First of December

Decorating our tree.

Being patient with children who hang the heaviest ornaments on the weakest branches, where there are already five other ornaments.

Smiling, remembering my dad taking full control of the tree decorating.

Understanding why!

And also remembering Mawmaw Bea let US take full control. 

We had an icestorm a couple weeks ago.   We were "iced" in from Thursday evening until Sunday/Monday ish.    I actually didn't leave the house until Tuesday morning to bring the kids to school.  It was a long, long, long time. 

The munckins all wrapped up and ready to brave the ice.  

Pretty, but no snow.  ALL ICE!

Our poor red oak in the front yard.   Never thought it would pull through, but it actually looks okay!  Lost a branch or two, but I think its going to hang it there.  

The other two boys didn't last too long (especially Charlie), but Jackson LIVES for the ice/snow.

He literally was just crawling around in the ice.  

While they weren't freezing their tails off outside, they were looking for "something to do" inside.

Lots of superhero dress up.

I can't remember what Charlie's deal was at this very moment. 

But he has lots of these moments like that lately.

Whatever he was upset about - it was enough to not "be in the picture" with the rest of them.

So I just had them pose around him.   HA!

Super Charlie moved to the corner.

And Super Maggie followed : )

I hosted a cookie exchange here at the house, 

so did plenty of baking, too. 

We made homemade cards for the boys' teachers.   

They picked out their own fabric, buttons, and cut and glued it all!

Was fun :)

For some reason I only took a picture of Coopers, 

but Jackson and Charlie made awesome ones too. 

 

 He was really proud.

Especially of the heart with sunglasses : )

Pretty much the only guided creative thing we did. 

At one point, Charlie was at the table "crafting", and this is what he made...

 very creative, page full of eyeballs. 

haha!  

It was then I decided maybe they needed some direction.

 

I keep cathing Maggie at my sink, trying to get her hands on my makeup.

I keep putting bows back in her hair, 

she keeps taking them out.  

Made lots more cookies for the teachers party.

Pretty much all we did was hibernate and eat.

Family Pictures 2013

 Vanessa (HannahGrace Photography) took family pictures of us a month or so ago.  So nice to occasionally dress up and look put together.   Kids just ran around and goofed off, but at least all six of us were clean and had our hair combed (not something i can say everyday). 

  

Thanksgiving

We went to Alexandria for Thanksgiving.  Spent a few days with the Delaneys.

  

 

 Kids helped set the table.

 

  Made ornaments with Aunt Ali.

Went to Lake Charles on that Friday for the day.   Got to visit with Uncle George.

 Walked down to our old house, but the owners weren't  home.  

Was sad I couldn't go sit by the pond : (

Went back over to Uncle George's pond and kids had fun exploring. 

 Charlie was mad about something...

  Maggie wasn't so sure about the dogs.

Older two had fun throwing stuff into the pond.

Walked down the road to the Nabours.  Got to visit with Mrs. Brenda and Chelsi.

 

 Chelsi borrowed Maggie's bow since she wouldn't keep it in her hair : )

 Got to go see the chickens.

They are still talking about it.

They loved "gathering the eggs"

Wish we had land!!!

Went to Emily and Darren's.  They fed us gumbo!  Yum!

Loved watching the kids play.   They all paired up and played with we visited. 

Loved watching Ava and Maggie.  They are two peas in a pod. 

Just love this picture so much!

Also love how girlie their playroom is!

Anna and Charlie played.   Not sure where he was in this picture!  But how cute is she?!

Abby and Cooper. 

I so wish we lived closer.

It was so good to see them.  Funny how you can just pick right back up after so many years. 

Funny how parallel our lives are in so many ways!

I'm very thankful for our friendship.

 Went over to the Esthay's to visit one of my good friends, Jared, his wife, and their baby.  Baby Eli was going to sleep, but so nice to see Jared and his family for a little while.  I loved walking back into their house after so many years.   So many fun memories! 

From their we headed back to Alexandria for one more night.  Got up the next morning and drove back toward Allen.  Stopped in Canton at Yesterland Tree Farm.   Kids had a great time running around, going on a hayride, playing ... 

Jackson is such a great big brother.  

Handsome Charlie.

 

Ended up not buying a tree there - thought it would just be easier to pick one up at Lowes or Home Depot.  That turned out to be a little more difficult than we anticipated.  Ha!

Check out the sky when we turned onto our road coming home.   Beautiful!!!

 On to December ....