Christmas decorations and Advent Traditions

When Matt was testing out the lights Kallie would got up to the lights and blow trying to blow them out, so we gave her a bunch and told her to blow so we could get a picture.

Kallie likes the tree!

Checking out the ornaments before bed time.

Davis helped a little more this year with decorating.

We let Maddie stay up later because she really was helping and stuck with hanging the ornaments on the tree. This is the kids' favorite this year - a frog whose legs would jump when you pulled the string. I got it from Uncle Adam back when I was dating Matt.

For some reason one night the kids decided to be silly and switch jammies for a little while - Maddie in dinosaurs and Davis in purple cats.

Our mantel with stockings that my mom made for us over the years adding to them with each addition. And our favorite - the Fisher Price Little People nativity set - stable, inn and wise men tents.

Each day the kids took turns doing one of three things - tearing a piece of the chain off - each piece had a "verse" from a Christmas poem about the birth of Jesus

Hanging an ornament on an advent tree quilt my mom made.

or opening an advent box that Mimi put together for the kids. She did this when my brother and I were little as well.

Each box had a piece of paper that told them what they would be getting - things like candy, Christmas books or puzzles, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.

This particular day they got Christmas puzzles

Maddie kept us straight as to who did what on what day.

Choose and Cut Tree

After Thanksgiving in Charlotte we headed back to Hickory to meet Amy's parents. On the Friday after Thanksgiving I went out with Mom for our traditional day after Thanksgiving shopping. We had a great time and got some great deals. Then, on Saturday Mimi and Poppa went with us on one of my favorite traditions. We loaded up the van and drove up to Banner Elk to a choose and cut Christmas tree farm. One of our friends works there on the weekends and we have been going for the past 4 years. This was the first time we had gone on a Saturday and it was really busy. The idea for those of you have never been is they give you a big stick and then you walk out among the trees on the farm and find your "perfect" tree. You can use the stick to measure how tall it is and then when you find it you start waving your stick back and forth and these guys come on four wheelers with chainsaws and cut it down for you. It was freezing on this particular day with a wicked wind. We got bundled up, but it was still cold! The first year we went I was on the hunt for the perfect tree so I wanted to keep looking. Well, after a while they all started looking the same. Since then I have decided that if Matt and I both like a tree we should just go with that one instead of walking around in the freezing cold.

Thankfully the kids love it and they do not even really complain about the cold.
Exploring how they feel.

On the hunt

All bundled up

With our tree

We always take a picture of the kids with the baby trees. Kallie did not want to look at the camera.
They had a hay ride, but it was so cold and we needed to eat lunch and get back because State was playing that afternoon. We went in the building/barn where you pay while they bundled up our tree and there was a Santa Claus. The kids did not even ask to sit on his lap - just said "Look, there's Santa Claus." We drank some hot chocolate while we waited for our tree to be ready. When we went out I noticed a nativity scene that had not been there in years past. The kids immediately ran over and asked to have their picture taken with Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus. Of course! Thankful that they seem to be getting it :)

Thanksgiving

This was our year to spend Thanksgiving with Matt's family and since Sommer was due with Baby Lucy the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Audrey hosted in Charlotte. Here are some pictures of the tables and food and fun.

Kids' table

Yummy!

I think Davis took this of Faith Ashley

and I think Maddie took this of Davis

The cousins enjoying hanging out at the kids' table. Playing some Wii

Tough guy look for flag football

Had some tears...

But mostly had fun running around playing with family.

Matt and Uncle Jon played with the kids and Gaga and Adam took pictures while Sommer and Amy enjoyed talking inside :)

Around the House

Davis and Maddie have learned how to use our little camera and will sometimes line up their toys and take pictures of them. I found these that had been taken sometime in November. The first one Davis took and the second one Maddie took.

The day of the NC State Carolina game we all dressed in our State gear (except Maddie) and put tattoos on our faces. Kallie is the only one I got a picture of. We even got out our foam fingers and decorated the living room with howl towels. Fun times :)

Matt is often asked be a horse or a donkey or a dog during playtime. Wonder where the next one will fit?

Amy's Birthday

For my birthday we drove to Mooresville (about 45min away) to the closest Red Robin for dinner. I got a free burger meal. Any of you who know me knows that I love getting things for free and did not want to pass this up. And actually, because of a mix up we got a free appetizer, entree and dessert. Not too bad :)

Maddie and Davis with the Robin - happens to come out on Thursday nights.
Enjoying my dessert with the girls - they both enjoyed it.

Matt and little Matt :)

Little Matt for sure!

They also wanted their picture taken with the Statue of Liberty....

After Red Robin we rode down the rode not even a mile and got me a free coffee from CARIBOU COFFEE!! This is one place that I definitely miss! I got a camera for my birthday, so hopefully you will start seeing some higher quality pictures soon. It was a great birthday!

Trip to Raleigh Part 2

On Thursday night while we were in Raleigh we went over to my aunt Tiger's house in Holly Springs and spent the afternoon and night with her and Robbie. We hung out and talked and had dinner and the kids played with their dog, Sammy. Tiger also brought down Jessi's old hair salon toy and Maddie did our hair. Here are some pics from the night - thanks Tiger and Robbie for having us! We love you guys!

Tiger actually rocked Kallie to sleep while I finished bathing Maddie and Davis.
Maddie with Tiger.

Davis and Tiger

Davis and his new "pose".

Maddie with Robbie.

Getting a bath in Aunt Tiger's big bathtub!

Matching PJs