Lego Table

One of our big Christmas projects this year was creating a Lego Table for the boys. Ben's dad and stepmother worked with us to build one that had all of the components that we felt the boys needed. When we first started thinking about a table, I thought it would be easy to buy one. After searching for one, I quickly found out they were all awful! They are small and short and have no storage. So, we decided to make one. It definitely cost more to build than it would have to buy one, but it was so worth it! This table will grow with them. The table top is adjustable height with building plates adhered to it, it has storage units that are double width and the bins are 2 deep, and has a separate tabletop that can serve as a craft or puzzle surface. What is even better is that when they are finished using it as a Lego table, the storage units can be unbracketed and the table top cut in half so that we can move it upstairs to their rooms. Then each boy will have their own desk with 10 storage bins each. It has been a hit!

 The next day was spent the day testing it out with Ben's family and the boys but that night Ben and I headed over to some friend's for a Tacky Christmas party.

Don't we look lovely...

Gingerbread Auction

The beginning of the Christmas season started with the Gingerbread Auction at church. This annual event is so much fun for the children and is an amazing way to raise money for the missions that our church supports. All of the families split into groups and the children work together to decorate gingerbread houses. Once completed, the houses are taken to the sanctuary and auctioned off for families to take home for the holidays. The family that wins the bid on each house gets to choose the mission opportunity with which to donate their money. It is such fun hearing the good-natured ribbing as families attempt to outbid each other and the kiddos chiming in to egg on their parents and drive the bids up.

By the time the children were done with our house, there was not one millimeter left that was not covered in icing...the kids loved it!

Christmas with Pawpaw Forrester and Nana Lyndy

Weekend before last, we celebrated an early Christmas with Pawpaw Forrester and Nana Lyndy. They came down and spent the day with us, then we had dinner and exchanged gifts. Of course, the most exciting part for the boys was opening gifts! 

They each got a harmonica...

 And new shoes. Caden was in love with his light up police shoes! After opening gifts, we enjoyed the melodious sounds of their new harmonicas. They really sound good :-)

Pawpaw Forrester received a rare book

 Nana Lyndy received a sweater and gift card as did Mommy :-)

 And Daddy got power tools. Ben has been looking forward to starting some projects around the house so he was super excited about this gift!

 They also went in with us to create a Lego table for the boys as part of their Christmas. I'll post about it soon. We are very pleased with how it turned out!

Family Photos

A couple of weekends ago, we did our first family photo shoot in a couple of years. Anytime Ethan and Caden are involved, there will be fleeting moments of cooperation in between lots of moments of silliness. Thankfully, our photographer, Nicole, caught some of their cuteness...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 And she was able to get a few of all of us. This is Ben's favorite but I can't get past the fact that it looks like I have a baby bump. TOTALLY not the case at all but shows me that I need some more time at the gym :-(

 The agreed upon favorite

 The holiday pose that we didn't even use for our Christmas card this year.

 Even though it's hard to get everyone to smile at the same time, I am thankful that we had the opportunity to take these pictures. Thanks Nicole!!

Thompson Tree Farm

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to go with Ethan on his field trip to the Thompson Tree Farm. It was a much colder day than we had planned for so we did the best we could to stay warm! The children started out with a Christmas story.

 Then moved on to the petting zoo

 

 Next was the hay ride

 Love, love, love his amazing teacher Ms. Jana!

 A little picnic lunch

 After lunch, Ms. Jana asked the children to run through the growing trees to find one that "fit" them. Such a cute idea! 

 Last up, there was a bean bag toss through the Christmas tree.

 And we couldn't leave without a group picture. I am completely loving this year with Ms. Jana and Ms. Marsha and this awesome group of kiddos!

 As soon as we got back to the car, we quickly warmed up and ended our day with a lollipop.

Thanksgiving

 Our Thanksgiving season began with Shadowbrook's very first Turkey Trot. Our whole family signed up to run but we woke up that Saturday morning to 30 degree temperatures and Caden with a cough and runny nose. Considering that we were heading out of town the following week, we decided that Ben would stay with Caden and that Ethan and I would bear the cold and run. For someone that is a complete bundle of energy, Ethan's endurance for distance normally isn't that great but I am so proud of him! He ran almost the whole way and only paused a few times. As soon as I would give him a little encouragement, he would go right back into his run. Yay for him and we earned our turkeys for completing the run!

 

 After the run, our first Thanksgiving dinner was with Ben's family. It was adorable seeing all of the cousins sitting together along the bar!

 Then, the week before Thanksgiving began with Shadowbrook's annual Thanksgiving Feast. This is a huge deal! The children prepare tablescapes and the teachers prepare lunch for all of the students' families. Before the feast, the students present a program for parents in the sanctuary before we head over to the Family Life Center for the feast. Ethan did great! He was a little Indian on the back row and sang with the hand motions exactly like he was supposed to. Caden did his usual thumb in the mouth. We have tried so hard to convince him that big boys don't do that :-( And not only did he suck his thumb on stage, but he reused to wear his Indian shirt, necklace, or feather hat. Yep, that's my child...the one standing front and center on the stage sucking his thumb and not wearing a costume.

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Ethan finally spotted Mommy in the crowd and had to show his buddy where we were sitting

Caden was one of the first ones off of the stage and ran straight to Aunt Wanda. Daddy wasn't able to go to the feast so Aunt Wanda stepped in :-)

Then Ethan came running up for some Aunt Wanda loving

Caden made his placemat and a terra cotta turkey

Ethan made his placemat, turkey salt and pepper shakers, and a can that contained the Fruits of the Spirit and what he could do that demonstrated those fruits. It was so completely precious reading his answers.

After we finished that week of school, we headed to Mimi's to spend the week of Thanksgiving. Daddy worked from Mimi's house and Mommy tried to get a few things prepared to help Mimi get ready for the big Turkey Day dinner. But Mimi made sure that she included her little helpers in the preparations!

All the way down to the cleanup...now if only they would do that at home!

Thanksgiving morning started with the Macy's parade and Wii. Ben and Ethan had a blast playing golf!

After the big meal was over, it was time to put together the Black Friday game plan. Since Mom lives in a small town, it has become sort of a tradition to shop at the only store in town...Wal-Mart.

So we made our lists and a group set out to shop while Mom and I stayed home with the littles.

Before the shopping spree began, we did take some time for a family photo session.

Maw-Maw and Zeke

We tried several versions of the cousin picture but this was the best I got of who knows how many we took!

Then it was our turn...

And Mimi with the grandbabies. 

Not a single one where they were all looking, but I love how Ethan is looking at Collier.

My sweetest little niece ever!

Sweet goodbyes when Uncle Chad, Aunt Ashley, & Collier had to leave
 
 
But, as a great distraction, Ms. Amy came by to visit and gave the boys a ride on the lawnmower.
  


The boys love Ms. Amy!
I am so thankful that mom has a circle of friends that love my children as much as we do!

And after a great week at Mimi's, it was time to head back home. Now, to get ready for Christmas!