Thank you, Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken!

Benjamin is enjoying the little singing Hallmark snowmen that Aunt Mary and Uncle Ken have given us over the past years for Christmas. He likes to get them all going at once!

Playing baseball

Now that we finally have high-speed internet, I'm attempting a video. This was taken a month or two ago.

The hunt for the Christmas tree

We cut our tree down on Saturday. Our usual Christmas tree farm is closed for the season, so we went to another nearby place. We probably have at least 10 tree farms within a 10-mile radius of our house. Jonathan had his heart set on a concolor (sp?) fir, so we had to go to a place that sold those trees.

Hmmm...they all seem a little big to me.



This is actually one tree, although it's hard to see in the picture. They say people cut down trees that look like them...

Thanksgiving in New Jersey

We traveled to New Jersey on Thanksgiving to celebrate with Aunt Mary, Uncle Ken, Aunt Joan, and Grandma. We didn't hit much traffic, despite what everyone was saying at church the night before. "You're traveling by New York City on Thanksgiving! Good luck!" We had the traditional meal when we got there, and then did some relaxing and game-playing. On Friday we braved the stores, but waited until the afternoon, when the crowds had thinned out. We came back on Saturday morning, to get ready for Sunday, of course.


Okay, Great-Grandma, catch! (Still working on ROLLING the ball in the house--not throwing!)


So many new toys to play with! So many people to entertain!


The school bus looked like so much fun, that Benjamin tried to climb in! (Not sure what the face is about; he's been doing that lately when we tell him to smile!)


Won't anyone join me?


Now for dessert...


...a gingerbread house!

Just a few shots...

Here I am giving Abby the horsie a kiss. I like to drag her around by the neck and love on her.


I also like to tackle her.


Playing ball--one of my favorite activities


Just home from church. Dad thought it looked like I was doing karaoke. Mom was just trying to get a decent picture!


Playing with my "new" fire truck--a hand-me-down from someone at church

Aunt Rachel and Uncle Ryan's

Benjamin and I had a great time visiting with Aunt Rachel, Uncle "Rhino" (Ryan), and Grandma and Grandpa Iowa this past weekend.


Cardinal chairs from Busch--the perfect touch to their recently finished basement


High five!


Reading with Grandma--I'll sit on anyone's lap if they'll read me a story!


Playing volleyball with Aunt Rachel--she is just the coolest! I keep saying I want to see her "anee" (again).


Ringing wind chimes with Grandma


Helping Grandpa with some tools. He dug this pole out of a 4-foot hole in the ground, and put up a bird house in it's place. I thought it was just the greatest--digging with shovels is so much fun!


Helping Grandpa rake--another one of my favorite activities!


Halloween at the children's museum.


Playing at the park


Playing basketball at the children's museum with Aunt Rachel's friend Ellie.


Giving Aunt Rachel's 8th graders high fives! I was like a celebrity among all of her students.

Pumpkin Carving

Sorry for the long delay in blogging. We haven't been taking many pictures lately, and Benjamin was sick all last week with a fever. He's doing better, but still catching up on his sleep. We definitely had a rough few days, and had to go to the ER one evening. His temp was almost 105, so that was pretty scary. Apparently it was just a bug going around--the nurse called it a toddler epidemic.

Here are a few shots of our pumpkin carving the other night. Benjamin loved it! He got right in and started scooping out the goo. He even tried eating a chunk of the pumpkin; didn't care for it too much, but he still ate a few bites.


Okay, let's get these sleeves rolled up.


This is how we scoop it out.


Eewww!


I can do it by myself, Daddy!


The finished product--triangle eyes and a heart nose per request of Benjamin.