How lovely are your branches

After we got the tree back and in place on Saturday night, I strung the lights and Emily and the kids decorated it before Grandma and Gramps left. I think they enjoyed watching the little ones get excited for Christmas. Here is the kindergartener in front of the fully lit tree this morning before school.

It's always nice to ready for Christmas.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O Christmas Tree

We took my parents to go pick out a Christmas tree at the same farm we went to last year. It was fun! The little guy is old enough to read all the cheesy Christmas jokes himself.

The baby had clothing on her lower half this year.

My mom had a nice time AND offered good advice on swag selection.

And my dad and the little dude only almost clotheslined one person with the measuring pole.

All in all, I'd say it was a huge success!

Welcome!

We had a fun party today, and the little guy put a really sweet welcome sign by the front door.

He also put some less sweet instructions below it:

That kid just cracks me up!

More Pizza!

We had a pizza picnic again tonight, and I ordered a large. We ate the whole thing (with help from my parents). The baby brought the empty box in and said "there's no more!"

Birthday Money

The little one ended up with $13 after her birthday, so we went to the store this afternoon to buy a puppy.

A pretend puppy, of course!

Getting bigger!

The kids had physicals this week, and the baby is on the growth curve (yay!!). In related news, the three of us ate an entire medium pizza tonight!

I was planning on leftovers!

Christmas Already?

After dinner we dropped by a local shopping center for a Christmas festival. There were lights, acrobats, bands, and free cookies!

We only bought a new table runner for Thanksgiving, but we had a nice time.

Art Project

Nana sent the baby the cutest art kit for her birthday. It's a set of instructions and supplies for handprint art. Each kid made one this evening (because the baby wanted to do homework like her brother, and then he wanted to do art like his sister).

A bunny and an alien.

How cute are those pictures! And Nana, if we remember, they'll be on their way to you this weekend.

Three!

It's fairly official: we don't have any babies in our house. The highchair has been converted to a booster, we don't have bottles or sippy cups or diapers, and the baby turned 3!!

That's right, the little peanut below has turned into a three-year-old.

 After opening presents, she strong-armed her uncle into joining her at a tea party. He was thrilled.

(The poor guy probably thought he was done with that when I outgrew tea parties! Bless him.)

Busy and Boring

Our day-to-day has been pretty boring lately, but still busy. Sorry for falling so behind on posting! I'll post about the baby's 3rd birthday soon. I can't believe she's so big!!

We had a great weekend with my brother and sister-in-law, and I'll put up some pictures of that soon, too.

This afternoon we took advantage of the gorgeous weather to play baseball in the yard. The boys played while the baby and I spectated. The little guy told her it was her turn to bat, and she said "but I'm sitting!" Ha! I'm so proud.

Holiday!

Public schools were closed today, so I took the day off and hung out with the little dude. We got to meet Eric for lunch-- it was fun!

Don't tell the baby, though-- she stayed at daycare. It'll be her turn soon.

Photog and Fashionista

It's been well documented that the boy loves to photograph things. Sometimes inanimate objects. Often times in rapid succession to where he's actually making a motion picture (if the object actually had some motion, but, on second thought, he usually provides the motion himself). One thing he loves to do most recently is take selfies that usually include an emotional face; sometimes happy, sometimes super excited. Yesterday he decided he was sad. (Nice photobomb, me!)

The other one is insisting on dressing herself.      Everyday.     Maybe she's on the cutting edge of some couture trend, but I highly doubt it. Don't know that we will be seeing long sleeve printed shirts under patterned tanks with leggings and trainers walking down a Paris runway anytime soon, but she's happy and (I'm told) that's what matters!

Photogenic family

The kids and I took a couple of selfies tonight while Eric was at bible study. Aren't we a photogenic bunch?

Halloween

I know this is a little late, but we had a great Halloween. Our neighborhood had a party, then we ate dinner with some friends and trick-or-treated together. Here we are!

Dressed for Work

The baby borrowed one if Eric's ties yesterday so she could go to work.

She's so chic!

Craft Overload

We were running low on art supplies, so the kids and I dropped by Michael's this afternoon. They each got a little fall wreath kit-- felt leaves to glue on a cardboard circle. I didn't read the instructions at the store, but each kit makes four! Whoops! 

They had a great time putting them together, though.

Now, what to do with all of these wreaths?