstairs with the slot cars, hung out with all of our Aunts and Uncles and got to meet for the very first time Uncle JP's Mom and step dad as well as Brittney's family. Thanks for a great day!

Making Muffins

This morning we got started on making muffins to share at Grandma Judy and Papa's Thanksgiving Day celebration tonight. Amelia chose to make chocolate chip muffins.
James opted for banana nut muffins.

Time to lick the whisk!

Gobble, Gobble Day!

OK, Mommy acknowledges that this picture to say the least doesn't capture The Thanksgiving Day moment, but as life goes as she snapped the picture something was needed or a child need tending. So, here is a glimpse of the amazing spread our Grandma lays out before us every Thanksgiving Day! Thanks for such a delicious dinner! (Both kiddos enjoyed the turkey this year!)

Macy's Day Parade!!

We had a great time watching the parade this morning. We saw all sorts of really huge balloons floating on by. The bands and dancers got us moving in our seats!
Why yes, we are all eating our Thanksgiving Day breakfast in the living room in front of the TV!!! Special times!!!

Sugar Cookies with Grandma Judy!

This evening we went over to Grandma Judy and Papa's house to help make some Thanksgiving sugar cookies! Grandma Judy already made the dough ahead of time, so that meant we could get right to the good part...rolling out the dough and cutting out the cookie shapes!

The cookie dough feels a bit hard and very chilly.

Grandma showed us how to prepare the area that the dough would be rolled out on...you need flour!

You really need to use all of your muscles!

Time to wait for them to bake...mmm they smell so good!

All done!

The Big Cheese!

It's FAJITA TIME!!!!

Daddy has given James a very important job, he is the official cheese grater! Both Mommy and Daddy agree that the cheese tastes better when James grates it! Way to go James!

(I have given up on trying to rotate the photos, hoping I will be able to do it someday when I make my blog book!)

Turkey Day Activities

The kids had a blast making the feathers for our Turkey Table Toppers (Family Fun).
We made one for each of the Thanksgiving Dinners at our parents homes. One had mini-muffins and the other held chocolate chip cookies...yummm!

Thanksgiving Sensory Bin consisted of the following:

red, white, lentle, and light red beans. Some left over split peas from our March sensory bin. Some feathers, faux flowers and leaves, autumn colored gems, animals, "Plymouth Rock" and a pumpkin.
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We love our sensory bins!!

Coffee Filter Turkeys!!!

Amelia's 1st Dance Routine

Amelia was practicing over and over and over, this little dance routine that she made up all the moves herself! The videos that I taped of her dancing were really not the best examples of her adorable routine, but you take what you can get right?

Caboose Park

Slot Car RACES!!!

Tonight, Uncle Luke came over to hang out with us and have dinner. He surprised us with the slot car track that was neatly tucked into his backpack! Whoo-hoo!!!
Amelia needs a little more practice taking the turns a bit more slowly, her car continuously flew straight off the track! Even, James had enough and told her that she was probably a little to small to play with the slot cars. Her reply was "I can DOOOO it!"

Thanks Uncle Luke for making a track in our own living room! We all had a lot of fun making the cars ZOOM around the track!

Warren Township Park

Today, was a gorgeous day to play outside and visit a cool park with some friends.
We met the Butner Bunch and the Barnett family at the Warren Township park. There are so many fun things to explore!

Unfortunately, the water in the sand area was turned off for the season (67 degrees in not the norm for Nov), but that didn't stop the fun to be had in the sand!

One, Two, Three...

Jump! James and Mason had a great time climbing, jumping and sliding all afternoon long!

Time for lunch! Sandwiches, carrots, apples, whale crackers and cheese sticks...yum!

Emily and Erica seemed to enjoy the nice, unseasonably warm Fall day, too!

Whee!!!!

Kate and Taylor's Wedding Reception

(sorry, it won't flip!)

Kate and Taylor made a special bag filled with goodies for us to play with.

Let the dancing begin!

Mommy didn't get any good pics of James tearing up the dance floor, but he a cute one with Daddy.

Amelia's one foot in the air pose! It was too cute!