Our Tree Tradition

Every year on the day our Christmas tree is put up we exchange an ornament.  This year the boys were both excited to see their new one.  During a scouting session Garrett had requested the Mickey Mouse train so that is what he got and Gannon got a Mickey Mouse horse one.  I thought Dave had enough sports ornaments so I gave him a picture one with our family and he gave me two interlinked engraved hearts with our birthstones.  This is such a fun tradition and our tree is beautiful. 

An Afternoon with Grandpa and Grandma

Garrett, Gannon, and I headed to Modesto to spend the day with Grandpa and Grandma after Thanksgiving.  I love Santa pictures and feel they are a must every year and since they are never the cutest pictures (a screaming kid or two!) I wanted to head to Bass Pro Shop about 20 minutes north of my dad to take a picture with Santa since they were available for free!  Just as I thought Garrett was not the slightest bit excited to sit and visit with Santa, Gannon on the other hand was just shocked by his screaming brother and just sat there, quiet as can be!

After Bass Pro we headed to Grandpa and Grandma's for a little holiday lunch and nap!  Gannon's nap was not little - almost 3 1/2 hours!  Garrett got lots of attention during this time.  I have learned to take the pack n play for Gannon and then we can visit and get a good nap - the best of both worlds!



Giving Thanks!

This year we are thankful for so much.  Our wonderful family, health, jobs, and the food on our table!  Thanks to my little Rachel Ray knock off sister, Taylor, we had a WONDERFUL thanksgiving meal!  I can remember when Taylor was in high school and she would go home after school and watch Rachel Ray for meal ideas.  She would then call Mom with a shopping list for the evenings meal.  She continues to love to cook and our Thanksgiving meal was a reflection of this! The turkey was seriously one of best I've ever had.  Instead of being stuffed with stuffing Taylor used a whole lemon, onion, and garlic clove all cut in half with some type of fresh herb.  It was SO yummy.  Add that to her gravy and yellow mashed potatoes and it was delicious. 



Thanksgiving Preparation

I am so thankful for our little boys...and that they love to cook and clean!  Garrett loves to help add ingredients and now Gannon loves to stir!  If Gannon see Garrett helping with the cooking he has to tug his chair over to the counter too.  So Thanksgiving morning as I was making the pies and green bean casserole the boys HAD to help!  Garrett was so funny when I dumped the pumpkin mix into the bowl, he said "that looks disgusting Mom!" Oh, thanks Garrett!  I love pumpkin pie so this isn't going to stop me from eating it! 

A Visit with Papa

Papa Gossman was headed down to Los Angeles area for Thanksgiving and stopped by for an overnight visit in Shell Beach on his way down. Even though our visit was short, it is nice to see everyone!  Crazy that we took around 10 pictures before these turned out!  Thank goodness for digital cameras!

Exploration Station

In Grover Beach there is an old fire station that was coverted into a science/exploration place for children. This is a great little place to take the kiddo's when it's raining at the beach!  Aunt Shannon and I took the boys to play for a bit in the afternoon.  Gannon loved the little tractor station and Garrett was all over in love.  Cousin Dante enjoyed the air ball machine.  It's fun to watch them explore each in their own little way. 



Christmas before Thanksgiving

I know we are worse than the retail stores!!! Since we aren't going to see Dave's side of the family at Christmas time this year we decided to talk our gifts down with us when we visited at Thanksgiving.  The boys exchanged gifts with cousin Dante so we could see all the boys enjoy their gifts.  Garrett got a new Barbie set, thanks to Toy Story 3 he really wanted one! Aunt Shannon fulfilled this wish!  Gannon is really into trucks and since Garrett never really went through this stage we don't have many.  Now we do, Garrett and Gannon both got new big trucks from cousin Dante.  Dante was equally as excited about his new airplane.