Choo Choo Bob concert/Rice park tree lighting

AMAZING!!!!  I have never been to the giant tree lighting in rice park and with choo choo Bob performing first and fire works afterwards it was a MUST see this year.  I am so glad we did.  What an awesome experience. 
Let me provide a small play by play:
The park is all dark...with a giant switch on stage and the crowd all counting down from 10, a giant firework shoots into the tree, all the lights go on and TONS of fireworks are blown off from directly inside the park. 
I don't think I can say enough times how cool this was.  The kids LOVED the choo choo bob concert as well and of course Santa was there too.  Both the kids were slightly nervous about the big bearded fellow.  It is still early in the season...I have hopes for the interactions to get better.

When asked their favorite part both: mixed responses.  Isaac: said fireworks and Addy said Choo choo Bob.  In fact we were sitting in the ordway having some complimentary hot chocolate and cookies and warming up a bit, and Addy insisted we go back for more of the concert. 

It was a great family event.  I highly recommend this for families next year.  It is not often that you get to see fireworks in November and that large of a tree light up all at once. 

We had front row standing "seats"

watching a little bit of the sound check

waiting for the concert to start again

Seth standing in front of the giant tree.  (sorry, I can't figure out how to rotate the pic)

Santa...we are very serious when it comes to santa

Being silly waiting for the tree lighting

The best picture I could get...

Feed My Starving Children

 I haven't written in a while...to be honest there hasn't been to much happening lately that is blog worthy.  I didn't think people were interested in our stomach flu...which has been the last week or so.
But we are healthy again and looking forward to this holiday season.  To start the season off right, with giving in mind we went to volunteer with Isaac.

This Saturday we went to Feed my starving Children with Isaac.  This was our first time there, but have heard so much about it from other friends.  It was an amazing place that makes meals to distribute in other countries.  Our meals were headed to parts of Mexico.  While there our group made over 16,000 meals that will feed 46 people for an entire year.  We also learned that one meal only costs us here in the states $.22 to make.  Isaac was a little nervous at first, but after we got started he did FANTASTIC!!!  He scooped up the food into the bags and weighed the bags look for the magic number 400!!

Seth and I were very proud of him.  He said he had fun and wants to go back.  He understands what he was doing and where the meals are going.  It was a huge shock to him to see some of the pictures of the children, and he is just trying to wrap his head around this concept of some kids not having a Cub to go too. 

We will be going back, it is a great way to explain to kids hands on about our world hunger problem.

Listening to the rules and instructions

scooping the food

weighing the food

catching the food

drying the dishes after making LOTS of bags of food

Star wars 5th Birthday Party

For the first time this year Isaac was allowed to have a kids birthday party in addition to his family party.  Two parties...yikes!!!  He wanted the theme star wars and it was a blast to see his friends from school playing so well and having such a good time.  It was a TON of work for this party.  Seth and I spent many evenings preparing various activities, making light sabers, piecing together a Darth Vader and looking up various recipes for Yoda Soda to name a few.  I think I speak for both of us when I say we would do it all over again.  Isaac and his friends had a great time at their Jedi Training and they all became Jedi Masters by the end of the party.

I will stop babbling and let the pictures tell the story of both parties!  Get ready for picture overload but there is really no better way to show it.

Jedi Master certificates

craft table with R2-D2 assembly kits, Yoda coloring sheets and padawan mazes and stickers

laser beam obstacle course to rescue Han Solo

decorate your own cupcakes...This was a HUGE hit!

decorating their bags and doing crafts

laser beam challenge: Two people decided to wear their jedi outfits Nana made!

rescuing princess Leia from the ball pit

light saber training with balloons

light saber training outside

silly stinging Darth Vader

and each other

destroying our leaf pumpkin

nerf gun training

attack of the clone "balloon" troopers

shooting them down with nerf guns

snack time

Addy was awesome with her shooting

frozen icee's (light sabers)

a little more craft making

present time

Isaac was so excited over everything

pinata fun

gathering the candy

a little wii action at the end

 Party Number 2:

cake

opening the present from us

Listening to where he gets to go: Monster trucks with Daddy

we also got him his green scooter

opening presents

Grandma and Grandpa got him Darth Maul light sabers

He loves to battle

 A HUGE thank you to everyone who came to Isaac's parties and help to make his birthday so special.  He LOVED it so much and still talks about it.  Also a HUGE thank you to our family who helped us prepare for these events, especially since I threw my back out 6 days prior to these events.  Your help was appreciated A LOT!!!!  We have a very special boy who has blessed us with 4 Exciting years we can't wait to see what year 5 has in store for us.  We Love you Isaac!!!