Thanksgiving 2014

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. Our day started with the reappearance of our Elf on the Shelf, Besh. He had heard that our kids were big Lego fans, so he brought them a Lego Advent calendar. As you can imagine, the kids were thrilled! Next we ran our Turkey Trot race, then put up our Christmas tree and decorations and made our Thanksgiving dinner. WE kept it fairly simple since there were just us three adults and two kids who don't like most of the traditional Thanksgiving fare. We had turkey, dressing and brussels sprouts and Jason made fancy mini molten chocolate cakes for dessert. 

The kids helped with some festive turkey projects that made our table look amazing.

I know its hard to read, but we did our annual Thankfulness Tree project. I think we are on year 4 of this one. I love it and will continue to do it as long as they will let me!

Ok, so this wasn't exactly on Thanksgiving Day, but we are now on year 3 of performing in the dance studios production of the Nutcracker that happens the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year Alia was a Gingersnap! It was a pretty big deal because she got to be one of the little girls that hides under Mother Ginger's skirt in the beginning of the number. She is already looking forward to next year's performance and has her eye on the roles of either Snow Angel or Mouse!

Turkey Trot

Our neighborhood hosts a Turkey Trot fun run each year. We didn't really know too much about last year and didn't participate but we will definitely be making it part of our Thanksgiving traditions now. Typically those kids of Oak Hills Elementary get to vote on a charity for the funds to go towards. This year however, the week before Thanksgiving, the condos directly across the street from the school and six houses down from us experienced a devastating fire that left several families without a home, although all got out safely. It was a no-brainer that the fundraising efforts should go to those families and our "little" neighborhood run had its biggest turnout ever. 

The kids participated in the 1/2 mile run and the grown-ups did the 2 mile. Our friends Brian and Jack joined us and we even saw our best bud Eilee there!

Real race bibs and everything!

Daddy ran with Max. He did a great job and RAN the whole time!

Alia's kindergarten teacher was there and ran with her for a minute.

The kids got ribbons at the end!

Everything is more fun when you best buddy is there!

Here is me and my best buddy!

Family Pictures

I am as far behind as I have ever been on updating the blog, so I shall make my attempt to slowly get myself caught back up again. I know by now many of you have seen some of our latest family photos on our Christmas card and in our Christmas calendar but here are a few more shots from the day. Alia was feeling particularly photogenic and Max was feeling particularly uninterested! As always, our photographer Randi managed to get some great shots.

This last one is possibly my favorite photo of the shoot ... my kids just being their goofy selves!

Halloween 2014

We had a great Halloween despite being pretty wet and cold. There was no school for Alia due to conferences (smart planning by the school, huh?). Max had preschool as usual and had a fun harvest party. In the afternoon, we went to our neighborhood Halloween party that had art projects, activities and treats. Then Eilee joined us for dinner, playing and trick or treating! Jason and I took all three kids out (in the rain, I might add) while Grammy held down the fort and handed out candy at our place.

 

Queen Elsa, Ladybug and Olaf

Best friends - SO happy to be spending Halloween together!

Max made a great silly Olaf the snowman

Seriously, could she more beautiful?

The kiddos ready to get out of the house and fill up those buckets!

We were all wet, cold and tired when we got home from trick or treating, but first thing the next morning the kids counted out and sorted their candy!

 

My mom made Alia's Queen Elsa dress. We had originally purchased a pattern but Alia had so many design ideas of her own that it ended up being a one of a kind, original dress!

 

One of her most important requests was that the cape touched the floor and dragged behind her (just like Queen Elsa in Frozen) so mom made it so that we could basically bustle it up for trick or treating so it wouldn't get dirty.

I have ZERO sewing skills. My only contribution was gluing on the snowflake rhinestones to the sleeves :-)

Pumpkin Patch

Still catching up on my blog posting ....

 

We had two great Pumpkin Patch trips this year. Max's preschool class went on a gorgeous day when there was no school for the big kids, so we had lots and lots of big brothers and sisters along with us. We took a boat ride out to the patch, then picked out two small pumpkins that we decorated with funny faces at home. We played in a hay maze and climbed a haystack mountain and then had a train ride back. It's a neat little farm that we visit nearly every year.

 

Max's preschool class .... He's tucked in right next to Mrs. Franklin (his favorite!)

Alia is seriously nearly four feet tall!!!

 

We also went to Roloff Farms as a family. You might be familiar with the name if you watch Little People, Big World on TLC. That's the family that owns the farm and its just a few miles from our old house. It's only open on weekends in October and it just get bigger and bigger each year. There are tons of things to do and explore in addition to a ride/tour of the property and picking out pumpkins of course!