O Christmas Tree

Here in the NW it is easy and relatively cheap to cut your own tree (I think we spent $50 on a pre-cut tree in a lot in Chicago...yikes!).  So we went to the Red Barn tree farm (about 10 minutes from here) and found our tree.


We got to ride a little train around the tree farm after we got our tree.

Joel took this picture...pretty good!

Pull, pull, pull!

Then we went home and decorated (after I made a quick trip to Freddy's to replace our two dead strings of lights!!)

I love having our tree up and being in our cozy living room.

Fun with Family

After Carolyn and Jack were done traipsing around Tacoma and Seattle, they came and spent a night with us! We had so much fun with them!



Carolyn brought "silkies" (watercolor crayons) and had a little painting session.

Do you see the sun streaming in the window?!  We had over a week of bright sunny and FREEZING cold weather.  It felt like Boise.  It was nice to see the sun, but I was thankful when the clouds and rain came back because it was so much warmer!


And of course we played games. Go Fish and Memory by day and Sudoku by night :)

Uncle Jack wasn't doing very well at Go Fish, so Maren went and got some "babies" to help him...he ended up winning the whole thing! (I should have told her to never help Uncle Jack...he is notorious in our family for winning games!)

December already?!

I can't believe it is already December...and that December is more than half way over!  Time flys...here's what we have been doing this month.

This boy continues to amaze me...he figured out that he could count past 100 (which he has been able to do for a while) and proceeded to count to 400 on the day this picture was taken. He also uses the number magnets on the fridge to count (changing each number as he counts higher).  So he is doing it orally and visually.  As of today he is up to 920 - he has two sets of numbers on the fridge...one for where he is in counting out loud (so he can keep track from day today) and one for where he is doing it with the magnets.  Is this amazing or what?  I think it is for a 5 1/2 year old.  He figured this all out on his own! 

This girl, on the other hand, is not spending her time counting, but dancing. We got out my grandma's bag of jewelry and she put it ALL on and danced around (in front of the mirror). She is so funny.

My grandma never had her ears pierced, so she had quite a collection of clip-on earrings. Perfect for a 3-year-old to dress up with.
My aunt Ruth came to visit for a day at the beginning of the month.  We had a little belated birthday party for her (key lime pie!) and had fun reading books and playing games.



Joel & Maren made an advent chain for Christmas. It was so neat to see them working so well together. They did it all by themselves!

My great uncle Jack and cousin Carolyn (from Boise!!) were visiting my grandparents in Tacoma, so we stopped by for a quick visit. Notice Maren and Carolyn? They are two peas in a pod...I think Maren gets her flair for dancing and drama from Carolyn!

Maren discovered hot chocolate.  Don't worry, the GIGANTIC mug wasn't full!

The kids are LOVING seeing Christmas lights everywhere we go. Our car rides sound like this "Oooh, look Joel!" "Lights!" "Look out my window!" "No, my window!" Then it turns into fighting about whose window to look out. :) These lights are in our neighborhood...and they sing! What ill they think of next...
Sweet kids...it is good for me to see these pictures and see how much they really do play well together...sometimes I feel like they are ALWAYS fighting. Here's the proof that they aren't!

Misc Nov Pics

Just a few cute pics that I had to post before moving on to December!

Some days they play so nicely together...those are good days! :)

Maren had her three-year check up...she was 28.8 pounds and very brave for her toe prick (to check her iron) and 2 flu shots!

Maren got another birthday celebration later in the month when we were in Portland for my Great-Aunt Marj's memorial service.  

This was at my dad's...they got her a CUTE backpack and a cd player.

Joel is "reading" this book to Maren.  He is really good at memorizing books, and then he can basically recite them back.  This is Trashy Town...one of our favorites.

Maren and I made cookies one night while Joel & Greg were at Joel's open house.  Can you tell she LOVES cookies?!

 

I took this picture Thanksgiving week for my "things that I am thankful for" scrapbook page.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Dear Grandma in Portland,
We hope you have a wonderful day filled with balloons and ice cream and cake.
We wish we could be there to celebrate with you.
Love,
Joel & Maren

Thanksgiving

This year the kids and I spent the holiday in Tacoma with my extended family - some of which I hadn't seen in a really long time! It was so fun to be together...we just missed Greg, who was in Reno with his family. I contributed two pumpkin pies and deviled eggs to the feast!
My mom did a great job on the turkey, and all the food was really good!

My cousin Abby was there with her brand new fiancee, Morgan (not pictured).
Carol, Linda & Leah (holding Kallie) This is my newest little cousin, Kallie. My uncle Ted and aunt Leah adopted her just over a year ago...she is a doll.This is Kallie's brother Jack - I hadn't seen him since he was a newborn, and now he is 7!!
I also hadn't seen my cousin Chenae for years...her daughter Ayame is 4 and this is the first time I have met her!My mom brought this great craft for the kids to do. They are gingerbread houses made of interlocking foam pieces. It was a big hit!
Joel was VERY methodical and organized with his decorating...when he was done (2 days later) it looked exactly like the picture!

Thanks for the fun project Mimi!

This is my cousin Chet (Abby's brother)...he's a sleep-deprived college student
Uncle Ted & Kallie

Mimi also brought necklace kits for the girls to make.

Joel & Great-GrandaddyThe kids had SO much fun together and played so well together all day.

I am thankful for my family!