Four Trees and a Navity

UPDATE: Grace has recently taken a liking to her Bat Girl costume and fairy wings. Just so you know, we did not start Christmas on Halloween.

This past weekend we have started to gear up for Christmas. We started at my mom and dad's. We have a tradition where every year the day after Thanksgiving we all go over and help decorate their Christmas Tree. This year it was Colt's turn to put the angle on top.





Later we put a little tree in Grace's room. She is in love with Christmas and Ben and I thought she would like her own little tree. Ben even picked her out her own pink ornaments with a little pink tree topper.


While decorating her tree I noticed her hands. They still have that sweet baby to them. I love her little chubby sweet baby girl hands.

Next we did a family Christmas craft. I wanted a Christmas picture to hang over the fireplace, so I thought we would make one. We started with Ben's hands and worked up to Colt's. Colt also did the yellow star at the top.

Lastly, we put up our little tree in the dining room. I love little Christmas trees; if I could I would have a house full. I also put up the kid's nativity. I love to watch Grace as she plays with the figures while she shares the true reason for Christmas. I am looking forward to all of the good times this Christmas season is sure to bring.

Pumpkin Pie

Grace went Thanksgiving shopping with me today. She is such a good girl and was so much help to me. She likes to read the shopping list and help get the things off the shelves. While at the store we got the things for her to make a pumpkin pie. Grandparents' Day was Tuesday at her school and she got to eat pumpkin pie with my mom. She came home telling me how great it was and could she have it again, so we decided to let her make one for Thanksgiving. As soon as we got home she and her daddy started baking. Watching them together was one of the sweetest moments. Ben was so loving with her. He introduced her to all of the different spices, letting her smell them as he told her what they were. They even ground their own cinnamon together. The looks on Grace's face were priceless. She was so proud to be cooking with her daddy. I'm sure the pie will taste great, but the memory will be even greater.

Aquarium

Today we decided to take the kids to the aquarium. It was such a beautiful day; we thought it would be fun to do something special as a family. There was a slight detour due to a motion sickness indecent, but one new outfit later and we were good to go. Grace loved seeing all the fish, but her favorite part was feeding the turtles. Colt was wonderful all day and he seemed to really enjoy watching all of the fish as well. Plus...Ben got to see the Fishing Lure Museum. I am so thankful for days like this.

He Loves Me

18 Months

This Monday Colt will be 18 months old. He has apparently decided to declare his independence a little bit early... This afternoon I had laid him down for a nap and I was doing laundry, when what should I hear behind me? "Ma." Yup, he has figured out how to crawl out of his crib. Therefor, it looks like he will be getting a big-boy bed for his 18 month birthday. -Oh, I also found him in the bathroom this morning washing his hands. (Yes, in the sink. -Thankfully!) To be so laid back he sure keeps us on our toes. I look forward to seeing what the plans are for his future. I know both he and Grace have many wonderful things ahead of them.

My Anniversary Gift

This Wednesday will be Ben and mine's ninth anniversary. Saturday I had to go to Stillwater to take a test and coincidentally enough, that is also where Ben had to go to get my gift. I naturally assumed that meant I was getting something from Attwoods... Anyways, we decided to go together and while I took my test he would get my gift. So Nanny came to watch the kids and off we went. (Thank you Nanny and thank you mom for taking Grace to the party.)After my test Ben gave me a beautiful and large gift bag and what was inside? New shoes!!! Stillwater has a beautiful little shoe store that I just love and Ben had thought to go pick me out some shoes. I love the shoes and I love him. So, thank you so very much Benjamin Seth. You are my best friend and I sure do love you!

Um...Ya...

Well, this afternoon I walked into the living room to see Colt smiling up at me like a little ghost. He has learned how to turn baskets over for step stools and had gotten the Corn Starch off of his changing table. As Ben said, you just can't help but smile back at him.

Twinkle Toes

Today we decided to meet my sister and Madelyn in Stillwater. It was such a beautiful day we thought it would be fun to do some shopping and take the kids to the park. While there we decided to get Grace some new shoes. She has been telling me for some time that she wanted "twinkle toes". As soon as she saw this certain pair in the store she was so excited; they were twinkle toes (and I was excited that they were on sale). They are actually Sketchers, but to my surprise the type of shoe really is called Twinkle Toes. I had thought she just called them that herself. This goes to prove that my five year old knows more about fashion than I do! All in all it was a great day of fun and I am quite thankful for it.

Greetings

Hello!
Welcome to our family's first official blog post! I am hoping to use this as a tool to capture those memories that seem to fade all too quickly. I have thought about starting a blog before, but to be honest I always decided it would be too much work. When I write I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect; perfect spelling, grammar, wording... This time, however, I am not striving to be perfect, but to just be us. Us is who we are, it is who I love, and it is who I invite you to see.