Santa!

While Matthew was running a marathon today, I took the kids to see Santa. Wyatt and Annabelle are still so genuinely excited...it's so much fun! Daphne had no idea, but she still enjoyed sitting on his lap, and just being there with the big kids. We had to wait in the rain for a bit, but everyone was great! I loved being able to get some of my own pictures while the kids and Santa were doing their thing. We've been coming to this same Santa since Wyatt was almost 2. He held Daphne 2 years ago when she was 8 days old! The pictures pretty much tell the story themselves. Enjoy!

Daphne's expression in these shots is priceless!!!

Kitchen Demo!

This was the living room, what will be the great room. Surface bricks have been removed. They will take down the rest of the fireplace once the supports are in for the large center beam.

BIG room!

 Looking into the kitchen from what will be the pantry door.

 What's left of the kitchen! We still have the cook top, ovens, sink and dishwasher (although I packed up all of our plates, etc., except for one place setting per person!).

Uh, think we had a leaking pipe beneath our fridge...

The fireplace from the kitchen side...it's time is veeeeery limited! :)

Tarp wall blocking off the stairs and the family room. Working great!

 New kitchen skylight!!!

That doorway will lead into the pantry!

TWO!

Yikes. It's hard to put into words all that Daphne turning two means to me. I have such a different appreciation for all that happens from that baby turning one to that kinda big kid turning two. She's just such a joy.

All the aunties and uncles and cousins came together for a pizza dinner at Fred's house (Fred was in Sea Ranch), since our house is just not that conducive to hosting anyone right now. It was so great to have them come, as it really made it feel like a little party for Daph. The cousins all love being together, and the adults got some catch-up time in, too.

Daphne got her first real taste of opening presents (all 3 of them!), and I can tell she'll be fully engaged when Christmas rolls around!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Needing a little help blowing out the candle.

It's not a birthday in our house without an ice cream cake!

Annabelle drew the sweetest card for her sister!

Daphne letting Lacy love up her new doggie. She loves dogs!

Wyatt and Brian being silly on the stairs! Their tushies were a little sore when they were done!

The girlies being sweet on the couch!

Thanksgiving

We had our last hurrah in our kitchen for Thanksgiving. I cooked my heart out, and it was all delicious. Chieko thought it was the best so far. We moved the kitchen table into the demo-ed living room, strung some lights, and ta-da! It looked pretty cute!

Not just a cute picture of my hubby...also trying to show that absolutely every surface in the kitchen was covered! It was great!

Cold House!

We thought our heat had been disconnected last weekend...it made for a cold day and a half, before we tried it, "just to see"! Duh! It wasn't disconnected...our contractor said, "I'd never do that to you!!!"