Christmas Day

Lots of time with family

Lots of presents to open

lots of AAA batteries

And lots, and lots and lots of love for these little guys who make Christmas so much fun.

Christmas Morning

I took this picture right before I went to bed on Christmas Eve, but it was just as dark out when the boys excitedly ran down the steps at 5am.

Harrison and Sawyer woke up a half hour before Graham, so we let them tear into their stockings until he woke up. Then it was downstairs together to rip into the rest of the presents.

Tech Decks are the new craze at Harrison's school, he loves collecting and trading them. Even more then the Silly Bandz that proceeded them.

Gone are the days when I thought I wouldn't allow toy guns in my house. I'll just be happy when the basement is finished and foam bullets won't be soaring through my kitchen.

Sawyer loved his gifts, but the hands down hit of the holiday was Big Foot.

Harrison was thrilled with more Spy Gear and Wii & DS games

Graham got his own loveable pal.

And I got the joy of seeing the excitement and happiness on their faces.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

And three mischievous boys were dressed up for church

Then it was off to Nanny & Cappy's house for our annual Christmas Eve dinner. Mommy is still figuring out this "it's better to turn your flash off" thing.


The mischeif continued...

Nanny and her five sous chefs made canoli for dessert

The highlight (with my mom's shrimp scampi being a close second) was seeing Harrison and Sawyer's delight as they received their MOST WANTED Christmas gifts from Nanny.

Sawyer slept with Big Foot by his bed!

And there was barely time for visions of sugarplums to dance through our heads, since Harrison's spy watch read 4:30am when he woke up on Christmas Morning...

Dear Santa

This little boy has just one wish for Christmas...

And it's no American Girl Doll

Luckily, Nanny is one of Santa's best elves and has Big Foot taken care of.

Harrison could not be coaxed onto Santa's lap this year. But Graham would have stayed all day!

I've been completely choked up that Santa looked me in the eye this year and said "the boys are getting big, mom" and I knew he remembered us from all the years past. And I know from looking at this picture that he's right. Oh Santa, for Christmas I don't care about snow, just freeze time for awhile....

stuffed

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I have very few pictures from today - you know how it goes....

But I have tons of things to be thankful for. First and four-most...

I'm grateful to have a husband who is a good egg (most of the time), children who are too cute to sell on the curb when they misbehave (regularly), my faith, my family, my friends, a home that I love. Thankful for freedom, for health, for love. After that...it's all gravy ;)

De-Ja-Boo!

Every year we celebrate Fall with the same traditions. But it never gets old.

We take our annual hayride to the pumpkin patch
This year there was some unwelcome excitement when Sawyer stepped on a bee hive. Thankfully, despite the 50 or so bees that swarmed around him, he was only stung once.

We parked the wagons and picked out our pumpkins from the storefront instead.
It's never enough to visit just one farm, though.

At Cherry Crest Adventure Farm you get to pet the animals.

With dad, of course.

I'm a bigger fan of the non-animal activities ;)

Next, you visit another pumkin patch with your preschool class. Added bonus? All these trips to the farm help you get over the fear of being attacked by bees when you go.

Decorate the house. Inside...

...and out.

Parade in your costume.

Or your PJ's. That works, too.

Watch a puppet show.

and finally - get the show on the road!

Trick or Treat!

Something good to eat!

Happy Halloween!