Christmas Tree Hunting

This year we went to the farm that's just 10 minutes from our house.  The selection wasn't as good, but it was a much shorter trip than usual and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day.  We were all very bundled, but it ended up not being needed. 


Getting ready for the hunt

Brian cutting down the chosen tree

Lacey crying at the end in true Lacey fashion

Benjamin helped Brian carry the tree all the way to the car



Ready to take our treasure home



I'm not very good about letting the kids help decorate the tree.  I am a bit particular about what ornaments to use and where to put them.  I like to have mostly glass, angels and stars, so that means none of the kiddish ornaments get put up.  I've always felt a little bad about it, so this year we bought the kids their own 3 foot tree to decorate all by themselves.  The kids love their tree and it sits in the kitchen window for all to see.  I think we might make it a yearly tradition.

Lacey helping with the lights

She thought they were pretty cool to play with

Stringing lights on the big tree

Benjamin took decorating very seriously

Lacey was able to put up a few by herself

The finished kids tree (Benjamin took the picture)



November

Here is a glimpse at our November.  I think I sat at the computer on 5 seperate occasions to do this blog and am just now getting to it.  Better late than never.  It began with the warmest weather November has ever seen and ended with some very cold weather.  Quite a dramatic temperature swing for one month.  I took advantage of the rare nice weather to get the kids outside and help me rake the leaves.  Lacey raked for a few minutes, but Benjamin was an excellent helper.  He would rake everything into a pile, throw the leaves around, then rake it up again.  We had lots of fun playing in the unusually dry leaves.

We didn't play out in the snow too much since it was 20ish degrees, but the kids loved being out there.  Lacey mostly ate the snow and Benjamin mostly threw it at us.  Great fun for all of 2 minutes.  We tried to sled in the laundry basket, but that was only successful in dumping Benjamin on his face. He was a good sport about it.

I was terrible at taking Thanksgiving photos.  We spent the evening at my parents' WA house with a total of 20 or so people including my grandma from CA.  Benjamin pretty much disappeared the entire time with his cousins, only coming out to eat.  I didn't get a single picture of him.  Heidi got lots of love from all the extended family and was held almost the entire time.  I think she enjoyed herself quite a bit since she doesn't get held all that much at home these days :)  Lacey had lots of fun running around with her cousin Raven.  Below is a picture of them being silly with their dolls tucked down their shirts.  Lacey does this all the time with Sweet Pea and Raven was quick to join in with my mom's cabbage patch doll.  What a couple cuties.