Christmas tree hunt

Our Christmas tree is one of our special Christmas traditions in our family. We don't just run to the store and get a tree we actually go out to the Christmas tree farm (we go to the same one every year in Denison) and cut one down. It is a fun time walking aroung trying to find the perfect tree. This year is Austin's first time to find a Christmas tree. So we loaded in the truck and started our day. As we begin it is raining and the temperature is around the high 30's. The kids are in their coats and ready to go.

Our first stop was for donuts on the way out of Anna. (Note to self, the Anna donut shop does not have a high chair. Austin did well in a chair luckly.)

We are here, it's still drizzling, about 50 degrees but on the hunt for our tree.

So many trees, which one will we get?

We have to take a hay ride to get to the other field. Our tree maybe over there. (Austin is not sure about any of this. Walking around in the rain with all these trees and riding outside?)

Lauren is leading the search in this field. I still like the tree we found in the first field (we will probably go back and try to find it. I think I made a pretty good mental note as to where it was so I can go back to it.)

I did remember! Here it is! Our 2008 Christmas tree!!

Austin's very first Christmas tree. It's so pretty.

Lauren and Mike are discussing the cutting strategy.

And the cutting begins...

Austin wants to help.

T-I-M-B-E-R!!!!!!!

We are waiting while they shake our tree and put it thru the wrapper.

Austin found a new friend.

Loaded up and heading home with our tree.

Drum roll please,.......the cutting of the wrap and the release of the branches.

WOW!!! It was not that big in the field (I think we say that about every tree we get home but this is by far the fattest tree we have ever had.)

Lights are on, ready to decorate (I didn't get pictures of this step as I was unpacking the ornaments and Lauren was hanging hers. We did this pretty quick while Austin slept so we could get all the boxes back away before he got up.)

Here is our beautiful tree all decorated. This was Christmas eve right before Mike and I went to bed when we finished setting up all the Santa stuff. Lauren got the roller blades and Austin got the work bench and race car track. They were both very happy.

So as you can see we have quite an adventure when we get our Christmas tree. We have done this every year with Lauren and now can't wait to continue each year with Austin. It is such a fun family day (weather is not always so fun but that's part of it) we look foward to every Christmas time. In all the craziness of the season it is nice to get away and spent time finding our tree. If you have never been to a Christmas tree farm to pick your oun tree and cut it down you should think about trying it next year, you may start a new tradition of your own. You just don't know what you're missing!!

Christmas gift

So as most of you have noticed I have not been very good at keeping up with my blog. As much as I would love to so everyone can keep up with what's going on and what the kids are up to it has not been easy with Austin. My computer is in the back room of our house which is in no way what you would call child proof. So to try blogging during the day Austin does not want to play in his room if I am in the office, there is way more interesting stuff for him to touch and eat. So I try to spend little time in there when he is awake. What about the evenings you ask. Lauren and Mike are home and Austin can play with them. There in lies the other problem. As I said, the computer is in the back of the house, so if I am back there I can not spend time with my family in the evenings and with Mike after the kids go to bed. Now you can see why my blogging is so minimal.
What is the point to all this you ask? The solution to my problem, my Christmas gift from my wonderful husband!!!!!

Here is what Santa brought me, bubble bath and a mouse. What is he telling me?

A LAPTOP!!!!! A laptop of my very own.

It's so nice!!! I am SO excited.

Look, my computer on the couch. It is wonderful!!

So now I can blog whenever and I don't have to be stuck in the back room.

I have lots to catch up on now with the last month gone by and all of Austin's firsts that happened. Keep watching and I will have them up in the next couple days.

Finishing Cookies

So here we are again. We chilled our cookie dough for an hour (and had some lunch) and now we are ready to make cookies. As you can see, all the helpers are here. Lauren is excited to use cookie cutters.

Cookie cutting is very serious as you can see.

First batch in the oven.

Uh oh, we have a loose monster trying to help.

Mama better hold him before he pulls everything off the table. He just wants to help.

He gets to be a taste tester.............he likes them.

I think we have a few cookies to decorate now.

Lauren is ready with all the supplies.

We have to take a dinner break. Lauren is learning why people buy the take and break cookies or the rolls. "Cookies take a LONG time to make, we've been doing this ALL day"...this is what she told Mike when he got home.

Back to the cookies...decorating. She is making beautiful cookies.

One pooped helper is ready for bed.

He didn't even help and he's pooped.

Lauren did the cookies facing the camera and once everyone was tucked in mom did the others to be ready for the family (I did leave about 15 more for Lauren to decorate for us).

After a LONG day I was ready for bed. Hope everyone enjoys their cookies.

Making Cookies

Today we are going to make sugar cookies. Lauren is going to be my assistant in her first time to make "real" sugar cookies. (I just bought a rolling pin last week so that tells you how often I have done this). I do make chocolate chip cookies from scratch but it has been since I've lived at home with mom I've made sugar. So I decided since Lauren is out of school for the rest of the week we would do this together.

She is all ready with all the ingredients and the recipe. (She is learning how to read the recipe today)

We are mixing the ingredients, moving right along.

Well, Austin decided he is not going to nap right now so I guess we have another helper. Let's see how that goes.

We gave him something to play with while we mix. He can learn to measure and roll.

As you can see we have lost the binkie, he's getting serious now.

I do what with this?

How does this thing work?

Is this how I do it?

The ingredients are all mixed in now we have to wrap it to chill.

Austin is looking at that like he needs it. Stay in your seat young man!!

I am getting it all wrapped up for the fridge. (Lauren thought I needed to be in a picture)

All of our stuff is ready for the next step, rolling an cutting. Then the fun part, decorating.

We are just waiting for our hour to be up.

Stay tuned for more from the cookie makers.........................

ABC's of Thanksgiving

On Tuesday we had our first school program. The first grade did the ABC's of Thanksgiving.

This is all the first graders waiting for the program to start. They are all Pilgrams and Indians.

Austin is wondering what we are doing during nap time.

The program has started and Lauren is moving along waiting for her turn. (She was an Indian)

Almost her turn.......

And here she is reciting her lines........."Now it's a time for family and friends to give thanks together. Eat lots of good food, watch parades and football games. It's also the start of winter holiday season."

She was the last of all the lines. She was loud so everyone could hear, she did great!!

Then they all sang songs about Thanksgiving.

Here is our Indian after it was all over (she's a cute indian!)

All in all it was an okay show.