Gingerbread Houses

Saturday we went over to my Mom's house (Gan Gan) along with Nicole & Ella to decorate Gingerbread Houses and to have lunch. We never decorated a G'bread house growing up so I was excited too. (My brother and I joke that Mom wasn't near as much fun growing up with us as she is with her grandkids now :-)
Anyway, we had a great time and the morning ended with hot chocolate chip cookies! Yum!!!

GanGan and the kids (she's "explaining" the process to them) :)

Such beautiful girls

His nickname (well, one of them) is "Handsome"

She looks so grown up

Pretty tree

Do you not just want to squeeze these cheeks?

Santa Claus & the Choo Choo Trains

**I have 2 new posts but they appeared AFTER this one so you will have to scroll down to view.

Our "week-end of fun" began Thursday night with a Christmas reception/party at our science museum. There were, of course, the trains on display, cookies to be decorated, and Santa Claus to meet. I had wanted to see the trains last as getting Jackson away from them requires serious bribery and I didn't really have anything to negotiate with. He was smarter than that so trains were first. So we saw all the trains over and over and he finally agreed to go decorate a cookie. That was fun, messy but fun. We could have also sat down in another room and made Christmas tree ornaments but they were not really interested. Santa was on the other side of the room and the line never seemed to go down so that was the very last stop. I waited in line with Isabel & Mallery & Landon (friend from work and her little boy) and Kevin drug Jackson over when we got close. It was really not even necessary because he was NOT going to go and sit in Santa's lap much less tell him about the new choo train he wants (I told him to tell Santa Clause he wants a choo train because that is what he's getting). Anyway, Landon went first and he was great. No crying, no hesitation, nothing. Isabel walked over when Landon was there just to "check it out". I guess she thought all was well because she did sit in his lap and even told him she wanted a "new kitchen" for Christmas (guess what she's getting) :)
Anywho, here's the photo shoot

Cookie decorating

Landon & Isabel :)

"I want a kitchen"

Adoption Agency Christmas Party

Friday night was our Christmas Potluck Dinner with our local Adoption Agency. It's always so good to see everyone and to meet some new friends. Diane was there with beautiful Ellie (from Bac Ninh, VN). I hadn't seen them in a couple of months and it was the first time I have seen Ellie run. I'm in constant amazement at how fast these babies are growing up! Our agency director did say that there is a local family in VN right now so I'm hoping to meet them and their new addition very soon. Believe it or not I didn't take too many pictures! :)
(Oh, the "funny" of the evening was someone asked Jackson his name and he replied, "JacksonMooreChooTrain". This kid loves his trains!!!)

Sweet little Ellie

Finding our tree

Our Saturday mission was to find our Christmas Tree and to decorate the house. We did find the tree and I did get the outside and the inside of the house decorated but we have managed to LOSE the lights for the tree so it is still standing naked. As soon as Kevin wakes up I'm off to Target for new lights. The kids had such a good time at Lowe's. They didn't really help with the tree search but the had a blast running around the gardening section!

In her very own bed!!!

**Edited notes at bottom (a sleep update)

I am sooooo happy to announce that my little Isabel went to sleep in her very own "big girl bed" last night (and tonight, I'm watching her on the monitor right now). (She did end up in bed with me but not until 2am so this is a HUGE step for her)
We put Jackson's twin bed up months ago and he loves it. He is the greatest sleeper!
I finally sold his crib last week so out with his crib and in with twin bed #2. Isabel has been sleeping in her crib in our room FOREVER (and as a "bonus" she ends up IN our bed before morning 97% of the time). I don't really mind her sleeping with me sometimes but this every night thing is getting old.
Anyway, we moved Isabel out of the nursery a long time ago (like night 2 home from Vietnam) because her crying would wake Jackson up.
Because of the layout of our house I need them to sleep in the same room for awhile.
Anyway, Jackson loves his bed because the comforter has trains and trucks all over it so I got Isabel one with flowers. She calls her new bed "Izzie's flower bed"
The cutest thing was listening to her sweet little voice on the monitor last night after I left the 2 of them in their beds, turned off the lights and closed the door.
I swear to you she talked non-stop for at least 30 minutes. I think she was saying everything she was thinking. I loved listening to her.
Here's a couple of quotes:
"Mommy closed the door, Jackson"
"I love Dora"
"I love Nemo"
"Jackson, Jackson...are you 'sleep?"
"Izzie go night-night, Jackson"
"Mommy home"
"Izzie see Jona (her teacher) and Emma (classmate)"

Maybe tonight she will sleep ALL night (I can hope!)

Anyway, this week-end Kevin is off!!! No work! Thursday night we are taking the kids to the Science Museum for a Christmas party with Santa. (We get to see the trains again, too!)
I've really been prepping the kids to sit in Santa's lap. I don't want them to be scared so we'll see how this goes
Friday night we are going to a potluck dinner hosted by our local adoption agency. I am really, really excited about this!
And Saturday, we get up bright and early and get our Christmas Tree. I am torn between taking the kids with us and asking grandparents to watch them. It would be much, much faster to get the tree without them but then I wouldn't get to take pictures of them picking out the tree. Oh, these decisions I must make.
Sunday we have a Christmas Party for my Grandmother's side of the family (my Mom's Mom). We'll get to see lots of cousins, aunts, uncles etc. So a huge week-end and Kevin will be there for the entire time - Wow!!!
Well, I think I've covered the major "goings on" in our life.
I predict there will be lots of pictures very soon so I'll spare you this post! :-)
Wish us luck on the sleeping front!

**Added the next morning....
Isabel slept ALL night long! She didn't wake up at all which is extremely rare. I'm so haapy and proud of her!
(Oh, when they were in their room last night they both talked and talked. It is the sweetest thing in the world to hear.)
I'm going to wait a couple of weeks before I try to sell her crib - I don't want to jinx myself!