It is (finally) beginning to look like winter!

I was a little nervous there for a while!  I thought we would have another year like the one before last.....we didn't get actual snow until February!!

 

But, last night, my wish for a winter with snow came true!!

 

I love the winter season, since it is so pretty and I get to decorate and go through the motions of the "holiday season". 

 

But, I must confess...I put up our tree a few days ago.

 

Normally, my rule is that I do not decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but I have good reason this year!

1.  Adam is working literally every day for over 2 weeks straight.  So, I either wait until a few days into December, or do it early.  I don't like to wait.

2.  We have gotten a real Christmas tree the past couple years (they smell soooo good!!), which is something Adam has to help with.  Again....his schedule meant I would have to wait. I don't like to wait.

3.  We had 2 options:  decorate early (makes me happy), or wait (since I don't like to wait, I would have done it myself......not a good idea while pregnant!).  So, Adam hauled everything in, moved all the furniture, and let me go to town!

4.  We aren't celebrating Thanksgiving until Saturday anyway, so by the time family came over to eat, it is still in the "proper time" to have my tree up.

 

Our neighbor came over to take a family pic for us too so we could order Christmas cards......reason #5 to justify the early decorating.  Since we never seemed to have everything working at the same time in one shot (eyes open, smiles, awkward hands, etc.) she had to take a couple pictures and merge them together.  Who would have thought such things could be done???  It turned out great!

 

See my pretty tree, by the way??  Love it!

 

The "kid's tree" is downstairs.  It is the pre-lit tree we have had for years that we put all the random ornaments on, not the themed red and gold that goes on my "pretty tree" upstairs.

 

Anyway, now that the inside looks like winter and holiday time, I am so glad the outside decided to catch up!

 

We don't have much snow, but it is enough to roll around and play in.

 

Avery likes to "wok" in it.

 

Landon races around to mow it! 

 

"Look mom, I am making myself in the snow!" 

 

He was so concerned when his sister touched the snow and didn't like the cold on her hands! 

 

Clearly the discomfort didn't last long....she was up and running in no time! 

 

Monkey see, monkey do... 

 

Landon liked to taste the snow (to see if it was ready to make ice cream) and then spit it like a camel.  Seriously, the stuff he comes up with!

 

And of course, Reese and Bailey had a grand time too.  I thought they were hilarious until they came in with snow balls stuck to every inch of their fur....then tried to sit on my couch!!! 

 

After we were good and rosy-cheeked, we were ready for hot chocolate and the Macy's Parade.

 

I love the holidays!!!

5 minutes

Every so often (other than when he is sick!) he will forget that he is the "big guy" and cuddle with his mamma like he is still my little baby boy.....

 

.....but only for 5 minutes!



If the Weather Says So....

Outside it is beginning to look like winter will be here soon, although it is a far cry from where we were last year. 

 

We have only had a couple days of flurries, and they never stick.

 

Tonight, it is very windy and cold, and the flurries have stuck to the deck just enough to be visible.

 

Seems to me it is the perfect night to get on the cozy jammies, make some hot chocolate, and enjoy a holiday favorite on the big screen!

 

Avery helped with the hot chocolate,

 

then joined Landon with Chex Mix and the "Polar Express". 

 

Yep, I think it is the perfect activity for a blustery night!  

 



A Soggy, Foggy Halloween

Living in Duluth, you always expect Halloween to fall in the time of year where it isn't quite snowing (yet!) but it isn't exactly warm.

 

So, you plan the costumes in order to put layers underneath or throughout so you don't have to cover it up with a winter coat. 

 

This year it wasn't the cold that really added to the "experience", it was the rain!

 

But no worries, these kids had been looking forward to Trick-or-Treating waaaaaay too long to let a few raindrops deter them!

 

We had Dusty the crop duster:

 

And a cute little kitty cat:

 

And off we went....no rain yet! 

 

Landon knew exactly what to do right away... 

 

It didn't take Avery long to figure it out either! 

 

Pretty soon we had to pull out the coats and hoods though!  Still not ready to give up, they went on their bundled way around the neighborhood!

 

Back at home a (slightly smudged) little kitty and an airplane checked out the loot and did a bit of snacking while they dried out. 

 

All in all, a good (albeit, wet) evening!

 

Happy Halloween!