Santa sightings...are sometimes scary.

Carson and Katelynn met Santa twice this year. Katelynn had the same reaction both times, she sat on his lap and smiled until she realized that Mommy was standing in front of her. She slowly looked up at the bearded man and her big pouty lip came out followed quickly by tears and crying. Carson figured out quickly that you get candy after meeting Santa, so now if you inquire about what he will ask Santa for, he says, " Candy cane, Santa."

All smiles while waiting to meet Jolly Ol' St. Nick.

Katelynn just realized that she was sitting on Santa's lap!

Christmas Cookies...Yummy!

Carson had a fun playdate last week when his friend from church, Riley came over to decorate cookies. The boys did a great job overloading their cookies with sprinkles, colored sugar and frosting. Yummy! Carson and Riley decorating christmas cookies

(or just eating frosting and licking the sprinkles shaker)

Riley enjoying his first bite of cookie after the hard work

of decorating was done.

Carson found it was more fun putting the frosting his mouth,

than it was on the cookies!

Decorating for Christimas

Decorating the house was a bit of a challenge this year, but was also a lot of fun. Katelynn tried to empty boxes and eat the packaging. ( I tell people that she is our "Little Goat" since she seeks out paper from across the room to go and munch on) Carson liked picking out ornaments and choosing the perfect branch to hang them on (The poor tree struggles to hold all of Carson's decorations on just two of it's little branches) Carson had a lot of fun this year choosing decorations and placing them on the tree.

Katelynn showing off our decorations in the front yard.

Every object in Carson's world becomes a race track.

Katelynn checking out a box of decorations.

Oh Christmas Tree...

The Mitchell Family with their tiny tree.
Always smiling, Katelynn enjoying the brisk, winter air at the tree lot.

Carson had fun this year picking out the best tree for the family.

Daddy's New Job.

Paul got a new job! His previous employer, Mervyn's that moved us from Seattle to the Bay Area declared bankruptcy and closed their corporate offices within 5 months of us moving to California. Paul began his job hunt and was fortunate enough to get an offer from, Superba, a large neckwear manufacturer in Los Angeles. Paul started his job as Director of Merchandising within 2 days of accepting the job. He is staying with friends and family during the week and commuting back to the Bay Area on the weekends for the next month. So, for the time being, as Carson would say, "Daddy L.A."

Katelynn's First Thanksgiving.

Katleynn helped herself to Carson's appeitzers and had her first taste of Ritz crackers.

Yummy! Carson digging into his thanksgiving feast.

Katelynn enjoyed fruit puffs and a tiny taste of turkey.

Thanksgiving this year was a quiet day at home, just the four of us. We watched the parade in the morning, and football in the afternoon. Joanna made a turkey breast with all the yummy side dishes, and we enjoyed having a feast with our little family sitting at the table together.