Halloween was a blast as usual! I had the gang over for some pumpkin painting (cuz honestly, pumpkin carving is an adult activity and I didn't want to do it haha) I brought the bounce house out and the kids had fun with the new airplane I bought.
I think the painting was a success! The kids had fun and were super into it! We all got some festive pumpkins to take home.
Costume time! We had bunnies and pilots and mice and lions and transformers and princesses and pirates!
A fun trip over the hill to get a nice visit in! I didn't know how the kids would do sleeping in the same room, but Parker went down early and Alyssa didn't seem to be bothered by him when he woke up in the night.
Alyssa Loves to see the horses while in Vacaville!
We hyped up the whole trip how we were gonna go on the train at Nut Tree. Alyssa was so damn excited. Got there and it was closed! The little kid activity area calmed her down a little bit.
We always seem to hit up Red Robin (Im not gonna turn down a royal burger!) and I realized why we don't eat out that often. The kids are fine, no tantrums or too loud, but the table is too small and Parker is VERY swipey now...so Stacie had to keep grabbing her plate before it got swung off the table. Not too relaxing for Momma.
Luckily he is so damn cute :)
The mall conveniently has some rides that made Alyssa forget about her missed train ride. Papa is fine to let her ride again and again for as long as she wants! I think she got about 10 trips this time haha.
I was not too sure she would like this bouncy thing. She RAN up to it. Let this guy hook her up and took off! Such a big kid :)
Trick or Treating was Amazing :) I got some killer shots of the kids and Im so happy how excited Alyssa was about this holiday. She loves going door to door and getting candy then coming home and passing out the candy to all her friends. Some of the older kids scared her a bit, but they were all super nice and took masks off or tried to make her feel better. I LOVE our little community for these kinds of things.
Fall!! I tried for some pictures...haha, didn't work!!
The cousins came over to Grammys for a fun day and got to play in the leaves and help decorate for Christmas!
Im REALLY happy the houses behind me aren't 2 story, cuz I would miss all the fantastic sunsets!
Jenn moved up to Oregon and started looking for a job the same time I was, we realized that this was the last time for a visit in a while so I took the monsters, loaded the car and headed the 5 hours UP to Oregon. I have never driven a distance even half that long with both kids alone, I was kinda nervous! Alyssa was fine with the kindle and she sorta helped give Parker his bottle and toys when he threw them. I was hoping he would nap for longer but we all survived!
Dadda missed his sunshine :)
Thanksgiving was a big year, we had the family down from Alaska with new baby Donovan and the inlaws came in from Vacaville. It was a big gathering with tons of babies and food and fun :)
The first couch pictures with all 10 cousins :)
The day before Thanksgiving I started my new job! I knew heading into my senior year that Id have to get serious and find employment. I would have loved to have gotten an internship at some big firm, but I knew that's not what I wanted to do. Ive always been drawn to audit and all my business classes have taught me that a company is important. I want to work internal audit for a major company that Im proud to work at. I turned down a job offer at Sears because I didn't feel like that company could get me to where I wanted to be. Im a little scared now, I know from online research that Atlantis doesn't pay very well. But the experience I am getting is going to look fabulous on my resume! I started out learning Keno, EzPay Kiosks (those machines you can redeem tickets or break bills at) and Table Games. The first week was ROUGHT. I was there 10 hours a day and I was slow. But I picked it up pretty quick and I enjoy the work. About 3 weeks after I started, right when I was getting comfortable, a tragic incident occurred. A coworker no called, no showed. Turns out he was found dead in his home. This created a problem in our little department because these audits have to happen EVERY day. So they asked if Id train for slots. Slot audit is crazy indepth. Keeping track of every dollar, every ticket and every bit of freeplay that happens in all 1500 of the slot machines keeps me plenty busy :) I started with a 12 hour day. 6-6. No bueno. But I slowly got the hang of it and today was my first true shift. 6-2! It felt fabulous :) I LOVE the IGT system we use and I love the technology in my job.
Putting the kids in daycare was a necessary evil. Im so thanksful for my parents watching the kids while Im in school but it was time to give them their lives back! I put them in a conveniently located spot, right up the street from the Atlantis that came highly recommended from Michele and Heather, and now Anthony, Matthew, Izabelle, Alyssa and Parker all get to play together :) These two pictures were the evening after their first day of 'school'. She followed him everywhere. He wasn't as impressed ;)
I FINALLY upgraded my tree and skirt to my color scheme, Im so in love!
This is our big snow storm. She is saying WTF??
Christmas eve is always a celebration to be remembered. I remembered trying to plan on what cute outfits the kids would wear...turns out they just wore their jammies. Oh well, best laid plans and all...
Christmas morning was a nice relaxing gift opening. Alyssa is glad Parker wasn't into his gifts, so she got to open double!
I had the usual gang over for a relaxing Christmas brunch and it was actually VERY relaxing. We all just sat around and chatted and drank coffee and tea and the kids played well. I think Parker slept the whole time.
That next weekend Nana and Papa came up and showered the kids with so many toys I don't think their bedroom dorrs will close now :) It was a good visit and Im so glad the kids get to spend so much time with them. I know some families who live in the same town who don't get together like we do.
I tried to take some birthday invitation pictures, I failed to realize that Mickey Mouse was on. He was a bit distracted.
So far I am enjoying my winter break! Im being productive on my days off and getting some chores knocked off my to do list. I even signed up for a weight loss bet with my moms group. In 13 weeks the biggest loser gets $200! I doubt Ill win but I don't see why I cant be a real competitor. I lost 20lbs in 6 weeks in basic and 30lbs in Iraq. Hope the temptations of the real world can be held at bay :)
Bring on 2015! The year I graduate, the year I possibly swim across Donner Lake, the year...who knows what will happen :)
