Christmas Decorating

We put up our Christmas tree. Yes, fake! I know, the horror! But since we usually travel back to Pa for Christmas we figure there is no real point in a real tree since it would probably be dead when we got home and a mess! And the kids aren't at the age that they care. However, I'm super excited that my parents are waiting till we get there to go pick out a tree! I enjoy walking for hours through the acres of trees to find the perfect tree! One of my favorite memories!!!

Then we read the "Real" Christmas story and put up our manger scene.

I had a video clip of the kids puting the Nativity up and Judah reading a kids version of the Christmas story, but it would upload :(

Our Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving is pretty low key. It usually starts with making hand turkeys, you know, when you trace your hand and then make it look like a turkey? We usually all do one and then make it into a bouquet and that is our centerpiece. However, I don't know why but, we totally didn't do that this year and I'm kinda sad! I love seeing there tiny hands on paper! Also, since it is just us(Paul, Me, and Kids) I don't usually make anything extravagant. I enjoying cooking, but honestly only for guests. I guess it's because I know my kids will just complain and pick through it, and I like simple things just fine. So, we had a rotisserie chicken(every year, simple, and oh so easy and yummy. Just the right amount for our small family), boxed stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes(those I did make from scratch), collard greens(Paul is the only one who likes them, so this is the only time he really get them), and canned jellied cranberry sauce(cause, hey, I really like it!!).

After our Thanksgiving dinner(Lunch) was nap time! Then we got the kids all bundled up and headed for the Plaza! It was only 20 degrees out, but thanks to many, many layers we all stayed warm! They each had a hat, scarf, knit gloves, mittens, turtleneck, fleece, coat, 2 pair of pants, snow pants, two pair of socks and boots!

We walked around and took pictures with our favorite statues, penguins! They aren't the best pics because, I took them with my cell phone.

Then we stopped in at an amazing gourmet burger place "Blanc". Sorry, I didn't take any pictures of the burgers. They gave each kid an etch-a-sketch to play with!

Then we went to the main area to listen to the music and do the lighting count down and see fireworks!

More of Fall

One of the kids favorite places to eat is the "T-Rex" restaurant. It's a very cool place, but pricey, so they don't get to very often. I usually forget my camera, but remembered this time :)

Here are some pictures in the leafs. Unfortunetly, not many turned out well. I need a new camera.

Fall

Okay, I know that some of you have been waiting awhile for this post. Sorry it has taken me so long. A couple weeks ago we had a family fall fun day.

Playing games.

Excited and ready with mouths open for our semi-homemade doughnuts.

The kids each got to pick out a shape for the middle.

First test.


They were pretty tasty, later we made caramel apples.

Friends of ours that joined us. Angie and her daughter Aspyn.

Putting sprinkles on the caramel apples. Judah decided to use them all.

While I gutted the pumpkins for the seeds and got them ready to be painted, Paul played with the kids outside.


Paul practicing his anime :)

His apple didn't taste as good as he though with all the mixed sprinkles.

Andy, Angie, and Aspyn Our friends