Monday, December 28, 2015

Getting Ready...

The first possible minute after we got back from Kansas, we set up our tree. Which of course included making crepes. :-)



These three are something else together. Carsten was laying there completely happily while Aria was grabbing his face and Tyler was standing on him.

This year since we were out of town until after Thanksgiving we set up in stages. The kids helped put up our little tree downstairs. And Carl and I set up the big one upstairs after they were sleeping another night. Then the boys helped decorate that one on yet another night.

Hanging her first Christmas ornament!


The boys each picked out their new ornaments for this year and were so excited to open them and hang them up!




This was Aria's reaction when she woke up to a Christmas tree in the living room. It was priceless.




I can't resist adding this one last picture. We used to always decorate our big pine tree. But we did it like normal people in daylight with an extension ladder. Then a bunch of the lights burnt out and it was always too cold or snowy so we didn't get them up the last few years. Last year we didn't even have them on the house and I was so bummed about it! So this year I told Carl that if he did the outside lights again we could make crepes again. And it worked! That is apparently all it takes to get him to do things he doesn't want to do. :-) Anyway, he got the extension ladder and climbed up but the tree had grown and it didn't reach anymore!

So this happened.


It's hard to see, but he put them up at night with a giant pole he made. At one point he even had me out there trying to guide the pole with ropes. Like a horse. It was ridiculous. And so funny. People walking by stopped to watch and I'm sure our neighbors were all watching out their windows laughing at us. And hoping the giant pole didn't swing over and break something. But we have a beautifully decorated pine tree again! :-)



Sunday, December 27, 2015

Thankful

You might think we just celebrated Christmas, but December was only like two minutes long this year and I'm still on Thanksgiving. I'll get to Christmas later. :-)

Usually my parents come here for Thanksgiving and we all go there for Christmas. But since we are waiting for our newest niece to arrive soon we switched it up this year. I took the three kids to Kansas the Sunday before Thanksgiving and Carl and Jeff joined us on Wednesday.

There were lots of stories.

Lots of Legos and Play Mobiles.


We made turkey cupcakes.

Tyler brought his place mat and headband from school since he had to miss his Thanksgiving feast there. (He was SO sad about that! But bringing them with made it much better.) And of course Carsten needed to make some too. :-)


They were so happy to see Daddy when he got there. :-)

Aria found all kinds of new things to get into.

The boys loved making their own pizzas.

They spent a lot of time hiding out under the table together.

And Aria always loves making faces!

Grandpa time!

And we got to enjoy the warm weather at the park.


Aria is the first of my babies to ever like swings. And she loves them enough for all of them combined.

Tyler helped Grandpa put up Christmas lights. He was so excited to be big enough to help with this!

On one of the first days we were there we went to the Salina zoo. It was a drive, but it was totally worth it!

We saw every animal imaginable in the museum.


And also lots of actual live animals in the zoo. :-)




Hanging out in "Grandma's Gazebo"

The rhinos were the favorite of day. Crazy!


In case the zoo wasn't enough fun for one day, we stopped at the Russel Stover factory for ice cream on our way back home. Yum!




Even Aria had a cone. Minus the ice cream. I think she liked it!


I had to take a picture of this the last morning we were there. The ice on that little tree was just so cool!

We have so much to be thankful for. This trip was one of the many, many things on that list. :-)







Monday, December 14, 2015

Leaves!

Leaves? In December? Ok so I'm still catching up on November. And I couldn't skip these pictures. Because our kids are lucky to have a creative Dad who does this for them!

First the giant pile of leaves to jump off the climber into.


And then a bear cave. They were the two cutest little bears I've ever seen. :-)

And this sweet girl loved the leaves too. 

My favorites. :-)

We had so much fun running and jumping in the leaves!

Family selfie in the bear cave! :-)