Holiday and Fall Fun (catching up on blogging)

Thanksgiving with the Smith family

Todd and I hosted my family for Thanksgiving this year.  It was the first time I made a turkey without any help.  My mom and sisters brought all the sides.  I really enjoyed hosting and everything turned out really well.  It was a team effort and I would say we worked really well together.

Some Christmas crafts.  We made these Santas with the kid's handprints.  It was super fun to do and a great keepsake too.  In the background are the socks that made up our "advent calendar".  Everyday the kids pulled out a treat.  Some days it was something small like a quarter or bubble gum and other days it was something bigger like a game to play on the plane for our Christmas trip to Colorado.

What's in the sock???

A few years ago we started a new Smith family tradition.  We have a gingerbread building contest, boys against girls.  This year the boys made Jimmy Johnson's house with his race car having crashed in to it. You would think that the girls would be more creative than the guys, but they definitely get in to it and give us a run for our money.  The girls made a Mickey Mouse house because of our newest member to the girls team.  My niece (6 months old at the time) loves the Mickey Mouse club and squeals with delight anytime she hears the music or sees the video come on T.V.

Whenver the cousins are together for Christmas on Todd's side of the family, Joy has them dress up and act out the nativity. Some of Marcy's friends came over to join us this year.  The kids really enjoyed it a lot.  I think we have an adorable Mary and Joseph and some cute shepherds.  

The cousins in their Christmas jammies.

The kids skied again this year in Colorado.  They are really doing great.  As you can see, B got to add poles to his ski gear, which was a move up in his skill level.  H really did great skiing too.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any good action shots with her this time, but both of our kids definitely have their daddy's snow skiing gene.  Soon we'll find out if they like water skiing like their mommy.

 

B and H got this jungle gym for Christmas from Todd and me.  They are both such monkeys that we thought this would be a perfect gift for them.

 B and H in their Christmas outfits.  Man I love these kids!