These are wonderful, busy days

December is always this way - very full.

But it's been full of wonderful things.

Like blizzards...

and cookie decorating (and eating)... 

 and hosting friends (and preparing for hosting)...

and singing in the preschool program...

and messing with the kid in front of you...

and sleepy kids...

and drinking hot chocolate.

This is the most wonderful time of year.

Santaland

This morning we continued the tradition of venturing downtown to Macy's Santaland.  The kids are getting old enough now to actual be interested in it...so now I can say that I am going there for the kids - and not just because I like it.  Although when I asked Sam what his favorite part was he said, "Riding in Henry's minivan."  Hmm.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The kids really enjoyed putting ornaments on the tree this year.  What I neglected to take a photo of is how most of the ornaments are now clumped together in just 2 or 3 spots.

And I love it.

And then downstairs to build a fire with dad...

I love this time of year!

She's 2!!

Kate celebrated her birthday at our Thanksgiving gathering this year...then again 3 days later on her actual birthday...and actually twice on that day. So she got in a bit of practice blowing out candles and eating cupcakes: 

.  

This little girl has turned in to such a fun, happy, playful, funny, sweet, delightful little person.  We are very thankful for her!

Happy Halloween!

Kate woke up this morning, went into Sam's room, and said, "Happy 'Ween Sammy!"

This was a really fun Halloween since both kids finally got it: all you have to do is get dressed up, say "Trick or Treat" and people just give you candy.  I mean, come on - this is fantastic!

Happy 'ween everybody!

Fire Pit

You don't really know my husband unless you've seen him in his happy place: landscaping.  He's also really good at backing up a trailer, which is not something you can learn in college by the way.

So when we started talking about how fun it would be to have a fire pit, I knew that it wouldn't be just a little hole in the ground.  

Amazingly, in just 3 weekends, our backyard went from this...

to this!

(Apparently Fall also arrived in full force...we have a bit of raking to do, to say the least.)

Sam is very excited about the whole thing.  He already has his fire stick picked out and ready to go.

And he gives the project two big flying thumbs up!! 

A Girl's Hair

We almost made it 2 years.

2 YEARS without a haircut.

But I couldn't take it anymore.  Despite her cute little curls, her hair had turned into this crazy mullet-type thing.  So this morning, off she went for her first haircut.  And unlike her brother's first haircut (here), this one went very smoothly!

Before you see the "after" photos - I'd like to remind you of the "before" (in it's usual messy state):

 Then the makeover began:

 Which revealed her sweet little neck.

And suddenly she seemed 5 years older.

Apple Orchard

We drove way out into the country today to go pick apples at this great apple orchard in Minnetrista.  We met one of my good friends there (who recently moved even further out into the country).  Turns out it was very convenient to then be able to get photos of the 3 of us taken.  A rarity for a mom who is usually on the other side of the lens!

 

This kid loved climbing up into the trees and picking apples.  He'd hand one down to me and yell, "CHECK IT!"...guess he didn't want any worms to end up in his apple pie.

Smart kid.

Our Family

We are becoming official members at our church at the end of the month.  And they said they needed a family photo ASAP...this is kind of a problem with a 22 month old who doesn't know how to look at the camera.  I thought Kate would be what made this difficult, but actually it was our 4 year old who seemed to have forgotten how to smile...

So we were VERY happy to capture this photo last night:

We sure are blessed.