December 2015, Part II

Typically we leave on a Friday night and divide the trip up into two parts.  Every time, by the time we arrive at the hotel (around 2AM), the kids have had a good nap and are ready to play.  We decided to try the drive in a day.

The kids did so so well!!

We arrived in Michigan just a little later than we do when we leave a day earlier.  There was just a touch of snow on the ground.

The week in Michigan goes so fast.  We enjoyed seeing Ben's friends, having a friend get together at Judd and Cindy's, and just spending time together!

We are so thankful for such wonderful family to go and visit in Michigan!

December 2015-Part I

December is such a whirlwind.  It is a month where I want to cherish Every. Single. Thing. but it is also really hard to stay present and not get frazzled and stressed.

We worked through our advent calendar on most days.  I tried to arrange it where there were simpler things to do during the week and more complex things on the weekends.  Sometimes this worked, and sometimes it didn't.  If we missed a day then I tried to not worry about it.  Some of our activities included:

• Make a Christmas chain
• Make Christmas ornaments
• Make a Christmas craft
• Decorate the windows with "snow"
• Go see Christmas lights
• Building a fort and watch a Christmas movie
• Color a Christmas picture
• Go to Bass Pro to see Santa
• Go to "Make it Take it" family night at school
• Watch the Fair Grove Christmas "Parade"
• Decorate cookies
• Spend the night at Grandma and Papas

Because we always travel to Michigan for the actual Christmas holiday, we celebrate with my family on a Saturday morning before we go.  It is complete craziness with all of the kids but so so fun!  We let everyone just open their presents at once and it is impossible to keep track of everything.

Somehow we don't have any pictures of Kathryn or Amelia so my guess is that they were off running around together.  They have become pretty good friends :).

The week that we left for Michigan was completely crazy.  I had a board meeting, we had my work Christmas party, and we had to pack.  We decided to order pizza and do our immediate family's celebration on a Tuesday night.  I was so so sick but it is still always fun to watch your kids open presents (and let's be honest, I love it too)!

The following Saturday morning we loaded up into our Escape with two adults, two kids, a dog, and tons of presents and headed up North......

Part II coming soon.

November 2015

The month of November was a little slower for our family which was a welcome break between the business of October and December.  Because of the rest time, there are limited pictures so this post should be much easier.

November started off with a 15 year anniversary dinner for Potters House.  It was such a fun night with two tables full of friends celebrating a place that was so important to me (Kayce) during college.  After the dinner, we all went out.  This was something that hasn't happened in years (that is what happens when you all grow up and many have kids).

November was full of playing in the leaves (the weather was really nice), hunting (no deer but the kids sure loved it), sickness and cuddles, and cooking/baking.

On Thanksgiving Day, we enjoyed the day at home just as a family of four.  We watched the Lion's play and I cooked my first complete Thanksgiving Dinner.  It turned out wonderful!  We celebrated with the Dodson's/Hills on Saturday and the kids had a lot of fun playing with their cousins; especially their new baby cousin, Kenton.

As soon as all of the Thanksgiving celebrations were over, we were so excited to start decorating for Christmas.  Decorating for any season/holiday is a big deal in this house.  The kids get SOOO excited to just pull out the tubs.  Unfortunately the day we went to pick out our tree was absolutely miserable but I still think we got a pretty good one.

The month ended filled with anticipation.  It was time for us to begin our advent calendar and prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth.

October 2015

Wow, I am not doing ANY better about getting caught up!  I will make it a goal to get caught up by the end of January (assuming we have enough data left to upload pictures).

October is always such a fun month.  It is completely full of fun Autumn activities and Judd and Cindy come in to visit which is always highly anticipated and full of excitement.



There were lots of Friday night football games this Fall.  The kids loved going and I was happy that Ben was able to make it to all of them as well.

The first weekend of October was full.  We went to Farm Fest and we also went to a friend's 7th birthday party which was the kids first time playing put put.

Looking at baby pigs

The rabbit's were a big hit

The following weekend there was a Project Grad fundraiser that was a night "Glo" 5-K.  The kids did pretty well letting me push them in the stroller and Ben ran a good race and then came back to finish the walk with us.  It was a really good time and we will do it again!

The Fall is full of birthdays (Elissa and William in October; Margaret, Susannah, and Hattie in November).  We had dinner over at Clay and Elissa's to celebrate all of the fall birthdays.

Our nieces and nephew get to decide whether they want gifts from us for their birthdays or a day out doing some kind of activity.  The older kids have picked an activity the last couple of years.  William chose to go to the Discovery Center and to Chuck-E-Cheese.

Now it was time for Judd and Cindy to arrive.  They were able to be in during my week of parent teacher conferences which really helps us out.  Also, it enables me to have a full day off to do more fun things.  Typically we go to Spooktacular at the Zoo but due to renovations they did not have it this year.  We were still able to go to Rutledge Wilson Farm Park and paint/carve pumpkins.

 

   

  

  

Of course we can't forget Halloween.  The month concluded with a Halloween party at school, Trick or Treating at KSPR, and Trunk or Treat at Northside Christian Church.

A few more fun pictures:  Amelia, Margaret, and William with papa on the 4-wheeler and a trip to a HUGE sunflower field around Willard.

  

Now I know why I am so far behind.....we take too many pictures :).