Apparently having a garden isn't just a Summer "hobby" for Ma.  Always something to be done out there, and the kids were excited to help out one Sunday afternoon.  Ma must have made it seem like it was going to be a fun time because even Quinn came over to help out.

Strawberry fertilizer.

I don't think this is part of the fertilizing ritual, just Blake being silly.

Real farmers gotta put some of that straw in their mouths, ya know.

Waaaaayyyy back in May at the annual FRC Gala I bid on a couple of tickets to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas and won them.  And somehow the time between May and December just raced by, and it was time to attend this performance.  We all had such a fun time at the newly refurbished Peabody Opera House!

Ready for the show to start.

We had some pretty great seats.

This is the ceiling, and Alexandria squealed with delight every time it changed to purple.  We weren't allowed to take any pictures or video during the show, so this is all I have to show for our fun evening.

Alexandria's preschool class got to go see the local high school's production of The Christmas that Almost Wasn't (I think that was the title) in early December.  Blake's class got to go the next day, but I wasn't there for that one.

Waiting for the show to start.

After the performance was over they invited the kids to go up on the stage and sing some songs.  Alexandria went up there, but she later told me that she was "a little nervous" about being in front of all those people.

Later that night we had the preschool family bowling party at the SIUE Cougar Lanes where our kids experimented with a variety of bowling techniques.

It was so nice in December that we even got to use the firepit a time or two!

I am not the fire expert that Matt is, but I did have it going long enough for us to roast some marshmallows. 

Blake had the camera for a bit, hence the random shots.

There were a couple of gifts that I knew the kids would enjoy playing with this month that I let them open early, and since I let them open some early, they have since been giving me gifts every single day that I get to open as soon as I receive them.  I have received all number of their toys and craft supplies in envelopes.

It's tough work opening presents and eating a candy cane at the same time.

December has been busy.  This is how it started off.

And this is what I've been up to.  

We came back from Iowa the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and got to enjoy some visitors shortly after we got home. 

Monopoly Jr. throwdown with Dane and Samantha.

And almost anytime Sam is here, Alexandria's hair gets a major boost in style.  On Saturday night Sam braided Alexandria's hair, and on Sunday morning she had a team of stylists getting her ready for church.

This was after most of the day had passed, and the hair had tamed down a bit.

During the Thanksgiving week, we spent several days in Iowa and had a really great time visiting with everyone.  The kids had a super time playing with their cousins!  It's always a little bittersweet seeing them with their cousins--they have such a good time with each other that it's a little sad that they don't get to see each other more often.  A special thanks to the Hermons who not only kept us and fed us for many days, but gave up their own bedroom for us!  Now that's love!

We arrived late on Tuesday night, and the kids were thrilled to see that Shea had waited up for them.  They were all pretty excited that they had several days of playing together ahead of them.

WEDNESDAY

For once, we were in Iowa and it wasn't totally freezing cold.  So we got lots of outside play time.

Best hostess EVER!

Shea's Clubhouse became quite a hot spot.

Movie night became a nightly ritual for these four.

I think Maddy and Sam Skyping is also a nightly ritual.   I think all of the Harveys got to Skype with Sam (or Taylor) at one point or another during the week.

THURSDAY

Walking the path in our PJs.

Chasing Josie.

Shea and Blake took to the path like they were in a race, while Alexandria lagged WAAAAYYYY behind, stopping to look at everything.

And then for the big Thanksgiving day highlight...riding Maddy's horse!

Maddy was good enough to let all the kids ride the horse with her several times on Thanksgiving day.  Thanks Maddy!  They loved it.

And thanks to Lowell too!

It should be noted that Blake wasn't one bit interested in riding the horse until he saw Alexandria doing it, and he wasn't about to be outdone by his younger sister.

Papa Bruce and Emily showed up shortly after this, but Emily wasn't too excited about getting a horse ride.

The kids table!  I think they had to separate into two tables for the actual meal.

Mr. Joseph, who is growing up quickly.

Can't tell they're brothers, can you?

Getting ready for some Adults vs. Teenagers Pictionary Throwdown...

Adults WIN!

Meanwhile, Matt was out on the trampoline playing with the kids, knocking out teeth.  Seriously, Grace's tooth got bounced out!

And then it was time for a walk up to the farm for some more horse rides.

Taylor wasn't quite sure about the horse at first, but she had a change of heart when Maddy got on there with her.

That's right--she drives too!  How did she grow up so quickly?

Blake was crying because one of the neighbor dogs had run off with his Gatorade bottle.  We were laughing at the dog, but Blake was just sure we were laughing at him.

FRIDAY

On Friday morning we went over to Tim and Jami's house to play.

Alexandria loves holding babies.

More horsey rides.

With three girls in the house, the Harveys have all the princess dress-up clothes Alexandria needed to be totally content.

After Tim made us a yummy lunch, we headed over to see Grandma Harvey.

SATURDAY

Time to go home...

During the week of Thanksgiving, Blake only had school on Monday (parent-teacher conferences the rest of the week), and Alexandria didn't have any preschool.  So we got a nice little flashback to last Fall, where we did lots of hanging out at home and playing.

On a pretend conference call with one of Dad's old phones.

Enjoying some new books from Blake's school book fair.

Putting up the basement tree (this must have been before we got the ornaments out).

Blake earned a free Book It pizza by reading every night in the month of October, so we cashed that in and had a little pizza party in the living room while we watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving.  Dad was in Chicago for a couple of days, so he missed out on the fun.

And Blake and Alexandria hosted their own book fair in our kitchen.  The Titanic book was for display only and was closely guarded by Blake at all times.  It's one of his new favorite topics/books.

Next stop--Iowa!

A week before Thanksgiving, we warmed up our taste buds with the Thanksgiving Feast at Alexandria's preschool.  It was so cute!  I wish I'd taken more pictures...

Each of the students had decorated their own turkey feather at home and brought it back to school for this finished product.  Adorable.

Every family had submitted a picture for their family tree.

Playing after the feast.