Our Thanksgiving trip

For Thanksgiving this year we headed down to Longview for four days. Cory and I stayed at the hotel and Alyssa got to stay at my parents house for the time we were there. She had a blast and was spoiled a lot! I think she got ice cream every night!!!!!!
Thanksgiving day we spent it at my parents house with family there and had a feast! My mom really out done herself with everything. We had all the usual fixings along
with my favorite a seafood salad that was delicious. Alyssa was a little tired when I went and woke her up from her nap early, but everyone wanted to see her. She didn't eat much of her dinner but loved the pumpkin cheesecake that my mom made.
The next day I got up and went and did a little shopping since our hotel was at or by the mall. I got a great deal on a winter jacket for Alyssa and some clothes for
baby Deuce, even though I think I will have to take those back. After that we went and spent the day with Cory's family. We had a great time as well. Cory and his brother went and played some golf while Alyssa and I hung out at the house with his mom, sister in law and her son. It was fun to get the cousins together since they never get to see each other.
We headed home Saturday and once we got home spent the rest of it decorating for Christmas! I'm so excited I love this time of year. This next month is going to be so very busy and I'm so excited with all the stuff we have planned.

Seattle Childrens Museum

This last Friday Cory was off and we decided to head into Seattle and take Alyssa to the Seattle Center and go to the Children's Museum. We picked up G. Grammy along the way to go with us. I was really excited because they had a Sesame Street exhibit going on that I knew Alyssa would like because she LOVES Elmo!
We had a blast! Alyssa is at the perfect age now where I don't have to help her as much and I can let her run around and explore on her own. It was so much fun watching her. She got to crawl through whales, play in water, look at "real" fish, play in boats and cars, make noise on the drums, and go down Sesame Street. Her absolute favorite was playing in the grocery store. She grabbed the cart and was gone. She just started putting grocery's in it and when I asked her to put a specific item back she grabbed exactly that. How brilliant!!! After about ten minutes in there I decided it was time to move on. I should have ran that by her first because she was not ready to go yet. She threw a little tantrum. I think I know what we will be getting her for Christmas though!
We spent a couple hours there and afterwards went upstairs and had lunch at the restaurant. She spent her time coloring and actually broke her first plate! The waitress was so nice she didn't seem fazed and even brought Alyssa some cookies with whipped cream on them. Alyssa loved the whip cream!
We finally left after lunch and headed back home after dropping off G. Grammy. Alyssa and I were both exhausted. I can't wait to take her back and spend the day there this summer when the weather is a little nicer. We all had a blast and I think G. Grammy especially. She used to take Cory and his brother there when they were little so Im sure it brought back a ton of memories.

Spending time with Daddy

I was out running errands the other day and when I came home Alyssa and Cory were napping together on the couch. It was very cute except for by the time I went and got the camera Alyssa had of course woke up!
Cory and I went out for two dates this last week and had a great time. The first one we went out downtown Seattle and went to the Bodies Exhibit. It was really amazing. The part I enjoyed the most, and not to sound sick, was the fetus'. They had them all the way up to twenty weeks. It was sad but in the same sense amazing to actually see what the progression is up close instead of just a picture. Afterwards we went out to eat at Palomino in Rainier Square. It was delicious and afterwards we went and did a little shopping at Pacific Place. Our next date was just dinner and hockey and it was also a lot of fun. When we were leaving the weather was crazy. Hailing, thundering, raining, snowing, and sun. The game was great and we got to see a couple of good fights.
This next week or really until the end of the month we are swamped. We have so much going on. Alyssa has a bunch of activities planned, I have my book club and some nights out with friends and than we have our Thanksgiving vacation. We also have another doctors appointment for Baby Deuce.

Locked out

The other day I was heading out to get the mail and on my way back Cory was getting into his car to go to the gym. No big deal, so I had thought, until I got up to the front door. I found the front screen door wouldn't open. I didn't think it was locked for you have to pull it closed to lock it but it was stuck. Alyssa was standing there crying because she wanted to come outside. I saw Cory at the end of the road turning out of our development and thought, CRAP! I ran next door and used my neighbors phone and called him and had him turn around and come back.
Once he returned he opened the garage door and we realized that nope the door wasn't stuck and she had actually locked it! We couldn't believe it. She has watched me do it so many times when I have the door open so she can't wander out I guess I shouldn't be surprised!

Halloween

Friday the day before Halloween Alyssa and I went trick or treating with our friends from our MOSS group and went to an assisted living home. Alyssa was a little shy with all the people who lived there who kept coming up to her but once we started to go around and get candy she perked right up and learned what to do very quickly. It was very cute to watch all the kids in their costumes. I was a little bummed because I had wanted to take pictures but once there I realized I didn't have the SB card for my camera...ugh!
Later that night we were invited to a friends daughters Halloween party. We went and had a blast! Alyssa just jumped right in and was wanting to play with all the girls. They aged from around 7-9 and Alyssa and Jianna were dressed in similar costumes. It was very cute! The food was great had lots of treats and were sent home with a lot of them that Cory loved since he was unable to go because he had to work. The girls played lots of games and had a great time. I look forward to doing that stuff with Alyssa as she gets older. We were exhausted when we got home and had an early morning the next day.
That next morning we were going to get our H1N1 shots. There was a place really close to us at a church that I decided to go to. They didn't open until 9 and I got there around 8 and you already had to park blocks away and the line was wrapped around with no cover. It was pouring outside. I decided I would just skip it. So we headed to Walmart to pick up our Christmas cards that were done. As we were leaving there I noticed there was a pharmacy that was giving the shots right by the Walmart. So we popped in there and waited 2 1/2 hours and got our much needed shots.
That Halloween night we actually ended up staying home and handing out candy. I made a nice dinner for us and dressed Alyssa up so the trick or treaters could see her and we just relaxed. Cory was off for the first time in a long time on Halloween. It will be so much fun in the years following taking the kids out and having party's for them on Halloween.