Christmas Comes Early

The boys have been enjoying all the fun that this Christmas season brings.  We decorated the house early this year (I think it's a first!) so that we are able to enjoy it for as long as possible.  There's just something pleasant and warm about having a Christmas tree, christmas music, and stockings hanging in front of a nice fire that just exudes home :)

This month has been busy, but I look forward to it all year :)  It's hard making the Christmas story come alive with a 3 and almost 2 year old, but we had some fun moments.  Elijah wanted to recreate the Christmas story, I was Mary, Elijah was Joseph (since daddy was at school :)) and Jacob was Jesus.  We wrapped him in a blanket and I carried him on my donkey (aka our big toy lion) to the stable (aka every pillow we have in a pile on the floor)  and put baby Jesus in the manger (aka the laudry basket). 


Jakey, our baby Jesus :)



Brothers...they just love each other so much!

 Elijah really wanted to make gingerbread cookies this year, so the boys and I had fun using the cookie cutters and decorating them. 

getting to roll out and cut out their own cookies.



Babysitting our friend's little boy Levi.  The boys are so good with
him.  Doing their crawling races...:)

We were able to have a Jesus birthday party again this year, and invited a few more friends for the festivities.  The boys had fun doing pin the star over the manger, we made a craft, and of course sang Happy Birthday and had birthday cupcakes.  Then we went around the table and opened our gifts to Jesus. It was a fun celebration.

 

 

My mom was able to come visit this week and it's been so nice having her here!  Christmas came early and the boys got to open some presents, while Grandpa watched via skype :) Our Jakey is turning 2 on the 21st! I can't believe it...he's so big now and has so much personality.  He's our sweet boy and we love him to pieces!

 

 Kevin is finishing up his finals tomorrow (YAY!!) and then we get him all to ourselves:) It's been a busy past month for him and we are so lucky to have a husband and daddy who works so hard for his family. Wheeww... And it's only December 18th...can't wait for Christmas!

 

  

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.  Kevin's mom, grandma and brother all flew in for the week.  It was so great to see everyone and meant alot to us that they came all this way to spend time with us.  The boys were so excited to see everyone, they practically jumped on them when they came in the door!  It was nonstop fun reading books, playing puzzles, making balloon animals and building airplanes.  The weather was absolutely beautiful and our guests got to experience the full spectrum, from sunny and pleasant to the first snow fall of the season!  We got to explore downtown and thanks to Grandma, she outfitted the boys in new U of M gear which they both loved!  We took everyone to see the law school and library and went to the boys favorite park to play and walk around. 

 

Thanksgiving day was nice and relaxing. I love getting to cook a full holiday meal for people.  I don't get to very often, but when I do, it's so fun!  The food came out great, and everything was ready (believe it or not) an hour ahead of schedule! We sat down and feasted on turkey, cranberry sauce, green beans, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls and pumpkin pie.  We had lots of leftovers too :)

It was such a great visit and made me so thankful to have our family stay with us.  It was truly a treat for us and we miss them already.  I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

Lemon rosemary turkey

sweet potato casserole

Kevin carving the turkey

Go Michigan!

busy putting stickers on their airplanes:)

Uncle Andy and Grammy snuggle with Jacob before bed

Elijah "hiding" Uncle Andy with his jacket.  He thought
this was just sooo funny.

Wishbone pull!  Elijah got the bigger half, but Jacob didn't seem
mind, they just had fun breaking it :)

Grandma and Jacob taking a stroll at the park

In front of the law library

reading with Uncle Andy. Elijah was attached at his hip the
whole visit.

Jacob getting Grandma another book.
I think this was like the 5th one in a row!

Kevin's fine balloon creation...don't really
know what it is:)

Jacobs big thing now is jumping...:)

At the park, looking at the "secret"map to find our way back to the
playground

Mommy and Elijah

Our Thankful tree...

Happy Halloween

The weather decided to cooperate and did not rain on us! We started off down at the library with story time and trick or treating at the shops downtown.  This was the first time Jacob was able to actually trick or treat, and he LOVED it.  He was wishing everyone a happy halloween and saying thank you after picking his candy.  He didn't want to let go of his lollipop, just held it the whole time.  That evening we went trick or treating with some friends.  Elijah and Henry went running from house to house, and Jacob tried to keep up, he was definitely adamant about not skipping any home, and climbed up all the steps (all these older houses have tons of steps!!).  He really wanted that candy I guess.  We ended the evening counting our spoils, eating pumpkin cookies and sipping warm cider. Overall a very fun night.

 



 

We went to a corn maze a couple weekends ago with some friends and had a fun time.  They had lots of fun things for the kids to do along with cider and donuts of course! 

This was a pool of corn kernals.  After this, when I got home
I was dropping corn all over the place.

We can't seem to have everyone look at the camera...oh well:)

water pump duck races!

Elijah and our friend Phan

In the Corn Maze!

 

Sleeping Bear Dunes

This past weekend we went to Sleeping Bear Dunes which is up north on the Lake Michigan. This is their off season which made for good deals, so we decided to take the 5 hour drive up.  It rained for most of the first day, but we were able to enjoy our lodge and got to walk along the lakeshore in the evening.  The colors were beautiful and the trees were in full color, a really pretty drive.  We stopped at Cherry Republic, got some yummy samples and had lunch (Michigan is known for their cherries and apples).  The next day we explored the national park a bit and did the Dune Climb which was really cool.  It was cold, but the boys loved it.  It was a great family weekend.