Vegas Trip!

FREEDOM!

My company Christmas party was in Vegas this year, so we begged Grandma and Grandpa Riek to watch the kids so Sean and I could escape for a few days.

We couldn't believe how cold it was in Vegas - and cloudy!  This was the view from our window

The Bellagio is hands-down my most favorite hotel to visit.  And it was all decked out for Christmas so it certainly did not disappoint :)

I should have had Sean stand next to this soldier to show how huge he was

They had huge candies hanging from the ceiling

There was a beautiful holiday display set up and most everything was made out of flowers

The reindeer are all made out of nuts - wish we had zoomed in so you could see it

This polar bear was HUGE - maybe 15 feet tall, and all made out of flowers - so cool!

And one picture from Caesar's Palace

We went back to the Bellagio at night so I could watch the fountains (again)

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Figures the sun comes out on the day we are leaving!   Beautiful skyline

Santa visits De Soto

Santa comes to De Soto every year to see all the kids.  Ryan and Daddy went last year right after Eric was born, and this year I was able to come along too!  Grandma Jean and Grandpa Leroy also came along for the fun.  It was great!  The high school band and chorus put on a little concert and then the tree was lit.  The highlight of the event was watching Santa arrive on a fire truck!

Eric's First Birthday Party

We had quite a full house for Eric's first birthday party.  It was great to have ALL of the grandparent's here to help us celebrate.  The party had a farm theme - complete with a cool rocking cow for Eric

We got Eric a big cupcake just for him.  As you can see he enjoyed it!  Quite different from Ryan who wouldn't touch his little cake on his first birthday (didn't want to get cake on his hands)

Snowmen reading music

Ryan loves all the cool singing snowmen that we have from Hallmark.  I think they are his most favorite holiday decoration we have.  Today he decided that they should have music to look at while they are singing, so he lined them up on the piano in front of the Christmas carol piano book :)

Messy Guy

I have to say Eric is NOTHING like Ryan in the eating department.  Most notable is that Eric actually eats... and eats... and eats.  The other major difference is that Eric is quite a messy eater.  Ryan is painfully clean and likewise... painfully picky!

Eric's First Birthday

Eric is ONE!  We gave him his new shopping cart before bedtime and both boys seem to think it is pretty cool

Thanksgiving at the cabin - Day 3

Sunday it was time to leave the Cabin.  Grandma and Eric were having fun in the kitchen