Feeling Festive

Lots to do leading up to the holidays, and that's half the fun! Both kids are at that age where "Christmas season" makes sense to them and they don't expect to wake up every morning wondering if THIS is Christmas. Now they actually add to our list of holiday joy to check off.

There's decorating the house, and pretending to be the Clauses.

Going to Spilker Tree Farm to select our tree.

Hanging ornaments on the tree, and repeatedly taking them off to play with them until enough of them break enough times that we make a rule that you can't play with ornaments on the tree.

Jeremy made our stockings and finished them in time for decorating! From the left, that's Ernie's, Lenora's, Mom's, and Dad's. Each family member picked out our own fabrics.

We also took a wagon ride through the neighborhood to look at lights. It got pretty cold shortly after this night, so it's a good thing we did it early in December!

Dang kids

This is often parked outside where we pick up our CSA. The kids wanted to share it.

One of the wisest kids in Lincoln

Ernie really loves school, and is very proud of all he learns and his community there. We were very proud of our little Elliot Owl when we learned he was going to receive the Elliot Owl Pride award for his class. It is based on academic achievement, being a "now kid," and a role model for his peers. Aunt Laura even snuck away to join us for the surprise announcement. I wish I had captured his surprised face, but we were trying to stay out of his view so as not to spoil the surprise.

Here he is with his teacher Mrs. Kile after being presented with the award.

Afterwards when Aunt Laura asked him if he was surprised to have won, he said "I've been doing my best work. I've been doing my job." So proud of him.
It hangs on his door handle at home, and he's even made paper medals for Snuggle Puppy and Judy Bear, to recognize their achievements as lovies.

Being Thankful

Len and Ern kicked off the holiday making the traditional Charlie Brown fest of buttered toast, candy, popcorn, and pretzel sticks.

Does anyone ever take pictures of the food, or am I the only one who just focuses on eating it? Trust us that we had the traditional meal, and it was delicious, in-between these little nuggets which did get photographed. The Halls were all in town this year, so they hosted our first feast.

This could almost be Nick playing with himself 15 years ago. Ernie and his Uncle play with Dad's old Legos.

Uncle John kept the party moving with his iPod, and Len and Agatha liked to dance. Here they are both being "twirlers."

We stayed at the Mohrs and went to view the gingerbread houses once again. Here's Ernie's favorite, because it reminded him of our North Carolina trip.

And here's Lenora's favorite. It had a candy heart in the inside, and she decided it was the home where the Tell-Tale Heart murder took place, and she swore she could hear the heartbeat. How's that for holiday cheer?!?!