DECK THE HALLS!!!

We always begin to put up our Christmas decorations on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The kids favorite tree is the small one we put up in the family room.

We fill it with ornaments gathered through the years.

The kids like to find the ornaments with their names on them.

Shannon is able to easily reach the top of the tree :) Logan likes to arrange and rearrange the oranaments.
Caitlin made sure her ornaments went in just the right spot.

The finished product - there isn't too much space left on our cute little tree.

It is full of such wonderful memories. We just love it!

Another thing we take care of over the holiday weekend is our Christmas card picture.

We wanted to try one with Hercules. We couldn't get him to sit still but then we gave him a treat to munch on

and that did the trick.

The kids were very cooperative and looked beautiful in their Christmas clothes.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It is hard to believe the holidays are here already.

Time seems to fly quicker each year.

The kids are getting so big - Cait is 7, Logan 4, and Shannon 10.

Some things have gotten so much easier while we are still learning to balance

school and schedules full of activities.

We were glad to have this day to spend time together and appreciate our family. We had lunch at Chris' brother's house.

We got all of the grandkids together with Grandma and Grandpa.

Getting them all to look was challenge enough much less getting them to smile!

Then it was off to Uncle Jerry's for another Thanksgiving feast.

After dinner, we continued a tradition we started a few years ago - Christmas crafts!

We made button wreaths, Santa pins, and Santa door hangers.

It was a lot of fun as always.
We are truly grateful for our tremendous families.
They provide us with endless support and love.

GIVING THANKS

While Chris and Shannon were at basketball practice, Logan and Caitlin took

some time out to make cards to give out on Thanksgiving. They colored turkeys and then used flowers and "jewels" to add to their works of art!

They made awesome cards.
This is Hercules' spot to wait when I go downstairs.
He waits patiently and sometimes impatiently for me to return ;)
He hasn't mastered the basement steps which we are happy about - one less place to keep track
of the fur ball!

HERCULES' FIRST SNOW!

We had our first measurable snowfall the other day and Hercules just wasn't too sure about it!

He stayed as close to the house as he could while he took some time to sniff and check it out. Then he got brave and found romping in the snow to be lots of fun.
He didn't even mind a face full of snow!
A puppy face wash????
All dried off and warm again.

DOUBLE DIGITS!

It's hard to believe that Shannon turned 10 on November 18th!

She is quite excited to have reached double digits!!!We let her open presents before school.

You can tell she was so happy to finally get the digital camera she has been wanting for a long time
I made the cake and we celebrated at Grammy's during "supper night"

We had a party with everyone on the 23rd.

Shannon showing off our awesome puppy, Hercules :)

Do you think Shannon is into this puppy thing?

She even chose puppies as her party theme.

Of course, our favorite baker Aggie, made a fantastic puppy cake complete with little paw prints.

Where does the time go?
Shannon recently started taking piano lessons at school.

She practices on the piano at Grammy's but Uncle got her a keyboard so she can practice at home too.

She really has picked it up pretty naturally, so we don't even have to beg her to practice.

It was freezing cold outside so the pinata was moved to the garage this year;)

A RARE DAY OFF!!!

This was our first free day in a long time.

There were no soccer games, football games, or meetings of any kind.

We decided to enjoy the sunshine and took a walk on our favorite path by the lake.

It sure is a beautiful backdrop.

The fall colors are just beautiful.

Although a bit far away, this is a great picture of mom and the kids!

There are many excellent picture spots along the path including this small "bridge".

Dad and the kids on the lake side of the bridge.
Hercules had lots of fun, but did have to "hitch a ride" with mom a few times on the way back to the car;)
We took a picture like this a few years ago in Florida.
I'm not sure how much longer they'll like to hold hands.
We'll enjoy it while we can!

We sure did enjoy having this relaxing family time today.
Not much longer until the basketball season starts!

HALLOWEEN BAKING!

Mom and Logan were home together on Halloween so after raking leaves,

we decided to make some Halloween cupcakes.

Logan does great with the mixer and even makes sure its not going too fast. ready for the oven... the finished product...yummy....

After so much hard work, Logan took a little time to rest with Hercules ;)

TRICK-OR-TREAT!!!

The kids made some great costume choices this year.

It took Shannon a while to decide but she finally thought

this cool pirate costume would be a good choice.

She looked very grown-up!

Caitlin's first choice was a sumo wrestler but we

decided this cute genie was a better choice.

She looked adorable!

and of course Logan's first and only choice -

the Red Power Ranger!!!
All set and ready to collect as much candy as possible ;)

Even Hercules had a costume but we couldn't get the devil outfit to stay on!

This was the first long walk Hercules took with us.

We weren't sure he'd be able to walk the whole time but he did!

PUMPKIN CARVING FUN!!!

We squeezed some time in last weekend to carve the awesome pumpkins the kids got at the farm.The hardest job of all is always cleaning the "guts" out!
Hercules knew the safest spot would be under the table.
It's one of his favorite places :)

The finished products...

Shannon and her pumpkin

Logan and his pumpkin

Caitlin and her pumpkin

Overall pumpkin carving was much neater and easier this year ;)