Christmas Tree Hunt 2011

Last weekend we headed up to the Santa Cruz mountains to partake in our holiday tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree. We got a big one this year- about 9 feet. That's right.

Finn picked out the tree this year. Nice work!

Finn is giving it his all trying to cut this tree with the dull saw they give you.

Jason and Sawyer are supervising.

Maybe next year Sawyer will be ready to be the sawyer. Heehee.

Looking good.

Even Momma gets a turn.

Scout is thoroughly unimpressed with the whole thing. But there were lots of different things to occupy her nose so that made her happy.

Here's the whole Papier Clan with our trees.

Thanksgiving cookies

I love that my 4 year old has the creative bug. We spent a couple of hours at the mall to kill some time on a rainy day. Finn was excited about the Christmas decorations. And he wouldn't let me leave Williams Sonoma without some Thanksgiving cookie cutters. I offered to get him 2. He demanded 4. We settled on 3.

So tonight we made some yummy cookies with the help of Finn's buddies Jack & Norah. Sawyer helped too. Mainly in the eating department. The kids had a blast decorating the pumpkins, acorns and turkeys. The heads on the turkeys kept getting cut off. Just like the real thing.

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Halloween 2011- The Final Chapter

I had to post a final Halloween post because despite some screaming (me), kicking (Sawyer) and crying (Jason) we finally got Sawyer into his monkey costume. He was immediately content. Go figure.

Banana, check. Lollipop, check.

The only thing scarier then the huge monster in front of the house is the devil dog inside! Check out those glowing eyes.

You may need to double click the picture to enlarge.

Happy Halloween!

Here's a preview of King Finn. He seems to think the scepter is a combination wand/sword/bat. It grants wishes, turns people into other things and goes "bam" a lot.

Sawyer refused the multiple costume choices offered and instead channeled the terrible-twos. He is going as Senor Cranky Pants. No costume necessary.

Halloween Box 2011

Aunt Betty's box full of Halloween treats arrived last week. Oh boy, oh boy.

Finn sneaks a peek

Hey, what'd you get?

Aunt Betty was very sweet and sent two of everything. Thank you!

Serious business

No time to take off the plastic

Sawyer is ready to ship himself to Montana to visit Aunt Betty. Scout is glad to help out!

Halloween Part 1 of a lot

Finn started begging me to decorate for Halloween for ages ago. I kept telling him, "first your brother's birthday, then we'll do Halloween." We had had this conversation 146 times and it was only Labor Day. Yes, the kid likes him some Halloween. So, of course, we had to indulge him with Filoli's Autumn Festival come October 1st. And it's not so bad for the adults either.

Here is Finn with the apple cider press. He even got to turn the wheel several times. Of course, the best part is drinking the cider, not making it.

Sawyer actually did a pretty good job with this necklace.

Finn is the master of crafts, necklace making included.

The boys running in the gardens.

Had to have his face painted. A blue butterfly.

Sawyer parked it in the flowers. Luckily we didn't get in trouble for that.

More photos from Sawyer's Bday

I'm only a month behind in posting these. We've been very busy with Halloween. More to come on that.

Sawyer getting a little help from big bro to open his presents.

Favorite present from that day has to be these new rain boots. He put them on immediately.

A week or so later we celebrated with the family. Here are Sawyer and Auntie Kirsten with their birthday cakes.

Making a wish. Blowing out candles.

Having fun!