It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

We decided to get our Christmas tree a week earlier than usual this year, mostly because we had some free time, and because it seems like all our neighbors are doing it. As it turns out, we're glad we did because we're going on vacation the last week of December and we'll have one less week to enjoy it. It was a little hard to get into the Christmas spirit since the weather was in the high 60's but, such is life in NC.


We weren't really sure where people go to get Christmas trees around here so we just did a web search and came across a place where you can cut your own. Turns out, though, we prefer Frasier Fir and those aren't grown here. They had those pre-cut. We actually ended up choosing the first one we saw, and it was perfect! While the man at the lot helped Brett wrap and load up the tree, the kids ran around a little.




Is this the perfect tree?


They both loved the little tube thing they put the tree through to wrap it. It was like a playground to them.








At home we continued our annual tradition of watching Charlie Brown Christmas and eating chips with Pizza Dip while decorating the tree and the house. Andrew probably only sat on the couch like this about 30 seconds. Neither of them really "helped" much, but they ran around and played while we were decoarting.

Now this is a cute little Christmas tree!

The first ornament Leah helped put on was a Disney Princess she got last year.

Andrew preferred to dump all the balls out and throw them.

The finished product! It's tucked into a little corner in our living room but we think it fits right in.

It's hard work getting ready for Christmas!

Things I Am Thankful For

To Andrew @ 16 Months

Dear Andrew,


I can hardly believe how quickly time is flying with you. I hardly remember what it was like before you were this walking, talking little boy you are now. You add constant adventure and surprise to our lives-- we never know what you're going to get into next. Though you have your whiny spells, you love to giggle and get into mischief. You hardly ever play with conventional toys, as you'd rather play with things like electrical cords or Mommy's & Daddy's books. You love to see how things work, pushing buttons and pulling on things-- sometimes you can sit and examine something for a long time, just trying to figure it out!

I can't believe how much you love to climb. You're such an active boy-- busy from the time you wake up (early, I might add) until the time you go to bed (and usually one or two times in the middle of the night you're active, too!). You always want to be a part of what everyone else is doing. You love to sit (well, stand) at the table with your sister when she's doing school work.






You love to stand in a chair next to Mommy while I cook. You follow us around when we're doing housework, and always imitate what you see. (Of course your favorite is still the vacuum and the broom.) You have a fierce determination to accomplish whatever you put your mind to (even if it requires yelling until someone helps you). It's going to be interesting what you decide you want to do with your life when you're older.






You have definately become Mommy's boy. You hardly want to go to anyone else. I will treasure this time while it lasts because I know you won't always want to be seen with me! I love the age you're at right now, constantly learning new words and new skills. You talk all the time at home, but around other people, you're completely silent, preferring just to listen and observe, I guess.




You seem to be getting pickier about what you'll eat, although you'll never turn down cookies or cake! You are completely weaned now, even though you still like to have a bottle of warm milk in the morning when you first wake up. You're too stubborn to take milk out of a cup. Come to think of it, you're pretty stubborn about a lot of things. But that's not necessarily a bad quality-- we'll just have to channel it for good!

Andrew, I love waking up in the morning to your bright shining face. I love that little four-toothed grin and your little soft bald head. I am so proud to be your mommy and I am excited to watch you grow up. Just don't do it too fast.

Our Fall Day at the Park

Today we had tons of fall fun in the leaves at the park. We raked up a big pile and jumped in it. Of course I couldn't get too many good ones of them in the leaves, so I kept snapping on the rest of our park trip.

This one might be my favorite. Please can he stay this little?? Bald with a toothless grin?

Andrew has to do everything his big sister does. He has almost mastered going down this huge curly slide by himself. I still go down with him because I'm afraid he'll fall down from the top. This picture reminds me of my own little brother.

This is my new favorite of Leah. I'm wondering when she got so BIG?

Happy's Birthday Daddy!

Yesterday we got to celebrate Brett turning another year older. Even though we didn't have a lot of money to make it really exciting or get a lot of gifts, I tried to make it fun and memorable.

Leah and Andrew "helped" me make a cake-- Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting. (The frosting was homemade, the cake was from a box.) Andrew wants to be a part of everything Leah and I do lately. Not to mention he loves to stand in chairs.

We made signs on big pieces of paper.

Which turned into a big, fun mess of crayons & paper!

We decorated the dining room with signs & streamers. (Andrew was just happy he could stand in the chair and watch me the whole time. He did help by handing me a piece of tape a couple times.)

Leah and Andrew made Daddy some cards. Andrew's really starting to enjoy scribbling. I'm just going to have to get him some markers or crayons that don't color on tables or floors.

We took some time from all the partying to play with Play-Doh. It was Andrew's first time. He spent more time taking the lid on and off the jar. He only tried to eat it once or twice. And, yes, he's standing in the chair again.



I made a very yummy Chicken Pot Pie with a Crumble Topping for dinner. We saw the recipe on a cooking show and thought it looked yummy. Two hours later-- we had this! Maybe not worth all the work, but it was really good. (Everything was homemade-- even fresh vegetables & mushrooms, not frozen.)



So I may not have a future in cake decorating, but it tasted really good!


Leah LOVES birthdays! And, in her words, she also loves birthday cake.



It must be tough being one and having to eat cake for dessert.

Edited to add: I just looked back on this (11/15) and realized I titled it "Happy's Birthday"-- I am going to leave it because I think it is really funny. Mostly because when I was making the banner the kids colored to put up in the house, I wrote "Happy Birthday Day Daddy." So apparently my brain does not work right when it comes to birthdays.

Trick or Treat!

In spite of the rainy, cold weather, our church still attempted Trunk or Treat this year. I've never done anything like this, never even gone trick or treating with the kids, but I got them both costumes on clearance last year so we set out-- the cutest bear and ladybug you'll ever see.

One day perhaps I'll be able to get a good picture of both of my kids together (and maybe one day I'll be in a picture with them?), but yesterday was not the day.

We didn't actually do Trunk or Treat-- we set up a table under the covered awning in front of the church. We only stayed about 30 minutes or so, then we headed to Food Lion and one other store. Since I was by myself (Brett stayed at the church) it was tricky getting both of them in and out of their carseats, especially in the rain, so we didn't go anywhere else. But Leah quickly got the hang of saying "Trick or Treat" to get the candy. And she ate quite a bit. There wasn't much Andrew could eat, but he did get a few Kit Kat bars (and I don't think he'll soon forget that he loves candy!).