2 Christmas Trees in 1 Year

Yes, you read that correctly.  2 Christmas Trees in 1 year.  I love decorating our tree (lights I can live without) but decorating and pulling out the old ornaments, I love.  However, when you do it twice in one year. It is not as much fun.

Saturday after Thanksgiving we went and picked out our annual tree. It is yearly tradition and one I cherish.

Finding the right tree can be a tough job.

Then on Sunday we started putting on the lights. I unfortunately hurt my neck so I was useless in helping but my men were up for the job. 

It wasn’t until the next weekend and several chiropractic appointments that I put on the decorations. As I was adding the decorations I noticed the tree was VERY fragile but I thought it was in my head.

Then after another week our tree was looking SAD.  Needles falling EVERYWHERE, the silverside of the branches were facing up. It was just bad.

Collins took off all the ornaments (only the half I put up) and returned it to the place we bought the tree.  (thank goodness they exchanged it for free)

The ornaments and the pile of needles it left behind.

Our new tree!!  Looks much perkier! 

Then we had a fiasco with the lights.  Mini lights are HARD to come by.  Buy them now while they are still around. 

It might of taken twice but it was well worth it!!! Our beautiful tree with all the presents on Christmas morning.

Was it really Thanksgiving?

Our Thanksgiving took a very untraditional turn this year thanks to the unwelcomed guest of the stomach bug. 

It all started the Friday before Thanksgiving while I was out camping with my GS troop. This is me looking all “campy!!”

 

I started throwing up around 1AM in the morning! Fun times. Got home Saturday morning and was sick all day.  Was much better by Sunday evening. Then Wesley got REALLY sick on Monday.  It was just plain BAD.  He was sick Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday.  Then Collins got sick on Wednesday.  We had to call our family and tell them “Please make other plans, we are too sick for guests.”  Wednesday night Lawson got sick.  Joy, joy. The amount of laundry I did in 5 days was INSANE!!

Thursday, Wesley was 90%, Lawson was 60% but no one was in the mood to eat.  So we played outside while Collins blew leaves. He was about 80% Thursday will no appetite, but the leaves were driving him nuts so he was outside blowing for about 4 hours. He went to work and picked up his leaf vac and we cleaned the yard.

The leaves this year are SO BAD!!  Our yard alone filled up an entire leaf vac and we (collins) just cleaned up 2 weeks before that. Geez. 

By Friday we were all doing better so we had our first Thanksgiving feast by ourselves and with no help in the kitchen.  Surprisingly we did really well working together!!!

Homemade giblet gravy, homemade BB’s rolls,collards for our garden were some of the specialties of the night!

Here we all at the family table.

Our family giving thanks to the Lord.  (yes, I had the timer camera on, and yes, you can see who has their eyes open!!!)

We have so much to be thankful for and really Thanksgiving is just a day, it really doesn’t matter when you celebrate it!! I love this sign.

Happy Halloween 2012

Is Halloween really here?  According to the calendar it is!!!Therefore, it is time to carve the pumpkins and get the costumes ready!!!

Lawson and Cailyn wore coordinating outfits.  Introducing the

Diva Sushi Chef and the Shrimp Sushi…

Wesley was a Vampire Bat!

My horrible attempt to get a picture of the three, but this pretty much the best pictures I got! 

To kick off Halloween we went to a Trick or Treat Walk in town.  That was fun but the businesses did not have enough candy.  Oh well.

We got home, ate dinner and waited for the Halloween Moon!!!

Sushi anyone????

Then it was time for Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. It has been a tradition that our kids first time Trick-or-Treating is at Bob and Nancy’s house.

Cailyn’s first time Trick-or-treating!!!

Here is Lawson!!!

Here is Wesley’s first time Trick-or-Treating

Now here are all three!!!!

I love traditions!!!

Daddy and the crew off to get lots of candy!!!

This crew went around in style!!!! (Minus Cailyn)

She did go to one more neighbors house and they were delighted to see her!!!

Before I part I did what to show you I was there!!!

Here is Nancy and the kids too!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!!

Trip to the Lake

In July our family took a trip to visit Paula & Jim while Aunt Lauren, Will, McKenna, and Wood were down.  We had the best time!!!

First time water tubing!! What fun!

Before we get to the water fun when the kids woke up it was like “Christmas in July for the kids” by Paula.  The kids were overwhelmed (or maybe that was me) by all the beautiful clothes for the kids. Lawson is the fashion diva and she was loving all the clothes.

Wesley gave his super dooper power hugs thanking Paula!!

The babies!! Cailyn loved all the kisses

It is hard to tell in this picture but Lawson got neon lipstick and everyone is wearing a different neon color.  Ha!!

Lake time!! The sisters are ready

First the guys tried out the tube.  Oops, not in focused.

Then it was the moms and big kid turn.  Ready. Set. Go.

Then it was time for a little swimming….

My favorite spot…by far!!

There is nothing better then taking a snooze on the boat.  Can you see a little boys eyes getting heavy?

He is out.  So peaceful!!

After the lake what else would one do but go to the pool!!!

Saturday the boys caught a whole cooler full of catfish.  Then Sunday it was time to clean it.  Wesley watched EVERYTHING. Lawson was a cautious observer….

While Paula cooked a feast for a king we went back out on the boat.  Cailyn went with us this time.  She was not a fan of the life jacket and water, but she loved being in the boat.

Here are us mommas with our girls!!! TOO PRECIOUS!

Thank you Paula and Jim for a wonderful weekend!!  It was SO MUCH FUN!! You always make us feel so welcomed and so much like family.  We love you guys!