Deck The Halls

The first day of December is dubbed our tree-trimming day.  I loved these pictures of the kids gathering around and admiring their work just before being sent to bed!

And this sweet, tender hug!

A Day of Giving Thanks

We were so blessed to be able to spend Thanksgiving with nearby family!  It's been so much fun to watch the tables grow and the high chairs be discarded as the years have passed!  We were joined this year by a newer family in Aaron's parents' ward, so we completely filled one long table for the kids and two long tables (end to end) for the adults!

And there was so, so, SO much food!  There was enough for seconds and thirds and take-homes galore!  It was really nice that, for me, this was the first year when I got to sit and enjoy my full meal and my kids nearly didn't need me!  (Aaron was a dream and took Cole for all of dinner!)

After gorging ourselves, we all scattered and did several different things.  There was a movie going on in the basement, as well playing with some toy building materials.  Aaron and his dad watched the football game in the quiet of the master bedroom.  Towers and babies and visiting happened in the living room.  And a never-ending bar of pies and a game of Clue went on in the dining room.  It was really an enjoyable get-together!!

Snow Day!

Today, the day before Thanksgiving, the girls had school out AND it's been snowing so much.  What else were we to do than go outside and enjoy it?!  As soon as Cole was down for his nap, the three older kids scrambled to get their snow gear on.

The sled got put to use immediately!

It can be tough work, dragging that sled back up the hill, but someone's got to do it!

Taking spills is just part of the fun!

Carson waiting his turn to go alone down the hill.  I love seeing his breath and the snow on his gloves!

Lizzie tried to make some snowballs, but this snow was just so dry!  Even when she did get a good snowball, it fluffed apart as she threw it - look at that glittering snow trail!

I love our willow in all seasons - there's just something beautiful about it still, even without the leaves.

Lizzie made me a snow angel!

Carson wanted so badly to swing!  Too short to GET up, but too stubborn to GIVE up, he settled for this hanging swing.

Happy kids - Hooray for snow!

Gratitude and First Snowfall!

The Monday before Thanksgiving, our Family Home Evening lesson was on gratitude.  We made a thankful tree.  The kids were so proud that they each thought of at least one thing.  Evelyn and Lizzie really got into it.  We've hung it in our dining room to remind all of us to add more gratitude to even our meal prayers.  I love that this was a lesson that the kids seemed to really take something from!

That night, and all the next day, it snowed.  Lots and lots of pretty white fluffy stuff coming down.  So on Tuesday, after the girls got home from school, we all bundled up and went out to play.  It was a little rough because it was already so dark, but the kids didn't seem to mind!

Cole was excited about the snow!

The girls cracked out the sled and started making tracks right 

away.  Everyone loved the snow!

I couldn't resist taking this picture.  Cole was decidedly NOT pleased when playtime in the snow was finished!  I felt doubly bad because he really was freezing out there, but he wanted to badly to stay; my choice to bring him in wasn't well met.

Happy November Birthdays!!

Our in-the-area-family celebrates many birthdays in style, with a huge family bash in the middle of them!  Cousin Esther shares Grandpa's birthday and Carson's is just a few days after them, so we had a fun evening of triple pizza, cake, ice cream and presents!

Cole was in love with Baby L's toy!  She cheerfully watched him while he made all the buttons work on her busy station.

Carson loves pizza!  

The girls were excited to gift their cousin with a big handful of homemade cards and their carefully-selected Hello Kitty activity pad.

Carson was thrilled to receive some new toys from Grandma and Grandpa and some treats from his cousin J.

He opened this book and said excitedly, "I love dinosaurs!" He also seemed just as excited to open some clothes from me and Aaron.

However, the big hit for him that night was his new t-shirt from Grandma Reid.  He pointed out the different angry birds with satisfaction and couldn't wait to put it on!

Two days later, I did have to take it off to wash it, but it is already a frequently-requested wear!

Birthday boys!

There was some apprehension when I excitedly told everyone that I had made the cake from scratch - gluten free!  It was a hit, though, probably thanks to the apple pie filling it was made with. :)

We had three sets of candles on it, one for each birthday person-of-honor.

Happy 4th Birthday, Carson!

Om-nom-nom-nom-nom!

Carving Pumpkins with Grandma

After all the excitement of the ward party, we were happy to have a little down time and spend a family evening carving pumpkins at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Evie and Lizzie remembered gutting the pumpkins and did really well, scraping away cheerfully with the help of their cousins.

They each mapped out what they wanted carved and this year, both girls were able to do most of their own carving as well!

Carson was all ready to get his hands in the muck - until he got his hands in. the. muck.  He took one handful and refused to put his hand back in that gooey cavity.  He was happy to watch Daddy finish gutting and carving the pumpkin.

Aunt Katie and Jessica came and made a cute pumpkin, too!

Grandma was very excited about her 'Jack the Pumpkin King' inspired pumpkin.

Evie loved that her pumpkin's warty appearance added to the fun!

Most of the finished products, lined up over the dryer (the fun ghostly light under them).

After carving pumpkins, eating and dancing around in the dark with the remainder of the glow-sticks, Grandma helped all the kids decorate caramel apples to take home.

I have video of the dancing.  It was all through the house, upstairs and downstairs, marching and twirling, following the leader and dancing like crazy.  It really was a hoot to watch!