Christmas- Part One

We had a fun weekend in NJ last weekend with Nana, PopPop, Uncle Ryan, Uncle Chris, Aunt Megan and Grandma T (or just "teeh," as Kate calls her) to celebrate our "first" Christmas for the season. The kids liked watching at the door and helping PopPop as some of our visitors came and went. The kids opened their presents in under 15 minutes, so we're hoping to delay their warp-speed unwrapping a bit on Christmas morning in 2 days! The kids both 'tried on' some of their new clothes, including pj's for Paul with a red canoe and moose and a cozy purple fleece for Kaitlyn. She also "HAD" to put on her ladybug slippers. Unlike the male Redferns, she enjoyed trying on every item of clothing... Paul III this year opened up some clothes, and in classic Redfern male fashion, handed the box to daddy without much interest!

Who needs presents when you have a box to drive?!Nana and Kaitlyn at dinner.Pop Pop and Paul playing with one of the favorites- a fuzzy, squeezy orange ball.We also got to meet Lauren and Dave Ahlert's adorbable little guy, Logan... he was all smiles during our visit along with Aunt Terri and Uncle Lou. Paul and Uncle Ryan made sure that Uncle Ry's fish was getting some attention too.

The kids also made sure to check out all of the singing and dancing items.

Breakfast with Santa

Hi everyone- yes, we're still here! No excuses for the lack of posts this month.... I may have to do some back-tracking with posts to update Thanksgiving pictures and holiday decorating. Our tree is up (and finally fully decorated- for several days there were only ornaments on the bottom 4 feet or so- within the reach of Kaitlyn and Paul's help). This Saturday we went to a great breakfast with Santa in Gettysburg. The kids seemed to really like it - they were more enamored with the Rudolph who was there. Paul kept asking where the other reindeer where ("watching the sleigh, mommy") and Kaitlyn spent most of the morning pointing to her nose and reminding us that she saw "big nose" at breakfast.Although not the best picture, I have to share it... Paul did give Santa his Christmas list and this is the closest he's gotten so far to Santa (at the College's holiday party last Monday he clung to me and was close enough for me to ask Santa where the reindeer where staying while he was at the party- but no farther) and since he was so scared he made usually-brave Kaitlyn very cautious (note that I am with her in the picture).

Kaitlyn dancing with Santa

 Here's a cool YouTube video some fun at home this afternoon!

Happy 4th Birthday, Paul!

We spent yesterday afternoon and evening celebrating little Paul's fourth birthday. He had several of his own friends over for dinner (and playing and cake), and our house was certainly lively- but we all had tons of fun.

After last year's John Deere tractor cake, this year the Redfern-Cornock baking and decorating crew (Paul, Katherine and myself) created a fire truck cake.... here it is:

Paul was soooooo excited to have his friends come over... he waited, relatively patiently, by the door for them to arrive. Of course Kaitlyn had to come see what he was up to and keep him company (she was a great sport all weekend).

Hanging out in the downstairs play room... (there were fire trucks and firemen to color, foam pumpkins to decorate and eventually "pin the face parts on the pumpkin") The kids (and me who got stuck on the wrong side of the table!) having dinner....The other kids' table- which served wine and beer. (Ryan is actually in one of the kids' fold-up chairs!)Time for cake! He blew out the candle on the 2nd or 3rd try.Looking at the wonderful pictures from Uncle Chris and Aunt Megan's wedding with Aunt Megan and Gram. He was fascinated by them.

Today Paul got to open some of his other presents- and there were many great gifts!! He first opened an awesome remote control train from Aunt Megan and Uncle Chris (and a set of gloves and a hat... which you'll see Kaitlyn took over- and wore for quite a while this morning!).

Kaitlyn also got a hold of Aunt Katherine's blackberry and may have accidentally called 911... we're not sure... she was also able to 'unlock' they keyboard...

A chainsaw from Uncle Ryan and Lauren (to which Kaitlyn yelled "yeah, Paul" since he was so happy- and had to get her goggles since Paul had gotten work goggles!). Some great building sets and a 'town road map' from Aunt Katherine- they built the police station together:

Relaxing with Daddy while watching some football.
Playing outside tonight... while Paul trimmed some of our front bushes..

And since neither of the kids understood the concept of daylight savings time this morning and woke up bright and early, it's time for bed! More to come from the official birthday on Tuesday.

Happy Halloween 2010!

What a fun night! After MUCH anticipation tonight was trick-or-treating and Halloween for our family... little Paul tried to explain to me tonight that his un-stellar behavior this morning (and fantastic behavior tonight) was due to being soooo excited for trick or treating (and sad that we couldn't do it in the morning)... hmm...he's either very honest or smarter than we think!
We got the kids treat bags from Pottery Barn Kids- too hard to resist this year since they had ones which matched their costumes. Kaitlyn figured out what to do with it a bit quicker....
Either way, we showed up at Gram and BB's by 4pm ready to trick or treat....and managed to successfully pass the time by having dinner, playing outside and then getting ready by 6pm to head out.
Our ghost and cupcake:

Paul and Kate checking out Gram and BB's candy supply to make sure that they have enough.
Can you tell they're excited?
And they're off!

At the first house:

At the second house Kaitlyn hadn't yet gotten the concept of trick-or-treating and figured why not play with the big rock (don't worry, she figured it out.... "trich tree")
We ended up being out for about 30 minutes, and that seemed to be plenty for our gang (no complaints from those of us starting to get cold!). Then back to the house for a treat.
After a busy night, Paul and BB had an intellectual conversation about the 'new' leantoo at Raquette Lake and how it was built.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! Now onto celebrating Paul's 4th birthday in 9 days....

Pre-halloween activities and silliness around the house

Last Thursday we went with Gram to the Growing Place's Fall Festival- it was lots of fun for the kids to see all of their friends from "school" in costume. Gram even won the pumpkins that both kid's classrooms decorated for a silent auction.In case you can't tall, Paul is a ghost and Kaitlyn is a cupcake this year!



Although it took a while for Paul to warm up to all the activity, he and his friend Elizabeth, who was a great Dorothy, ended up playing for a bit (after he found the masks to play with at one of the stations).
Paul checking out his "Paul" side of the pumpkin at night:
Kaitlyn checking out her side of the pumpkin:
The other day the kids somehow got a hold of their goggles and decided to wear them around the house for a while!

My favorite part of this pictures may actually be the beautiful fall trees outside our front window.