Christmas Day

We had church in the morning, opened our presents, and then went to a member's house for Christmas dinner.

Paul had to wear this present all day!

Christmas Eve

This picture was actually taken last Saturday, the first day of the break.  Idea was borrowed from somewhere online.

Benjamin reading Paul some of his new books from Grandma and Grandpa.  We opened our presents from Jonathan's parents over Skype on Christmas Eve.

Benjamin playing with the camera before church.

Paul's turn!

Getting the sillies out before the program.

They still do the children's program on Christmas Eve here.  Benjamin was a shepherd, and Paul a sheep.  They both had one line they said with a group.

Christmas Stuff

Choosing our Christmas tree at Jonathan's cousin's tree farm in Illinois.  We stopped on our way home from Uncle David's and Aunt Marilyn's after Thanksgiving.

We can help cut it down!

The boys loved decorating the tree this year!  Several branches were quite ornament-heavy.

Our front yard--we've seen a lot of snow since our first snowfall in November!  We're experiencing what "lake effect snow" is.

Paul was a farmer in his school Christmas program.  He did a wonderful job singing!  He knew exactly when to stand up and sit down, and sang loudly!

The presentation before the program showed all of the children and their pictures--it was very well done!

Playing with the Christmas village.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rachel, Bella, and Bo Visit

We got an impromptu visit from Rachel, Bella, and Bo last week.  They stayed with us for a week and a half while they were homeless.  They sold their house and moved into a new one in the same area in Colorado, but the closing dates didn't mesh.  Thus, the reason for their visit.  We loved having them stay!  

We had a great time bowling one day after school.

We had our first snowfall while they were here--about 12 inches--in November!  I'm afraid we're in for a lot of snow this winter if this early snowfall is any prediction!

We visited a children's museum one morning while Benjamin was at school.  He was not happy when he found out!

Here was the veterinarian clinic at the museum--Bo loved it!

Story time!

It was so fun having a girl in the house--dressing up, playing Barbies, and doing arts & crafts!  =)

This was taken outside Jessica and Andy's house in Indiana.  We went there to see them and Grandma while Rachel was here.

The visit at our house ended with no power from a thunderstorm.  They were fortunate to get out of our house before the temperature dropped to low inside!  We ended up being without power for 33 hours.  Longer than either hurricane when we were in Connecticut!

More Fall Stuff

We had our first snow sighting last week.  There were big, wet snowflakes that didn't stick, but it was fun to watch coming down!

Benjamin was a race car driver for Halloween this year.  Here he is getting ready for trunk or treat after church on Sunday.

Here is the loot from trunk or treat.  It doesn't even include class party treats, and actual trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Pumpkin carving

Paul being anti-Halloween--he didn't want to help carve pumpkins, and he refused to go trunk or treating at church on Sunday.  I told him he wouldn't get any candy if he didn't put on his costume and say "trick-or-treat," however people saw him sitting on the curb, and felt sorry for him and gave him candy, anyway!

Paul's class party snack--I had to bring veggies.

Paul did dress up in his football player costume for his school party, and later for trick-or-treating.  Jonathan just brought the boys to a few houses for trick-or-treating, since it was raining and we definitely didn't need anymore candy!

Jumping in the leaves with a friend.  The three boys had half the yard raked in about 20 minutes so that they could jump in a big pile.  Granted, we only have three mediumish-sized trees in the front yard.  A little different than our Connecticut house with closer to 15 trees!

Visiting cousin Clara in Indiana.  Benjamin didn't have school last Thursday and Friday, so we met my parents and aunt and uncle at Jessica's and Angela's houses for a few days.

Food packing event at Benjamin's school.  They raised around $5000 to send meals to children in Haiti!