Unsightly Thighs - An Allison Update

Would you look at these? Don't you just want to sink your teeth right in...well surprise Allison has teeth too! Isn't she lucky to parade around town with such glorious thighs! Of course she gets them from mommy:) I'm so proud! ally is getting bigger these days...she last tipped the scales at just over 19 lbs. It may seem big to those of you with average babies or even petite little ones...but considering Natalie was over 4 lbs larger at the same stage has me feeling like I need to protect Ally like a china doll...well not really but she does seem smaller....

Here some shots from months 7 and 8...she is getting ready to start her 9th month just after the NEW YEAR!

Snow Day

So what to do with the Day After Christmas? In Canada they celebrate with another holiday, Boxing Day. A day to box up all things Christmas and stash them away. Well, I was not about to spend another day cleaning. I did A LOT of cleaning over the last 3 days and I wanted a day off. So we headed up to our local mountains in Idyllwild. It was a sunny 27 degrees and we had a blast! Natalie took a much needed holiday nap on the way up and we stopped first at the pizza parlor to first fill our tummy. It was delicious. Then we picked up a sled and headed to look for the best spot. Natalie ended up enjoying walking around and eating the snow more then she did sledding but what else would you expect from a 3 year old who only sees snow once or twice a year? I did capture a pretty good sibling picture:) Yeah me! And the one of Ben and Allison...well, she is going through a "I want mommy" stage...we all hope she grows out of it quickly. It may have something to do with the two HUGE teeth cutting through her top gums. We had a blast and hope to make it to the snow soon again!

Taking time to give thanks...

I am giving thanks today. So often I feel defeated by my kids and, by the time Ben gets home I have no energy or enthusiasm left. The last few days Natalie has been "agreeable". She has been happy, napping, eating, dressing and overall enjoying her self as a "free" year old (3 - year - old). She loves school, singing, dress up and helping mommy. I have so enjoyed this new leaf she has turned over! I am gloating because this is my blog and I would be afraid to compliment her out loud in fear she would hear me thus choosing to sabotage the lucky streak.

Allison, even though sick, has also been so easy on me...she is sleeping in a little later, at least waiting for daybreak, she has also really done well accepting solids and only nurses once at night...wow, maybe all I needed was a little bit of sleep. Life on Yellowstone has been good...

Ben has been busy but even we have connected better in the last week...I just had to share the happiness floating around here...it pass through before much longer and wanted to share a "good day" with you all for a change:)

Look at my Shining Star...

I am so proud of Natalie ... her preschool does a Christmas Show and she has been practicing her carols since September. She is a pretty good singer at least with getting the words right so maybe we're on to something. Her class and another 3's class performed 6 songs tonight...her favorite being "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" and her trickiest one, "Away in a Manger" She did so well. We were all seated in the chapel and the class walked in with their teachers. She smiled and waved and yelled, "Hi mommy, Hi daddy, Hi Auntie Jess, Hi Marcy" as she saw each of us in the crowd. Then she took her spot on the stage. She wasn't supposed to stand next to Jillian but it didn't take long for her to move over beside her partner in crime and best friend since birth:) She sang each song and waited to twirl until the very last one - sort of a grand finale if you will. The girls did find it fun to hop off their step but all in all it was a great show (only about 10 min). She was so proud and had so much fun! Yeah Natalie!

Getting ready for Santa

So Thanksgiving is officially over and it is now time to prepare for the big day that Santa arrives...I can't tell you how exciting this time of year is because of my girls. It truly is a magical time of year and we at the Strader house BELIEVE.

We kicked off the season by greeting Santa in Old Town. Santa arrived by sleigh and 'reindeer' (horses) along with carolers, a band and police/fireman escort. We were dead front in line at Santa's parking spot so we had a great view of his arrival.

Natalie and Ally Cash the reindeer...

Here we are waiting...

Natalie and her friend Irelyn

Santa came and lots of kiddos 'rushed the stage' we hung back on higher ground to keep our great view. Then Santa handed out candy canes. Thanks to Taz for snapping this photo...

Santa then hung out in his Santa Shack while kids sat and wished for their presents. That line was long and those families did not have a view so we'll be seeing him at the mall.

We hung out because the kids were enjoying the carolers...then hit a restaurant hard with the "how many?" 8 adults AND 8 kids - wham...didn't see that coming! I waitressed for 9 years it is my turn to pay back now:)

On the way back from dinner we ran into a FREE balloon man, paid for by the City of temecula ( it costs us about 700 a month for a FREE balloon=taxes). the kids got hats and swords, because appartenly princesses need swords to kill dragons??? We will make this a tradition the evening was a success!

Kael and Natalie have a duel....

Happy thanksgiving

Here are a few shots of Ally's first thanksgiving...

Oops sorry, I didn't get many of Ally - she was victim of second child syndrome....watch out it may happen to you...to prevent this from happening remember to take pictures of BOtH children! Sorry Ally...

Check out these shots!

Remember my quest for the perfect sibling photo??? This one almost depicts them perfectly. Ally is going for Natalie while keeping a sweet face pointed at the camera...Natalie is all giggles...she loves her baby sister!

The new Ben's Three girls shot....

My neighbor Stephanie, took us around Old Town Temecula to get some family shots for our Christmas card. We ended up with an eclectic variety with only one GREAT one of all four of us. I don't know how the "perfect" families manage to get everyone (usually the dog too) all looking at the camera at the same time, without a hair in the wrong place??? Clearly my family wasn't meant for professional pictures. My favorites were the candid ones we weren't posing for and I'll try to remember this next year when I plea with my family for a perfect 'family of four' shot.

This one was my runner up shot...

P.S. Stephanie is still learning a lot about photography and keeps her "price" really reasonable. She is saving for photo shop software and a new lens...if you are interested in a photo shoot check out her blog...http://bowdenfamily5.blogspot.com/