Birthday Celebrations

Sunday was a day of birthday celebrations- we celebrated Trace's birthday with lunch at Mom and Dad's then had a family party for Lucas at our house in the afternoon.

Christmas #1- December 10, 2011

 Lillian and Cole "meditating"

 It was such a beautiful day that the kids played outside all afternoon.

 Twins: boots, jeans, and a white t-shirt

Kids playing "Dirty Santa"- no one stole a present- they each wanted to open a new one!

Holiday Traditions

Decorating the Christmas tree was one of my fondest memories growing up.  I probably grumbled about it as a kid, but as an adult, it's something I remember liking.  Lillian and Lucas really like it!  They like hanging the special ornaments each has and talking about when/where they got it.  Lucas doesn't have as many memories as Lillian, but he is starting to enjoy this holiday tradition.

Our finished product 

Something we also do each year is make a chain to countdown the days until Christmas.   

A new tradition this year is my version of an Advent calendar.  I've seen the idea in different places around the Internet.  This is my take on it.  I wrapped as many winter/Christmas books as I could find around our house.  Many of these have been packed up since last Christmas.  I managed to find 15 books.  By picking up a few paperbacks and filling in with books from the library, I'll have 25 to start this on Dec.1.  Here's how it works:  each night someone picks one "present" from under the tree.  The book that is opened is the one we read that night before bed.  Since these are books they already have but don't always read, it seems like it's something new and we get to celebrate the season even more.  This is my first year to try this but I hope it becomes something the kids look forward to and I can change the books from year to year as their ages and interests change.  

Saturday Happenin's

First Hunt

Brent took the kids to sit in a deer blind last week.  It was their first time to "hunt."  Brent said besides the coughing, nose sniffling, and chip bag rattling, they stayed pretty quiet. 

Halloween 2011

Trunk or Treat with our good friends, the Coffmans.  A special treat was seeing Roger and Brenda Lauban who came to see their extra "grandkids" all in one place!

Spiderman and Batgirl:  weather was perfect, the night was beautiful, and the kids ate tons of candy!

Hiking in the Wichita Mountains

Fall Break: Part 2- Houston

We did so much in 2 days!  Highlights were ice skating (a first for Lillian and Lucas), visiting the Space Center, Ikea shopping, and great food.  Here's the story in pictures:

Fall Break: Part 1- Calvert, TX

On our way to visit Heather and Jesse in Houston, we stopped in a little town in Texas called Calvert.  Such a neat place! Lotsof little shops and unique architecture- worth the stop!

Our Buddy, Wade

Painting Pumpkins

Just Playin' in the Rain

TMI

This picture is a little blurry...probably because I was laughing so hard when I took it.

More Birthday

She's 8!

Lillian probably gets the award for the most birthday celebrations in one year.  Since her birthday typically falls on or around Labor Day, we usually spend it with both sides of the family and have a friend party.  These pictures were on the morning of her actual birthday at our house.



This gift led to the one waiting outside....a bike!