Amazing Christmas Stockings!

 I've been on the search for a quilted stocking for Q since his first Christmas.  I'd previously found a few that were okay, but they didn't really jump out at me at being the perfect stocking...until now.  I stumbled upon this Etsy store.  After many emails back and forth with the artist (and marine biologist!), Kim, we decided upon a design for Quinn's stocking and she just sent me the pictures this morning.  I LOVE it!  The back of the stocking is kelp.  I asked her at the last minute if she could put some kelp on it, because as some of you may remember, this is what we referred to Quinn before he was born....he was our little Kelp.  Silly, yes, but it is what it is and we have several kelp decorations in his bedroom.  :)  Anyway, had to put the kelp on the back, because penguins and kelp don't really go together.  :)  The most exciting thing is that we've got two more stockings coming!  She's making ones for Jeff and me too!

It's beginning to feel a lot...

...like Christmas!

Christmas decorations up thanks to a Toyon foraging trip by male family members yesterday morning.  The boys collected enough native toyon branches to make a festive wreath, and even a makeshift Christmas tree!  

Q Tucks North in for Bed

Apparently North requires an awful lot of toys for bedtime.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  What a nice day we had.  It started with a morning hike at Mission Trails.

Had a bit of fun playing around with the multiple exposure setting on the camera.  I'll have to try this again sometime when I actually have a tripod handy.

Mid-afternoon we headed over to Grammy's house where we found cousin Kyan waiting for us.  He had been anticipating Quinny's hugs all day.  They actually cooperated for me and posed for a few pictures.  I took a whole series of these.  Unfortunately some are a bit fuzzy, but overall they are pretty cute.

We had a small crowd for dinner: Phyllis; John, Jaime and Kyan; Lynda and Art; Kelly and Lee; Bruce and Denalda; Emily and us.  Of course we had plenty of food.

Cutting of the turkey

Kelly chooses a baby bib as a wine opening tool

 The boys had their own Thanksgiving table compete with centerpiece (which also doubled as a toy).  Neither of them ate much, but they entertained the rest of us with their wackiness.

One good thing about a busy day with Kyan is a sleepy Q.  Funny bedtime story.  Tonight we put Q down early.  After about 15-20 minutes he calls for me saying he needs to pee in the potty.  I never ignore that request, so I went in to get him and sure enough he did his business.  We went back to bed and after another 20 minutes or so I hear him again, "Mommmmmmyyyyyy....pee pee in potty?!"  So I shuffled back into the bedroom only to find him sitting in bed completely naked.  This was a first!  After hitting the potty for a second time since bed I ushered him back to bed.  He finally fell asleep...clothed.

Canyon Hike

I discovered Quinn's school one day while I was working for US Fish and Wildlife Service mapping cactus in Navajo Canyon.  As I was navigating my way across the prickly hillside I heard the sound of laughter.  I looked across the canyon to see a gaggle of toddlers from the preschool on the canyon's rim making their way down the path into the canyon.  I thought it was great that the teachers of the school use the outdoors as another classroom for these kids, and I made a point of writing down the name of the school when I was finished so I could look it up when I got home.  

Well, 6 months later and now Quinn is one of those kids exploring the world around him in the classroom, on the playground, and in the canyon.  The first hike of the school year was last week and I was one of the parents who volunteered to help out.  Even though it was a first for this group they had a great time!  What a great group of kids!  We are looking forward to many more canyon hikes to come!

Group Shot 

Madden and Oliver running through the thistles

Q with his 2 favorite girls (Toby and Bella)

I just love this one :)

Sweet Sleep

Sweet Sleep, a photo by alexhouston on Flickr.

Went in to check on the boy before heading to bed myself to find that he'd pulled his night light off the shelf and had it in bed with him. I couldn't resist getting out the camera and catching him in his peaceful slumber with his face illuminated by the soft light.

We've had a night full of fun and excitement. From Q telling me all about the people and creatures he loves, to him showing the moon to his beloved red car and frog, to our first successful potty adventure. What a night.

Like a dino in the sky

Like a dino in the sky a video by alexhouston on Flickr.