What We've Been Up To

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How is it December!? Our life has been so crazy busy lately but at the same time kind of slow and quiet when we get to hang out at home. I haven't been very good at blogging though- here's a catch up.

We went on a Christmas Horse and Carriage Ride through downtown Los Altos last Friday night- the Chamber of Commerce sponsors it and you sign up for a night in December. We're making it a tradition for sure!

"I see the horse!!"

Aunt Kat and Oliver came to stay with us for six days- so much fun to have them here and Maisie just can't get enough of baby Oliver. Kat and I did some shopping and had a great time hanging out (come back soon :)

Oliver the cattle-rancher in training says "A horsey ride? kinda borrrring."

What a fun Friday Night

and we had a Iron Chef Cook-off Tasting Party at our house last week with four chefs, ten moms and ten kids (for the new business I'm opening- I need to blog it!) It was CRAZY- tons of fun food and tons of chaos... I had to sit on the couch for a few hours afterward I was so worn out- I hadn't stopped moving all week. But the party was great and we got lots of feedback from our playgroup-focusgroup :)

We've been hanging out at Shoup Park in the swings when the sun is out

Francie made a new friend and shared our fun new triple-seater-tricycle

They picked up a few passengers along the way

The trike is a big hit at the park... that's five passengers and a baby-in-the-belly on one tricycle!

Maisie finally has enough hair she gets bed head and slide static

"holding" Baby Lucy- Emily is as laid back a mom as Lucy is a baby :)

Maisie LOOOOVES her some newborn

and they're off... problem is we've learned the entire ride TO the park from our house is a slight downhill but coming home- all uphill so I end up on the second seat peddling back

and a couple weeks ago we had a little birthday breakfast celebration for our friend B. It was a fun morning at home in PJ's!

the girls helped me make slow-cooker oatmeal and pancakes.

and lots of playing around the house (building a fire and not leaving- trying to make a point to change out of PJ's before Dad gets home from work) with legos, magnatiles and the huge dollhouse Jannie found at a garage sale- the girls climb into the third floor attic and get themselves stuck... I hear lots of "Mommmmmmmm!!!" They let me get some work done while they play- I moved my "office" into the living room- and if all else fails Dora and Diego save the day :)

Light Parade DTLA

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We went to the Festival of Lights parade downtown Los Altos. We walked down about half hour before but people had been stalking spaces on the sidewalks since lunch time. We were bundled up and got Francie's favorite "warm chocolate" and treats at Satura and found a spot to watch the lights. I remember going to this parade with my parents when I was little- I think the floats are all the same ones as 30 years ago!

and then this little buzzy bee character was hanging out after (I think it was a teenage girl with her parents next to her!) and she walked right up to Francie without saying anything and gave Francie her light up flower from the parade. Francie was ecstatic!

Gingerbread Houses

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I forgot I had these pictures from when we were in Red Bluff- Katherine and I found these cute mini GIngerbread House Kits on our WalMart outing. We set the kids up with lots of candy treats and tubes of frosting... sounds like messy Christmas fun to me!

Ellie and Kate helping get the houses put together and being silly

excited for the word they can dig in!

Walmart's finest collection of all sugary things red and green

Ready GO

Oliver looking on in his Elmo onesie Emily Longhurst made at his shower- nice coloring skills Em!

Maisie pretty proud of her tower of gummies

This little project kept the kids occupied for long enough we all got to work on something without interruption... I probably blogged ;) Heff shot his bow and Maureen and Doug peeled boxes and boxes of apples for canning they harvested from their tree's at their new house!

One/two-year old reading club with Uncle Brian when they lost interest in the project :)

Smart Sprouts!

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UPDATE: A local mom's blog in Nash just posted an awesome article on Ann and Smart Sprouts! I love that I get a nod! It says "Smart Sprouts is a brilliant idea which Ann has proudly copied from her older sister." :)

Part of the article here ... (or click here to see the whole post with new photos) Go Ann!

Via Style Blueprint: "I love young ambitious female entrepreneurs who see a vacancy in the market and jump right in. I opened a lunch cafe in downtown Nashville at the age of 25 – actually signing the rental agreement at just 24. So, when I met up with Ann Williams and heard her story and saw her enthusiasm behind her new play-care adventure, Smart Sprouts, I felt a bit like I was talking to myself, but back when I was fresh out of college. Ann has as an undergraduate degree in childhood development and a masters in child studies from Vanderbilt University, my own alma mater, which sealed the deal that I claim her as the little sister I never had. But, less about me and more about Smart Sprouts and why I wish I still had wee little ones to drop off here. www.smartsprouts.com

Smart Sprouts is a brilliant idea which Ann has proudly copied from her older sister who lives in Menlo Park – outside of San Francisco. Her sister realized that moms needed a place to drop their children, for short amounts of time, that was less congested and more focused on learning than your typical drop-in center. Like her sister’s business, Smart Sprouts does not have a T.V., video game, or electronic toy in the entire play-care.
I love the wooden toys that dominate the play-time here."

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Smart Sprouts is opening this week! Ann sent me some pictures today- does't it look great!? I am so excited for her! The big preview party is Thursday night and I wish I was there to attend but Jannie is out in Nashville helping out and I'm sure it will be a success. Good Job Baby Ann!

her sister-in-law Margy painted the tree, it looks awesome!

Christmas Tree Time

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Friday night we got to babysit Clara Marie while Mark and Sarah had a Google Holiday Party. She was so cute and jumped right into our arms after so much time together in Red Bluff last week. We contemplated staying home warm and dry by the fire but finally bundled up the kids and rallied to go get our Christmas Tree at the Nativity School Christmas lot! The girls were so cute all holding hands and with my belly and them in tow a few poeple looked at us like "uh, good luck with that." We found a 9 foot tree- little different than our old house regulations (except the year half the tree went on the roof!) We stopped for dinner at Cook's Seafood (closed the place down at 9pm with three toddlers) and came home with our big old tree. Sorry about the blurry iPhone pics- I knew I would be in trouble if I hauled my camera out on this expedition :)

Thanksgiving in Red Bluff - Part 2

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Friday we piled in cars for a hike on the river - a holiday tradition now! 7 kids under 7 on a 2.5 mile hike is slightly ambish but they were troopers and most of them walked almost the whole way- with the bribe of a starburst at the end of the trail. We found the same rock to take a photo on as we did last year- just a smaller group without the Cahills. It was worth the cold temps- even for me :)

parking under the bridge and packing up kids for the hike

Sun squinting buddies Francie and Ellie

Heff with Maisie in the pack ready to head out

Clara says "Uhh... did you guys forget about me here?"

Setting out, stopped to pick up a snake shed

Getting a workout giving Francie a lift

"Uppie Mom"

Shoulders instead, pretty impressive double-decker!

I love how quickly the pout turns around

Uncle Mark and Clara Marie

Nice old shotgun shell eyeballs Kate!

The dismount is even funnier to watch in succession- watch your whiplashed neck Maise!

Cute Matthews kids

Brian, Claire, Sarah and Mark patiently waiting for the kids to finish exploring the standing water "pool"

"I climbed it!"

"I'd rather sit here with my binky and watch"

Sisters- both looking at the camera even if Maisie is giving her signature stink-eye

Supervising the climbers getting ready for a timed picture on the rock

The hikers!

Love this face Patrick. He wanted to keep this rock and carried it halfway down the trail

Ellie and her little buddy Maisie

and I love that Ellie carries her around everywhere!

Thanks for the love Maisie :)

found our turnaround point and headed back

Patrick needs a hand to make it through the weeds

Slowly but surely

my cute husband!

Coraling the troops until everyone made their way back

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Then Saturday Heff and I decided to take the girls up to the Lake Almanor cabin to play in the snow. We packed everything up and headed out- thinking we'd make a quick stop at Crossroads Supply for kids snow pants and gloves. No luck at Crossroads so we tried Tractor Supply, Big 5 AND Walmart- NO pants to be found anyhwere! Reluctantly we gave up on that mission knowing we'd be asking for cold grumpy wet kids without proper attire :) AT least we got to come back to the excitement of the burn pile!

Little trolling pyro - she kept saying "hot! mama hot!!"

Francie loved it

Looking so serious (her new favorite phrase too "Mom, this is SERIOUS.") and notice Ollie in the background hadn't learned his lesson from last year's burn pile

Francie took this picture of me and my snaggle-tooth!

Little stinkers

aw I love these crazy girls :)

more Francie photography