merry christmas

Merry Christmas!

Owen (2)

Riley (5)

Cookie time...

In our house, it wouldn't be Christmas without decorating some sort of cookie - gingerbread or sugar.

This year, Riley requested a type of gingerbread cookie. The recipe I made was in the back of a favorite Christmas book of hers "Gingerbread Mouse."

I can't taste (more on that later...maybe) but I'm guessing they came out fine based on how quickly the children ate them. 

Tonight after dinner I let Owen and Riley decorate one for dessert. Later, after Owen was fast asleep we (the girls) finished decorating them.

Hopefully Santa will like them!

Riley asked if we could keep the cookies forever because they were so beautiful.  :)

Christmas prep

And the Christmas activities have begun!

Aaron was able to take Riley to a fun beach party on base. Owen was sick, so I stayed home with him. Here's a pic of Riley and Daddy!  Riley is a little unsure of Santa. ;) Ha. 

Riley has been my helper in the kitchen...

Cookies!

Fruit for Riley's kindergarten class - grinch Santa's :)

Chocolate pretzels (a favorite!)

Pinecone trees!

And more this week...

tree lighting

A little over a week ago, I took Riley to the base tree lighting.  

Aaron stayed home with Owen since it was a late night and not a great place for a curious 2 year old on the go!  

Riley had a lot of fun!

Seeing Santa was a highlight, of course!

HAHA!
A unicorn?  Luckily, it's a stuffed unicorn she's referring to :)

girl scouts and other stuff

Riley is a Daisy in Girl Scouts this year!

She loves it so far...and soon she'll be selling cookies, if interested - hit us up!  :)

Here are some pics of some fun...

Riley participated in a tennis clinic!
(She's wearing a pink hat and blue shirt - standing next to the kid in a green shirt)

picnic island

We go to a nearby park often here.  

It's free, it's a huge open area with picnic tables and it's right along the bay!

Here are some pics we took one day while there...