Happy Thanksgiving 2011

We had the most lovely, relaxing Thanksgiving day this year.  Mom H. had the most brilliant idea, instead of standing all day cooking and baking, she would treat us to the Hilton Hotel Thanksgiving Feast.  It was wonderful!  The Thanksgiving spread was awesome . . . as was the waffle bar, and dessert bar, and seafood bar, and cheese bar.  We were in heaven . . . and very grateful.

 

I have done a deplorable job at documenting this pregnancy.  But, here you have it.  Six months pregnant with our baby boy.  I am finally not sick and finally getting energy - just as I embark on my third trimester.

Our happy munchkins.  Hallie loved the cheese bar and the mashed potatoes and turkey (which she kept insisting was called "bone chicken").  Clairey was in love with berries and waffles!  They both felt very fancy taking trips walking around the banquet room to look at the food and amazing ice scupltures.

No one can get these little girls rolling with laughter like their Daddy can.

Chris and his twin.  Or more politely - Chris and his girl version.

  

The closest thing to a family picture this year.

The family picture that most suits our personality.

I had to get a belly picture.  This is six months pregnant, plus about six trips to the buffet. :)

Another giggle fest

Hallie girl was pretending to be a statue.

I am confident that instead of being Hallie at the Hilton, she thought she was Eloise at the Plaza.

Since Hallie and I were in a giddy food frenzy, we had a little fun with the camera.

Could a birth mother and her daughter look a little more different?  I think it's so fun!

Earlier in the day, the girls were so eager to start the festivities.  We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in the morning.  Hallie literally cried three times because she wanted us to take her to New York City so much.  This was a good distraction.

Could the weather have been any better?

A thankful day indeed.

Seasons are changing

Right after Halloween, two exciting things happened:

  1.) We finally got a nice snow. (Our lone snow fall so far).

2.) And Claire started potty-training.

We're so proud of our big girl!

Claire's new favorite achievement is to get "wa-toe" herself. 

We love when she does it like a monkey.

The first two days of potty training were spent mainly in the kitchen. 

Claire had two accidents the first day and only one on the second.

It was smooth sailing from there.

She has had two or three accidents here or there over the last couple weeks.

But on the whole she is one cute, potty-trained girl!

Hallie was so excited when she saw Daddy shoveling the drive. 

She wanted to be in on the action too!

Much to the girls' dissapointment, this snow was much too powdery for a snowman.

Love these cuties! 

And we need some snow pants.

Our poor flowers didn't know what hit them.

Neither did Mr. Pumpkin.

Claire had one fall that had her in tears.

But the heated indoors and hot chocolate made it all better.

Sign me up for this right now!

And I must admit, this California girl is soooo craving more snow!

Our Halloween Happenings 2011

For Halloween again this year, the girls could be anything in their dress-up trunk.  Hallie desperately wanted to be Rapunzel but her dress was a little long for her and we didn't want to snag it trick or treating.  And even though she said she wanted to be a "Super Reader," she ended up perfectly happy being a light pink princess one night, and a dark pink princess on another.

I am hooked on buying party goods at Dollar Tree.  They are just too cute and make the meal more festive.

During any given month of October, I'm known to make at least five spooky Halloween meals.  But, on the year that I am pregnant with this energy-sapping sweet boy we just had one.

We also opted for painting our pumpkin this year instead of carving it.  The girls were just as happy.

We had jack-o-lantern pizza on honey whole wheat crust . . .

and a pepperoni snake stromboli.

Claire chose Cinderella this year.  This is exactly what Hallie was on halloween at age 2.  And I am not in a purple pregnant people eater costume . . . that was just my crazy outfit for the day.

The girls were in love with trick-or-treating.  This was Claire's first time.  She kept saying "Can we do nudder one?"  And as soon as Hallie said "Thank you!" she was bolting to the next door.

We have such a cute neighborhood to trick or treat in and were so pleased but the amount of kids out on the streets.

So darn cute.  When people said "Happy Halloween!"  Hallie started replying "Ditto!" 

She cracks us up.

Here is our front door.  Chris and I went out with both girls for about one half hour.  Then Claire came home and gave candy out with me while Hallie and Daddy continued.  As long as Claire had a constantly open package of M&Ms, she was a happy, chocolatey camper.

Typical Mom move . . .

can't pick my favorite shot . . .

so I indulge you with all three.

Two days before Halloween, Grandma Judy took Hallie to her work Halloween fair.

I adore that Hallie looks big, but still so little in this picture.

Our Hallie girl is sad that Halloween is over.  She loves spooky ghosts and witches and the sort.

She says she wishes it was Halloween all year long. 

We'll wait and see if she still says that Christmas morning.

Take me out to the (foot)ball game

Of the many priviliges we have of living where we live, we get to live right next to the Air Force Academy.  That means lots of cadets, patriotism, and football games!  But, on this particular outing, we weren't Falcons fans.  Chris' cousin plays football for West Point.  We loved routing for Army.  We had great seats - right next to the band and close to the action.  The girls loved the cheering.  Chris and I loved the action of the game and the eagerness of the crowd.  All in all, our family had a ball (or a fit-ball) as my children call it.

Claire was a wiggly little toddler.  But, we were so proud that she told us when she needed to go potty.  And she was patient as we walked up all the stadium stairs and waited in long crowd lines to use a scary stall.  I told her if she went, she could get a treat.  She did not let me forget that promise.

Chris' cousin Scotty and Uncle Greg cheer on #20.

Hallie's binoculars make her look like WALL-E.

They are both so cute . . .  and look so much alike.

Daniel Hinkson, #20 for West Point

Hallie loved the cheering.  She couldn't help herself.  Even on our walk to the bathroom, she was cheering "Come on!" and "Go Army!"  So cute.

Cuba Gooding Jr. was there to promote a new film about the Tuskegee Air Men. It looks really good.  He is the one clapping for West Point.

Claire was plotting her next question for me.  She was relentless with "Mommy, I'm too hungry.  Can I have a snacky?"  We just ate.  "Mommy, I'm so sirsty (thirsty).  Cue (could you) get me drink?"  Your water bottle is right there, Clairey.  "Mommy, I need you.  Cue hold me?"  Sure.  "Mommy, I need to stand up." Sure. I secretly love her neediness.

He is way too good-looking.  And he makes darling babies.

That night, we met up with Aunt Kelly and Uncle Greg and their family - along with our second cousins Craig and Chris.  They treated us to BBQ at Famous Dave's and it was delightful.  We had so much fun talking. 

Three Hinkson men - Craig, Chris, and Greg

Alyce (Daniel's darling girlfriend), Emily, and Chelsea (our cousins)

Hal was totally into Scotty. It's your second cousin, sweetheart. Not yet distant enough.

 And now everytime we drive by the stadium, the girls point out we are close to "fit ball" and ask if we can go there again. Yes, indeed girls. Yes, indeed.