It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Avery has been home sick so since I had some time without Ross home I thought I'd get some wrapping done and not have much help. Was I ever wrong! I had to leave room for a second and I came back to what you see below.

 A few minutes later I had to leave again thinking she'd just stay in her spot and I found her by the tree. She's been such a good girl though and hasn't tried to get any ornaments.

A new tradition was started where Daddy is going to take the kids and let them pick out an ornament for me. This will be fun to watch over the years and see how their choices change. This year Ross thought Mickey farming was good. Of course he decided it was a toy for him to play with and the only reason it found its way to the tree was b/c he was at school yesterday and I was home.

This one is from Avery. Daddy picked it out.

R-O-S-S has also made his appearance for the month of December. You can see him hanging out under the tree.

(Don't judge the mantel as I'm aware I need to do better for the holidays and remove the non-Christmas things.) However, Ross doesn't really care. He's just glad to have stockings and his advent calendar hung.

It is so much fun to see and hear the excitement from Ross over Christmas being so close. Daily he asks if he can open his presents. Also every night during prayer time he tells Jesus "Happy Birthday" and "Merry Christmas".

Thanksgiving at Grace

Ross' school had their annual Stone Soup and Pumpkin Pie Thanksgiving meal last week and we went this year. It was also McKenna's last day. :( We will miss the silly girl!

True to form Ross stuck with his cornbread and the pie. The soup was quite tasty though!

Silly Barrett and Josh.

Anna Beth and Luke actually ate the soup. :)

Lila was ready to pose for pictures!

We wanted to get a group picture - this was like herding cats.

I borrowed this from Anna Beth's mom. She was smart to stand on a chair to take the pic. 

The kids started putting their Indian headdress on the camera toward the end of the lunch.

The kids made a turkey listing what they were thankful for.

Ross' list: My Daddy, My Stick Horse, My Grandpa, My Grandmommy, My Mommy, My Sister.

It was a fun time and we definitely plan to attend next year.

Leaves!

Since Ross was Avery's age we've been getting a picture of him in the leaves (I'll have to find the others for comparison). This year he was big enough to help get the pile raked and he actually wanted to help. We'll see how long that lasts.

He is so big!

Most of them were like this.

A couple ended up like this.

Avery just wasn't much into the leaves.

Ross got behind me and made faces at her which she loves anything he does so I got a few grins.

I dont know why I had them where the street would be in the pic. Note to self: don't do that again.

Back to misery.

She truly hated it. Ross absolutely loved playing in them at her age.

Guess who took the picture?

Pumpkin Patch with School

We went to the pumpkin patch with Grace last week and had a great time with friends. They got to ride a hayride and pick out a pumpkin. This is Josh and Barrett - big buds of Ross'.

Family picture! Avery didn't get to go. Juniors and Seniors only!

I wanted to get a better picture of the group but this is as good as it gets.

I told him I wanted to get his picture at the pumkpin patch and this is what he gave me.

He had to find just the right pumpkin. A little orange and a little green.

Found it! Good parents carrying the pumpkins.

He and Amelia had to check out the pumpkin guts. They pointed them out each time we walked by some.

A good view of the pumpkin patch and some Grace moms. There were some excellent pumpkins and it was really hard to decide.

Back to the play area for some fun!

He loved the binoculars.

Tetherball!

I even let him in the sandbox with his friends but didn't let him sit down. :) Hey, I was proud that I let him get in the nasty thing.

Halloween fun!

Ross was really into Halloween this year. It was fun to see his excitement. He picked Fred Flintstone for his costume. I loved it!

He went to 3 different trunk or treats.  The first being at my Dad's church. Ross was very good at all the different bean bag games.

They had a petting zoo and pony rides! 

Bouncy houses!

Hayrides!

He loves hayrides!

Hot Dogs! (We are working on him not taking monstrous bites but not having much success.)

Tons of candy that Uncle Kevin tried to talk him into sharing. I think he got 1 piece.

Avery got her pajamas on before we left. She was asleep before we got out of town. I didn't get many pictures b/c I was busy playing with Ross!

Up next was Ross' good friend, Josh's church. They had Shrek and Fiona.

Ross had a costume change b/c it turned off cold so he wore last year's fireman costume.
Smores!

He wouldn't share one single bite with me.

Sweet baby girl was there. She had on a cute pumpkin outfit but it was cold so I didn't get a good pic without her jacket.

I tried to get a picture of Josh, Ross, and Emma.

Obviously Emma was the only one ready to pose. She's such a sweetie!