Thanksgiving Recap

This last weekend we traveled down south to VA to be with Ben's family (and my sister) for Thanksgiving. I think we've been there together every year since 2004 (except for 2006 when Ben's parents were in New Zealand for Mary's wedding). We love being able to come down for the family holidays and spend time with some of our favorite people. The drive down was fine, though once again, Eleanor didn't sleep at all. We made a stop at Cracker Barrel a couple hours from the Mudricks and got Eleanor a flashy wand that kept her pretty happy for the remainder of the drive. Both kids were in good spirits when we got there and were happy to be able to see their cousins. They had been talking about them and telling pretty much anyone who would listen that they were going to go see their cousins in VA for Thanksgiving.

These little munchkins are 6 months apart and sassy in their own right.

Two years ago when these two met for the first time.

While there we stayed with Sam and Julie at their home in Vienna. Ethan loved being able to sleep in his cousin Luke's room, while Eleanor loved having new toys to play with. Speaking of new toys, Christmas came a little early and we bought a new camera, so here is Ben playing with the kids as willing subjects:

Thanksgiving day was filled with parade watching, movie watching (Wreck it Ralph), game playing, food making and food consumption. That is the best way to spend Thanksgiving in my book.

The next day we lounged around a little bit in the morning before we went back to Reston to the parade.

From there we did a little shopping and then later took the kids to Great Falls. We then went  to one of our favorite places, Cafe Rio in Manassas and then to Bull Run to see a festival of lights. It was a drive through Christmas light display in a park that was pretty well done. The kids particularly enjoyed it because they got to sit up front and see the lights from a better viewpoint. Eleanor was behind the wheel with Ben while Ethan sat with Aunt Natalie in the front seat.

On our last full day in VA, I was able to go with Natalie and meet up with my good friend Kirby (again!). This time she brought her 4 week-old baby girl Taylor who I did not really even get to meet since she stayed asleep the entire time we were together. We did a little shopping and ate delicious Thai food at a restaurant called Mai Thai in old town Alexandria.

Afterwards we headed back to Reston and hung out with family before going out to dinner at a place called Vapiano's. If you're ever in an area with one close by then do yourself a favor and go there and get the pasta carbonara. You won't regret it!  After going back to Ben's parents place and watching some slides from their time in Alaska back in 1986, we went back to Sam and Julie's to sleep one last night. The next morning we packed up and headed back to Ben's parents place and ate a delicious breakfast and then we hit the road. The drive back up was fine as well, and this time Eleanor slept. Even if it was for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Then yesterday we settled back into things and put away our Thanksgiving decor and whipped out the Christmas decorations! Ethan and Eleanor were thrilled with all the nativity sets, window clings, garlands, Christmas music and stockings. Later last night after Ben got home from work, we took out the Christmas tree and set it up.

Ethan put on the first ornament which was his Batman one he got a couple years ago. He's slightly bummed that it's delicate and he can't play with it.

Eleanor put on her first ornament which was a cat that we got at World Market while we were in VA.

After the kids adorned the tree, Ethan helped Ben put on the final piece...

The star.

Then we took some obligatory pictures of the kids in front of the tree.

We're happy to have been able to spend our Thanksgiving with family and can't wait until next month when we travel to Utah to be with both my family and half of Ben's family for Christmas!

Halloween & The Birthday Girl

So, Eleanor turned 2 this last Halloween. I know. It was over 2 weeks ago, but I had almost completely forgotten how I didn't post anything about it until I saw this post from my Mom on facebook:

So sorry to my loyal fans. Humans and felines alike. So here's how the festivities went down. Since Halloween is more than just a one day celebration around here, it seemed as if both the holiday itself and the party for Eleanor lasted an entire week. We first had a party at our Church where the kids got to dress up, trunk or treated, and played some carnival games. Next we had Ben's work party where the kids trick or treated on 3 floors of Ben's office building. Eleanor learned that if she were to meow at people, she usually received double the candy.

Between writing (coloring) some legal documents, Ethan (or should I say Batman?!) enjoyed the trick or treating portion as well.

Then the actual week of Halloween, hurricane Sandy ripped up the east coast and we got some of the remains of her destruction. Luckily, we just had a lot of rain and wind and never lost power or anything. Below is a picture of the rain on our windshield while waiting in the car to pick up Ethan from school.

Once Wednesday rolled around, the rain and wind subsided and it was just a chilly day. We spent the morning eating Eleanor's cereal of choice from the grocery store (Fruit Loops) and she opened her presents. Her favorite present was probably the kitty that she received the day before from her Grandma and Grandpa Mudrick. To this day, she carries it around with her almost everywhere. I need to find a good way to spot treat that thing since it's already starting to get a bit crusty.

Other gifts Eleanor received were, a My Little Pony from Ethan, a tea set and a Cabbage Patch baby from us. She loves her tea set and although she asked for a baby doll for her birthday, she isn't really digging the baby doll we got her. Oh well.

 
Ben headed to work, but came home early so that we could carve our pumpkins before heading to our friends' home for a little dinner and some trick or treating in their neighborhood. This was the only shot we really got of our pumpkins, and they're not even lit up.



Our friends, the Richards, live in a great neighborhood for little kids to trick or treat in. It's a circle with hardly any cars coming through so the kids were able to run from house to house and across the street to their hearts content. Here's Ethan with his best friend Simon (or should I say Indiana Jones?).



After trick or treating we headed back inside and the kids ran around and played while the adults talked. We took a brief moment to light a candle for Eleanor and Eliza (another girl in our ward who has a birthday on Halloween), though after about one bite of her cupcake she was more interested in the cat that the Richards have than her treat.


  

 

 

All in all, I'd say we had a great Halloween and birthday for Eleanor. She's coming into her own and welcoming the age of 2 by being only slightly terrible!