Tis the Season

Well, Christmastime is officially here! The weekend before Thanksgiving, we cracked open the holiday bins and decorated our tree. The kids were excited to dig through all the Christmas stuff, they especially loved the headgear that they came across as they were rummaging through everything. We had a wonderful evening that started with everyone's favorite, breakfast for dinner followed by a little tree trimming, and of course, hot chocolate!

Deer in the headlights!

Lincoln LOVED decorating the tree, and was a very active participant. It did take a bit of training for him to understand that even though some of the ornaments looked like a ball, that you don't throw them onto the tree. After the first few, I tried to encourage him to hang the starts and other odd shaped ornaments.

Lincoln enjoying his "coffee" after all his hard work. I am really looking forward to Christmas with him this year. Well, with all of them of course, but you know what I mean. He's really getting into it, and loves Christmas lights, Santa and just about everything else Christmas! He's constantly excited about all of the festivities going on around him. I hope the start of your December and Christmas season is going well! It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I'm also proud to say that my Christmas tree doesn't have a waistline this year. If you remember my idiocracy last year! One thing about me is that most of the time, I feel like I can learn from my mistakes. Lucky for me, I have lots of learning opportunities! Anyway, this year, we eliminated the bottom piece, so it worked out a lot better.

The Little Cousins

So part of the fun of any family gathering is watching all these little ones run around and play. They are a bit of a rowdy bunch, but I'd dare to say they have a pretty good time together! Lincoln and Anastyn took a bath together for the first time, and were being super silly.

Lincoln-just because I love how happy he is here.

Malachi 1, Natalie 1, Lincoln 2, Anastyn 3

All the little cousins about to jump out the window to get to the dog outside. This is probably the only picture we will get of them all together for a while. Unfortunately, we probably won't get one with all of their faces for quite for a few more years. They move way too fast!

Thanksgiving

It is becoming increasingly harder to take photos on holidays because of the large number of children running around, but we did manage to snap a few of our family before the festivities. (By managed to snap a few, you understand that I mean I forced everyone to take a picture with me, right? I thought so!) We celebrated at my mom and dad's, and enjoyed a perfectly traditional turkey dinner and then thoroughly enjoyed the unbelievably beautiful weather we got that day!

Our attempt at a family picture. We're all in it, everyone is looking. Really, what more could I ask?

I really don't care for this picture of me, but I am pretty sure that this may be the only picture to date of me and Lincoln that he is actually smiling. He usually has a disgruntled look on his face and his arms outreached looking for his dad.

Anyway, I couldn't be more thankful for this crew that makes my life so crazy and wonderful all at the same time. They are all extremely forgiving, and put up with me and my craziness without too much complaint. I know I have been tremendously blessed, and am also quite certain that most of the time, I probably don't act like it. I should probably practice be thankful a little more all year long. I hope you and your family enjoyed some time together over Thanksgiving and are eagerly anticipating the joys of Christmas, I know I am!

Beauty and the Beast

The first weekend in November, we traveled to the Oklahoma Christian Homecoming for the first time in forever. I think we have only been one other time, but now that we are more involved in our Alumni Chapter, we thought we would go. We enjoyed a great dinner Friday night, and the girls and I, along with my mom went to the play on Saturday. It was amazing! I was impressed with everything about the performance! We all look a little rough because we were hanging out in the city all day shopping, and the show wasn't until 8:00PM. Nonetheless, we had a great time!

The girls were probably verging on being a little too old for tea with Belle, but they definitely liked getting the light up rose.

They were super excited that we were near the front, and could actually see the actors. (not typically what they're used to apparently) We lucked out though, and had great seats, which made the show that much more enjoyable.

50th Day of School

So, is it really already December? That is just crazy! I have so much to write, but can't seem to keep up with things. Shocking, I know! I only write that on every other post. Anyway, I thought quitting my job was supposed to give me more time to do things like this! Moving on... I finally uploaded the photos from my camera, so I guess I'll start there. A while back, Londyn's class celebrated the 50th day of school 50's style. I've always wanted an excuse to dress the girls up in Fifties attire, but it was never at the top of their list of Halloween costumes, so this was the perfect opportunity. Londyn was a good sport, but did take off her glasses and scarf as soon as she jumped out of my car. Silly girl! She had a great time, I think they had a little sock hop and enjoyed rootbeer floats at the end of the day!

This last picture is a bit sassy....I can't believe how grown up she is getting.

Fall Break-The End

Last, but certainly not least, we concluded the fall break festivities with a hayride out on the farm. Everyone always has a great time, even if it doesn't look like it in this picture. Yet again, trying to get a decent picture of all the kids together has proven to be quite difficult. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful weekend to enjoy all of our outdoor fall activities. Well, I'm finally calling it quits on the fall break posts, I came home with way too many. It makes it super hard to narrow down and decide what/how to post. Anyway, we are glad we had a few extra people with us this year, and are looking forward to many fall breaks to come.

Fall Break-Random Pics

Yes, I know it's almost Thanskgiving. Yes, I know that Fall Break was over a month ago. Yes, I know that most retail stores have their Christmas decorations up. And I'd be lying if I said we didn't already have Christmas lights on our house. But, oh well, I still have a few more fall break things to catch up on as well as Halloween. Then, I can move on, and will be able to post about Thanksgiving and then all the fun Christmas things coming up.

Skylar enjoying a mummy dog. Londyn doing a little leisurely reading.

An attempt to take a picture of all the grandkids with Grammy Tammy. Sorry mom, but I don't think that's going to work out too well for a couple of years.

Malachi and Lincoln having fun in the leaves.

Hanging out with Grandma Del waiting for the apple butter.

Grandma Vi even came to join the fun and squeeze on the girls a little.

Fall Break-The Games

We didn't get to play as many games this year because we were trying to get to the farm for our hayride before dark, but we definitely stuck with our favorites. The kids LOVE the mummy wrap game and the challenge of eating donuts hanging from a tree without using their hands. It's always so much fun, and it gets even better as the kids get older. Lincoln wasn't too interested in either, but he did snag a donut, but just opted for sitting down and eating it. I am beginning to think I am never going to move past my fall postings.....Better late than never thought, right?

Fall Break-Posing

So it's possible that I have slight obsession with holiday themed clothing. I can't get enough of silly striped socks and tights, tutu skirts and glittery tees. When it comes to boys, I don't have a clue, so Lincoln, I'm sorry that you just sort of look like a nerd. (an adorable nerd) I'll learn. I'll get better at this boy stuff. In the meantime, Happy belated Halloween. If my memory serves me correctly, I forced them outside in the freezing cold to make me let them take their pictures. I may have raised my voice a time or two and possibly gritted my teeth a little trying to get them to cooperate. I'm not really sure what the point of that was now, but it sure was fun, huh kids?

Fall Break-The Apple Butter

I am finally getting around to posting a little bit about our fall break, which has turned into a our annual Fredendall Fall Fun Fest! This year my brother decided it would be fun to make apple butter, lots of it, from a copper kettle. And why wouldn't that be fun? Hours of peeling apples, even more hours of stirring apples in the kettle, and working in an assembly line to get it all jarred up...what could be more fun than that?!? Actually, everyone had a great time, and we ended up with a ton of apple butter for us all to share and eat over the next few years. (Really, it was a lot of apple butter!) It was a great experience for the girls, and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to spend outside taking turns stirring the pot. (I will note that I actually didn't do any of the above said work. I watched and photographed.) So, thanks Trent! It was a great idea, and I hope you are enjoying your apple butter. Preparing the apples, getting them ready to cook. (If you can't tell by this and every other picture of my brother on the blog, he absolutely LOVES it when I take his picture...not so much. Every time he sees my camera, I get the look of death. However, being the persistent individual that I am, I am going to continue taking his photo because I am the older sister, and I know best.) Moving on.. Taking turns stirring.

The finishing touches... And it was delicious!

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween! We enjoyed a weekend full of festivities with a Halloween party Saturday night, a fall festival at church on Sunday, and trick-or-treating tonight! I have to say, I think I am Halloweened out! I've got a lot to post this week, so stay tuned. (Mom, I promise I will post our MO fall festival pictures soon!)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I'm a little proud! I don't like to be braggy, but isn't that a little part of my mom job, at least sometimes?!? Anyway, I am so proud of both girls for earning the character award for their class the first month it was given. I know they were both anxious about starting a new school this year, but probably not quite as anxious as I was. I am so glad to see that they are both adjusting well, and behaving as they should.