Snow!

Our first day with a bit of "real snow".

Our pink "Snow Princess"...who pulls off a mother's best attempts at mittens and hoods!

 

We're Sticking with a Letter Next Year...

 

The only spot to get warm after cutting down our tree was inside a little building.  There was a stove to warm up by, a cash register...in hopes you'll spend your holiday cheer a little further, and the most awful Santa we've ever seen!  As soon as we walked in I knew it was bad news.  After trying to exit back out into the cold once to escape the inevitable...and having Elizabeth totally break down because of the cold...I went back in with the kids, bracing myself for what was to come. 

What I couldn't have anticipated was that in addition to the actual mustache poking out in spite of the fake one, we also witnessed the woman in front of us take her baby from Santa and in the process snap Santa's beard right off of his face...quickly smoothing it back on in an attempt to repair the "damage".  When Nathan asked Santa for one thing, a new Webkinz, (definitely trying to simplify a list he's been working on for weeks) Santa replied that he had no idea what that was, but sure hoped that Nathan's mom did. 

A while after we got home, something was mentioned about the Santa.  I could tell that Joshua was pretty oblivious, but I was a bit worried about Nathan.  I pulled him aside and said, "Nathan, there's something I want to tell you about that Santa we saw today..."  And Nathan just burst out..."Mom, HE WAS A FAKE!"     

After a bit more discussion we both came to the same conclusion.  We aren't trusting that farce with our gift lists.  We're sending a letter! 

A Soft Spot

We turned on a movie on our computer for Nathan to watch, and Elizabeth quickly found her best spot to sit!  Thank goodness for a brother that loves to be loved!

Tree Decorating

A magical evening decorating.  This is the tree in Nathan and Joshua's room.  It's a "Black Friday" deal from a few years ago that the boys have been so excited to inherit and work over!

Cutting the Tree Down

It's become my favorite Christmas tradition for our little family.

A Play Date for All!

With school out for Thanksgiving we got to have some of our favorite brothers, Zinoviy and Maxim, over to play.

 

Can you tell Elizabeth can sit around a container of Legos and build right along with the rest of them?!

 

The amazing fort!

A little "touch football" in the backyard.

A Happy Thanksgiving!

Greg took Nathan and Joshua to the "Turkey Bowl" at the church on Thanksgiving morning.  They each made some "great plays"...and had a really good time.

 

I'm in the Primary with Laura (left above) and Greg is in Young Men with Adam (right below).  They and their children have become dear friends this past year.  We were excited to be invited to Thanksgiving at their home...with another wonderful family in the ward!

One of the best parts was getting to play games!  One of our new favorites is Pandemic!  It was such a luxury to have enough "adults" to play with and enough "kids" to keep ours busy and give us a chance to play!

 

Thanksgiving Memories

Two things that added a bit to the "meaningfulness" of our Thanksgiving this year:

Reading this out loud during breakfast several mornings before Thanksgiving.

 

I can remember putting feathers on a turkey at the Isaacson's house growing up!  It's a tradition I wanted for my own family...and this year did not disappoint!  So fun to have two boys who can carefully think of and spell out things they're thankful for!

One Last Swing!

 

A Last Warm Day...

Making the most of one last warm day!