Days of Creation

Can you smell that fresh air?!?  We have arrived at the Days of Creation Christmas Tree Farm to pick out our perfect tree!!!

This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions and I just love making a day of it.

Before we walked out to the Christmas trees, we first had to check out all the farm animals.

Chickens

The goats are always a hit...they will eat anything!

Time to say goodbye to the animals for now....let's go find our Christmas tree!

The field was full of trees....how will be choose just one?!?

Getting sidetracked for another photo prop...

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas....

The first thing we needed to go was to get a wagon and saw,

then we headed into the trees.

Kate had fun running her brothers through the field.

Kate and Gabe made it their mission to find the best tree on the lot

while Grandma continued with the wagon ride to try and keep Grant happy and within arm's reach.  ;)

After lots of searching we finally found a beautiful tree that we could all agree on!

Kate & Gabe both wanted to be the one who chose the tree, but didn't want to choose together.  We are working on teamwork versus competition.  How do you convince siblings that they are teammates though when one child (Kate) is highly competitive.  Gabe is not, by nature, competitive, but since Kate insists on always winning he has become competitive against her.  Sibling rivalry.....always fun.  :)  Thankfully though, in the end we were able to find a tree that everyone loved!

Our Christmas Tree

2014

Since Jon can do very little with his back pains,

it is up to Gabe to chop down our tree this year!

Of course, he had lots of help from his Big Sister too!

As you can kind of see, after the kids had made only the tiniest bit of progress,

I had to get in on the fun...

Jon & Grant were there to supervise.

Finally, after realizing this three was not going to fall,

Jon and my dad had no choice but to get down there...even in pain from bad backs.  :)

This was probably the most difficult time we have ever had

to cut down a tree, but we finally did it!

Look PawPaw...What are the doing to our tree?!?

The kids were all fascinated watching the tree shake like crazy to get out the loose branches (and bugs).

The guys from the farm did such a great job getting our tree ready and securing it to the van.

Thank You!

Once all the hard work was finished we got to celebrate with hot chocolate and candy canes.

Last, but certainly not least, a hayride around the Christmas tree farm!!!

Gabe is holding up our annual ornament from Days of Creation.

Thank you for joining us this year Grandma & PawPaw! 

We got home late tonight but we were able to put our beautiful Christmas tree in place...can't wait to decorate!

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo....

One thing about living by the tracks...every time a train passes by Grant begs to run outside and wave!

When we moved here I really didn't think this track was used much anymore; I was wrong!  This is a very active track!  Anyway, this morning a special train keeps riding by with Santa Claus onboard!!  We weren't able to get tickets to ride before they were sold out, but I think the kids have enjoyed watching it go by just as much as if they were actually on it.

Grandma & PawPaw got to our house because they are coming with us this year to choose and cut down our Christmas tree since Jon is still in so much pain in his back.  Soon after they arrived though Grant heard the train whistle from afar and insisted on taking Grandma for a closer look.

Oh the joy when he saw the train!!

We watch the train almost daily yet it never gets old...  :)

"Hi Choo Choo!!"

It's Santa and Mrs. Claus....and Santa's mistress???  :)

The kids were so excited over the personal waves from the train!

"Bye Bye Choo Choo"

As soon as the train was a block down the tracks,

Kate & Gabe rushed to find their treasures...

Squished Pennies!!!!

North Pole Breakfast

The kids woke up this morning and discovered that our elf, Sprinkles, had returned....and this year he brought with him Grandma and PawPaw's elf, Twinkle Star!!  Apparently Twinkle Star thought our house would be more fun!  The kids are so excited to start finding our elves again every morning and can't wait to see what sort of mischief they get into before Christmas...

The elves made us a yummy and festive breakfast again this year

to help us get in the Christmas Spirit!

Happy Thanksgiving

As we have done the past several years, we went to our cousin Hannah's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  We love being with our family for the holiday and my aunt always fixes a feast!

Grammy with the grandbabies...they sure do love her!

Uncle Lane ~ cousin Hannah ~ Aunt Deanna

Cousins

Grant was so excited to play with Uncle Lane tonight!!!

He also loved this little exercise trampoline...

until he accidentally fell off.  Oops!

Okay, so I am not always a Black Friday shopper, but if there is something on our Christmas list at a really great price, I have been known to go out at 6am with all the other crazies.  Well this year unfortunately more stores decided to do their big sales on Thanksgiving night....around dinner time.  Each year the time keeps moving back:  Friday 6am, Thursday at midnight, then 10pm then 8pm last year I think, and this year Walmart didn't even close and the big sales began at 6pm with lines for the popular items forming in the afternoon.  I want to just say no, Thanksgiving is about being with family and giving thanks for all our many blessings, but when several big ticket items from our Christmas list are on sale at HUGE discounts, it's impossible to resist!  I was sort of torn about the decision to shop early on Thanksgiving, but I knew how much we would save.  But, I know my family felt like dinner was rushed this year...  And as you can see below, Kate was also not thrilled.  She wanted to shop with me and my mom but we are helping Santa tonight....so no kids allowed!!  :)