it's the night before the night before Christmas

slide
jump
watch
dig

Pics from yesterday. Kids not as nutty today as I had feared. Tomorrow will be busy with some baking, delivering cookies, wrapping presents, church, and dinner with Grandma and Grandpa. It will be fun and the kids are very excited. I think John is not feeling 100% so I hope he doesn't wake up sick.

how many days until Christmas?

playground
tree
watching some geese
walking
In an effort to counter-act some of the pre-Christmas 'energy' I took the kids on a 3+ hr hike. I am tired but judging by the sounds coming from the basement I don't think they are. Darn. What ever will I do for tomorrow? help!

it's a new week!

O had been having an airplane obsession these days...
out of paper
J and his dog
Billy was in DC last week and just missed being snowed in! We are so thankful he was able to get home. The kids are now out of school for the holiday and that makes me very happy!

Ho ho ho!

not so excited
that's better
all the kids with Mr and Mrs Claus
all of us!
Our neighborhood club house had Mr and Mrs Claus in for a little Christmas party! Hoping we can avoid the mall now.

Cutting the tree

Cait and Nanny
John helping make the cut
everyone watching
push!

Nanny and Grandad left this morning and we are missing them already! They are headed back to their boat to head further south....wish we could go too! To see their adventure go to nannyandgranddad.blogspot.com

our fav tree farm

We're here!
John and Cait were hoping for this one
Nanny and Grandad
We told them to sit under the one they could all agree on........

We did NOT get that one! We are so mean and made them choose another one!

we got a small tree....

boys
girl
Billy stringing the lights
Z - you guys go ahead and do all the work....

Went to our favorite tree farm Friday and got a great tree! So nice to have Bill's parents with us to pick out just the right tree!

view

view out the back window this afternoon

What a great day!

enough with the pictures Mom!
the 4 critters
My side of the family
Our little family of 6

Bill's Mom and Dad are here too but my camera ran out of batteries right after this picture. I'll have to get the pics from Mom and Dad. We had the best Turkey Day ever! Both sets of Grandparents, Uncle Jerry, and Mark and Tara (in from Canada)! Such a great day. Thank you everyone.