Turkey Day at Casa Vogel

My big brother, Ross, and his beautiful Chicago fam arrived here in Denver on Thanksgiving morning.  We've been eagerly anticipating their visit for the past month...the idea of having all four cousins under one roof was beyond exciting.  They had a smooth trip here and walked in to the smell of turkey in the oven.  We've never hosted Thanksgiving dinner, so we rather enjoyed decking the table and stove with potatoes, stuffing etc. etc.  Squirt went down for her nap right before we sat down to eat, enabling us to eat in a state of peace.  She's a tornado when there's food at her fingertips.  A complete tornado.  Luckily, Kira is far enough along in her pregnancy (with their first baby girl!) that she could eat normal food.  Despite not feeling super, she was a total trooper all weekend. 

After dinner we all headed to the park, via our "coveted by every little neighborhood boy" SUV's. I was in a state of bliss watching our families stroll around the neighborhood together. The weather cooperated beautifully (all weekend really). It was awesome watching the dudes and dudette frolick around the park and make traffic jams on the curly blue slide.  Over and over. 

After park time we loaded up in 2 vehicles and crashed the Syers/Jansen party. We can't resist Wes and Cara's delectable pies. They certainly know their way around the kitchen. It was fun for Ross and Kira to catch up with our Denver family. We headed home to get the little people tucked into bed - it had been more than a long day for the Kwas boys. The big people stayed up late for some adult conversation. Loved that. 

More to come on the remainder of our awesome weekend.  Figured this was enough pictures to start us off. 

Girls Day with the Monkeys

See these precious girlies?  They've become besties, which melts their Mama's hearts.  It was free day at the zoo last week, so we all jammed into the Pilot and hung with the monkeys, elephants, zebras and rhinos for a couple hours.  My not so little 22 month old hung with the big girls and roamed around the zoo grounds like she owned the place.  I smiled all the while. 

 These lanterns had Maria, Lins and me drooling.  Darling.

Rylanisms for the Quarter

What do you want for Christmas buddy? "Ummmm...definitely a donkey, magic buttons and a stingray. And maybe a hippopotamus." All excellent and very tangible.

In the car today I hear whispering in the backseat. "Dear God, please blow magic dust on Rapunzle so she will be real at my house when we get home. Mommy doesn't have magic power. Thank you (blows a kiss) and Amen!"

We're at Kohls yesterday and I find Rylan in the bra section, staring at the DD's. He says, "Mom, these are SO big!" Yes son. God blesses us all in different ways.

I have what I've always referred to as my "Cindy Crawford mole" above my lip. Children have always been freaked out by it, two of them referring to it as a spider. That was a slight hit to my supermodel ego. This week, my precious daughter decides to look at me closely, says "Uh oh Mommy! Poopie!" And she touches my mole. And laughs. Yes darling. That's hilarious. Mom has permanent poop on her face.

I explain to Rylan that we're going to Sea World (last month) and told him he'd see all different things found in the ocean.  He says, in the most excised, wide eyed expression possible, "You mean we're gonna see BUYOS Mom?"  Never mind the massive killer whales.

We cut our pancakes into ginger breads one Saturday. Rylan says, "Guys, you better eat these things FAST. You know gingerbread men. They like to run."

"The conclusion of Rylan's prayers last night..."And all God's parent's said....GUYS, you're sposted to say AMEN! Pay attention please."

Rylan was frustrated that he couldn't force his brain to dream about Rapunzel, so I told him he could daydream about her. With his eyes closed, he says, "Mom! Don't interrupt me. I'm daydreaming about Rapunzel in my bed." Ok then. Perhaps we should no longer encourage daydreaming.

I'm volunteering in Rylan's class for the first time. As he's leaving with Tim this morning he says, with a very serious face, "Mom, you're gonna have to look for me at my class. I'll probably be in a meeting with Mrs. Sanderson. On the cozy rug."

I hosted a Blue Jeans Bar party and had music on. Rylan came home and said, "Mom let's put MY songs on." I told him no. He says, "Listen, this is just how it is. Either we play my songs or I'm goin to bed." Mmmm...tough one bud.

Rylan asked me the same question roughly 12 times as I said, "I'm talking, so please be patient." He replies with, "Mom, what do you think you're King of the Heavens or something?"

Video Catch Up Time

I found all these endearing videos, all unseen by my blogging audience.  Had to share. 

Sugar, Sugar and More Sugar

Wednesdays are my home day with both kiddos, so on Halloween we trekked out to my workand the fairy and astronaut trick-or-treated from office to office.  My co-workers were rock stars in the sweetness department and gifted them with a rather ridiculous amount of candy and treats.  Spoiled?  Yes they are.  A lot of food bankers dressed up, so it was a fun outing.  We hit Dad's work afterward too. 

 

 Don't you just wanna put her in your pocket? 

Trick or treating (for reals) started at the early bird time of 5:00pm with neighbor friends.  Dude had his bud Holden to sprint from door to door with and Squirt had Hadley and Tristan to walk at a snails pace with.  It all worked out beautifully.  Squirt totally grasped the random concept of walking door to door demanding candy from complete strangers.  She would grab her bucket from our wagon, walk to the door, say "Treeeeat," put her bucket back in the wagon and pull the wagon to the next house.  This went on for a good hour and a half. Then she decided she owned rights to eating all the candy.  That's when we called it a night.  Because she would have eaten 25 pieces, including wrappers.

Randy and Linsy treated us to chili again post trick-or-treating and we had the kids in bed by 8:00pm.  Then Tim and I proceeded to scavenge through the candy, taking out our favorites and making a large bowl to donate to those who need candy more than we do.  Hope you and yours had a Happy Halloween.   

Nana-Ween etc.

 

This post has been a long time coming (ya know, like a week).  Nana popped in for a treasured visit the weekend leading up the Halloween.  With her she brings treasures (superman under-roos, grass skirts, wigs, books, stuffed animal friends...the list goes on like you wouldn't believe). 

This time she brought an extra suitcase just for these little gems.  Let me introduce my favorite item of Christmas growing up.  Mr. Santa, handcrafted by my mom, and his candy canes, black bear and bag.  I giggled like a schoolgirl when she walked down the stairs holding him.  She also blessed us with her homemade witch.  Love childhood mementos. 

 

Saturday night was decent in the weather department, so we dressed ourselves up and headed to Aspen Grove for some storefront trick-or-treating.  How cute are my black and yellow donned kiddos and their witchy Nana?

 

Miss Squirt caught on to the trick-or-treat concept mighty quickly.  And also decided that she owned the rights to eat the candy immediately following its arrival into her spider bag.  She screamed her maddest scream after learning that would not indeed be reality.

Can you find my husband?  Bless his heart for wearing that wig.  Many times you will see.

Starbucks time.  Dude's fave.  Squirt and one of her BFF's, Delaney, bonded all the way home.  Cute?  Um, yeah.

 

Sunday afternoon.....we hosted a Spooktacular Halloween Party for the Syers kids and Oma and Opa of course.  My mom wanted to see them, so this was the perfect way to keep the kids entertained.  We had a few festive activities set up and treats.  I think they all had a spooktacular time.

Introducing the cutest darn fairy you'll ever lay your eyes on.  Ever.

Bobbing for apples kept them busy for quite some time.  Payton was the only one to truly retrieve one, but the boys tried their darndest. Look at Dude's little bootie up in the air.  That's where he claimed to store his "gravity." 

My favorite witch and fairy.  Aren't they a darling duo?  Looks a bit like my mom is casting a spell on Squirt below. 

I've never been so attracted to my man.  I mean, come on. 

Pin the face on the pumpkin was a smashing success.  Patyon "couldn't see" but did a remarkable job of placing the facial features accurately.  As did Brady.  Dude?  Not so much.  I don't think he realized he could cheat. 

Yes, I was a fairy too.  Didn't have a tutu that fit my 5'10" frame.

Sidewalk chalk pumpkins.  They're still proudly displayed on our driveway.

Turns out Opa is quite the arteeeest himself. 

Post partaaaay, the kids hung out back before we headed out to deliver my mom back to the airport.  Sad times.  Always is. 

Love these two.  It's amazing how our kids all look so similar.  These two could pass for bros and Lando and Squirt the same. 

 

It was a fun Nana-Ween weekend.  We were crazy  sad to see her go but can't wait to see Papa in 2 weeks and welcome BOTH of them back for Christmas this year.  Not to mention a Thanksgiving visit from my older brother, sister-in-law, Kira and my awesome nephews.  We're blessed - to say the very least.  A Halloween Day post is yet to come.  My pillow is calling for now.