christmas time is here!

i don't exactly know where the year went but i guess christmas is in a couple weeks. we had a lot of fun picking out the tree this year. the kids were ducking in and out of trees while we waited for our tree to get the stand.

 



gingerbread house!

i also think it's funny that stella has a new "cheese" face. she is seriously such a ham!

 



whew!!! that was a lot! i feel good - i'm all caught up now!! so much for getting any sleep tonight...

thanksgiving in maui

we had a great trip to maui with all the kids for thanksgiving. it was more of an adventure than a vacation but we survived! here are some pics...

 

stella seriously has no fear! she got right on the boogie board!

lucy and hugh at baby beach

thanksgiving bubble fun!

the big kids learning to surf - thanks for taking them out erik!

cousins!

she does not mind getting down and dirty.

digging a big hole at kaanapali beach

boogie boarding at kaanapali beach

it was tough out there

iao valley!

long trip home...

more november fun!

november was a busy month for us. after we got back from marco island v, vere and i went to austin texas for the formula 1 race at the circuit of the americas for our first trip away from the kids in almost 3 years. unfortunately i had bronchitis and then a stomach bug - but the food was great in austin!!

ferrari's fernando alonso - vere's favorite team/driver

us at the track

 

turn 11 first lap of the race!

shopping at the outlets

we also took the kids to legoland. here is cole's pizza. he was done.

encinitas fall festival - cole was at it again on all the rides

bumper cars with daddy - his favorite!

i was nervous for this entire ride!

florida in november

the day after halloween we woke the kids up at 4:30 and hopped on a plane to marco island florida for one of vere's conferences.

 

but it was worth it for the beautiful white sunny beach!

our balcony lead stright down to the beach

 

hanging out in our backyard ;)

 

 

stella was having the best time. it was super windy this day and she was loving it!

 

collecting shells

 

then cole decided to take a swim

 

happy halloween!

we had a super fun halloween! i actually got the kids into their costumes a few times! here are some pics...

our playgroup's halloween party

 

stella not getting in the pic

 

can i just say that i NEVER gave cole a lollipop at stella's age. this girl is gonna get away with murder...

cole's halloween parade at school

cole's class

cole with his buddy aj - they were having a very funny conversation which consisted of a lot of yelling and funny faces



trick or treating time!

my pumpkins :)



vere's pumpkin!