winter wonderland

We got our second significant snowfall over the weekend - about 11"!  Though I am not really thrilled with another snowday, it is soooooo pretty outside!

The photos don't do it justice, but the sparkly white snow against the vivid blue sky is stunning!

After playing outside this morning, we're taking it easy inside this afternoon.  Braden has been keeping busy with Legos . . .


. . . and Elise is rearranging the furniture. ;)

traditions

I am a sucker for holiday traditions . . . it's fun to continue traditions we did with our families as kids, and to start new ones with our own kiddos.

For as long as I can remember, we've had crocheted ornaments made by Grandma Boese on our tree growing up.  When I began decorating my own tree, I asked Grandma to make me lots of snowflakes to use as part of my tree decor.  This year I am especially glad to have these snowflake ornaments to add to the tree as we remember and miss Grandma.  I love having her handiwork on our family tree.

We also add an ornament each year, a tradition that my parents did/do.  Mom has all types of ornaments, but I always get a silver photo frame and add a picture of a significant event from the year (OCD much?).  It's hard to believe we already have 8 silver frame photo ornaments on our tree!

Last year we jumped on the "Elf on the Shelf" bandwagon and welcomed our elf, Rugby, to our home in December.  This year Braden and Elise were sooooo excited for Rugby to come back.  Our elf isn't toowild and crazy, but he does do some funny things that the kids LOVE. :)

This year the kids also had fun viewing an email video from Santa!  Elise, especially was enthralled with the personalized video in which Santa called her by name.

sweet treats

December brings many traditions . . . and quite a few of those involve sweet treats!

We decorated our annual gingerbread house one Sunday afternoon (Braden and Billy still have on their church clothes, and Elise and I have changed into more comfortable attire) . . .

We decorated cut out cookies at Grandma Jane's (also an annual activity) . . . Elise was very excited to decorate and was a huge fan of sPrInKlEs!

Annie will get in on the fun next year!

We did quite a bit of baking at our house too . . . and I always have "helpers" anxious to be a part of the fun!

The fun of baking with kiddos!  (We need to work on how to turn the mixer on sloooooowly) ;)

Our small group also decorated cookies together . . . as you can see, Elise was anxious to sample the frosting!

Book It

This year Braden is participating in the Book It reading program at school.  (Yep, the same Book It we did as kids!).  Who doesn't like the winning combination of reading and a free pizza!  We enjoyed a night out at Pizza Hut to redeem his first reward certificate for meeting his reading goal.

Braden and his Book It reward book (he was happier than it appears);)

oh, november

Oh, November . . .  smack in the middle of fall fun and December madness, you just slip by so quickly!  Here are a few glimpses of November via phone photos:

Braden was thrilled to see an "old" Herky in the lobby of his dentist's office! It's been there for years, but after Herky hunting last summer, I guess seeing it was a bigger deal this visit, and he asked me to take a picture.

We went bowling with our small group from church on Sunday afternoon.  Elise was a BIG fan, and has since asked to go bowling every time we drive by the bowling alley. ;)

Elise.  On the counter.  Why? Who knows?  Pantsless.  Why? Because that's her current favorite style.

The kids were soooo excited to put up the Christmas tree(s) this year . . . so I caved and we put them up before Thanksgiving (gasp!!).  I think they were both most excited for their little trees for their rooms . . .

 . . . but I love the tree in the living room best.  It's actually the tree my parents used to have (we swapped our taller/skinny tree for this one since we have the space for a wide tree), and it is fun to have my childhood tree in our home.

(Blurry, but cute) . . . Grandma helping Braden with decorations . . . (We always end up calling my mom to help us assemble the tree.)

Piggy tails!

Celebrating Addie's birthday

Someone decided to "shave" just like Daddy . . . as we were heading out the door to church.

happy halloween {2014}

The "hangaburger" costume reappeared this year . . . on Elise!  She was pumped to wear it. :)

Braden also wore a costume for a 2nd round . . . he was (of course!) Spider-Man again.  He had asked for a Power Ranger costume, which he received for his birthday, but ultimately Spidey won out.  B was NOT in the mood for photos, and was just soooooo tired after trick or treating on our street and at Grandma's . . .

Elise has figured out that trick or treating means CANDY and kept trying to sneak a treat (or 3!)

Though they petered out early, the kids enjoyed answering the door to other trick or treaters . . .

After answering the door for a while, the kids eventually decided to head back out and do a little more trick or treating, though they didn't last long for the 2nd round and we were soon ready to call it a night.