Christmas cookies

The ball of dough by the train cookie was Paul's doing. He kept trying to put random dough pieces on the cookie sheet. He understands it's not the shape of the cookie--it's the taste that matters!

It's just as much fun under the table!

Playing outside

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Okay, not really, but Jonathan's dad did decorate our bushes and trees with lights while he was here. It's a little hard to make out, but those who have visited us will get the general idea.

Our Christmas tree

Grandma and Grandpa came for a quick visit last weekend. They were able to see Benjamin in the children's Christmas program at church. We also exchanged gifts, and chose and decorated our Christmas tree.

Paul doing his part at the tree farm.

Helping Daddy cut down the tree.

Paul found a little corner, just his size. The boys really got into decorating the tree this year. Needless to say, we had several ornament-heavy branches.

Thanksgiving in New Jersey

We spent our Thanksgiving with Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken. We celebrated a little of Christmas, too, and exchanged gifts. The boys kept busy playing with their new toys, going to the park, and playing outside--it was so nice and warm for the end of November! The older boys kept busy by doing "projects in the basement," as Benjamin likes to call it. Aunt Mary kept busy keeping out stomachs continually full! I enjoyed a break from cooking!

Our dessert after the Thanksgiving meal

Decorating a gingerbread house

Finished product

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Monday

This is our garden flag hanging outside right now. So true.

We spent about 4 hours raking the front yard yesterday. This is the leaf pile we hauled into the woods. It looks much more impressive in person. You could seriously lose a group of small children in the pile. The boys got a great work out climbing in and out repeatedly.

Where's Benjamin? He really is in the leaf pile somewhere.

Indian Summer

We've had two days near 70 degrees. Needless to say, we've spent as much time as we can outside!

Note Paul using the cover as a trampoline!

No time for photos--gotta ride!

Paul can ride this scooter ridiculously well for a 2-year-old! Still trying to capture it on video.

Jumping in the leaf pile

Halloween

Scary faces!

Checking out the loot

Our little fireman and pizza!

Carving the pumpkin

Trick or treat?

No trick, this picture was taken yesterday.

Treat? Depends on your point of view...

This picture was taken Tuesday...today we were also clearing the driveway--of several inches of snow this time!

Pumpkin Patch

We visited the pumpkin patch this weekend to pick out a pumpkin. They had mini-golf, so we had to play that first.

Paul likes to put his ball right next to the hole. This evens the playing field a bit.

Next, we had to try out the corn maze. They woman working said, "Good luck making it out by sunset! And keep the kids very close to you." Always encouraging words to hear!

We did not stop at all of the 15 mailboxes, so we made it out in plenty of time! At the end of the maze we found a raspberry patch with a few raspberries left on it--definitely my favorite part!

One of those times you want to laugh, but can't because you're the Mom...

We were playing outside the other day. The boys were in the backyard; Paul was chasing Benjamin with a pine needle branch. They were both laughing and giggling when I went down to get the mail. As I came back around the house, Benjamin had turned the hose on and was squirting Paul. Paul stood there in shock for a minute, and then started crying. I immediately shout for Benjamin to stop--"What are you doing?!" Poor Paul was drenched from head to toe, and it was probably only about 60 degrees out! So, Paul was crying, Benjamin was crying because he was afraid he was going to be in trouble, and I was feeling bad for Paul and wondering what to say to Benjamin. Turns out, my reaction put enough fear into Benjamin I'm pretty sure he got the message--no squirting hoses at people when it's cold out. And Paul was fine once he got dry clothes on. It was then that I began to see the humor in the whole situation. After all, I did teach the boys both of those things--squirting people with hoses (typically when it's about 90 degrees) and tag with the pine needle branches.

Overhead from the play room...

Paul: "Who you talking to, Benny?"

Benjamin: (on cell phone) "Peter, one of Jesus' disciples. Yes, uh-uh...Jesus is in the tomb."

Benjamin was pretending to be a soldier, guarding Jesus' tomb. First thought--how sweet, he's acting out Bible stories. Second thought--nope, it's really just an excuse to use a sword and shield on his brother.

Nine states in nine days

We recently took a cross-country trip to St. Louis. Jonathan was in a wedding there, but plane tickets for four were too expensive. So, we drove 2600 miles, round trip. I thought we were crazy, but 4 long days in the van wasn't really too bad. Our first stop was in Ohio at Jonathan's aunt's house, where we got to celebrate Jonathan's grandma's 94th birthday. We, along with Jonathan's parents and brother, surprised her for her birthday. (Unfortunately, our camera battery ran out that day, so those were the only pictures we got of our trip.)

We spent a day in Ohio, and then drove on to St. Louis. While there, we got to see a lot of old friends, as well as hang out with Jonathan's parents and brother. We made a trip to the zoo, also. (That won out over the Arch, which Benjamin decided he was not ready for.) Jonathan also participated in the large wedding--there were 22 attendants in all. The reception was at the planetarium at the science center--very cool! After the wedding, it was on to see my aunt, uncle and cousin in southern Illinois. After a day there, we spend two days driving home. We managed to stop in New Jersey at Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken's house on our way home. We spent two nights in hotels with swimming pools--the boys loved that, of course!

The whole crew for Grandma's birthday

The birthday girl and two of her grandsons

Four generations

Wrestling with Grandpa

Opening presents

Birthday dinner