Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 was great.  We were able to spend the entire weekend doing Christmas activities.  It really got everyone in to the spirit.

We started the weekend off by decorating cookies and exchanging gifts with our friends.

On Saturday we had the Westerhold Christmas party.  We always go to Scott's sister's (Debbie) house.  Everyone brings appetizers and we play games and exchange presents.

Sunday we moved on over to my parents' house and my side of the family.

We had a very exciting Christmas Eve.  We took Gracie to pick out her first American Girl doll as her "big" gift.  I She had so much fun even though it was a bit overwhelming.  

In the end, she chose Marie-Grace.

We headed to church and then dinner afterwards with our family.  Back home and the kids said good-bye to our elf, Chuckie, and waited on Santa Claus to visit. 

When the kids woke up on Christmas morning, they saw that Santa came overnight and both Chuckie and Santa had left a note.

The boys both enjoyed their "big" gifts this year, too.  These awesome planes that we found on Toys R Us online.  Scott was as excited about the boys getting these as they were to get them.  I have to admit, they are really cool!

Gaga loved his new watch, it was a surprise, and his new Darius Rucker hat.

As for me, I love my new Fitbit Flex.  Most of all, though, I'm loving these three.  Hope you all had as great a Christmas season as we did.

Halloween 2013

There is no way that Halloween has already come and gone. Where, oh where, has 2013 gone? I feel like I ask that question every year!

Here in St. Louis, my kiddos were so worried all day that they were not going to be able to Trick or Treat because it was cold and rainy.  Luckily, right around dusk the rain cleared out a bit and we were left with a couple hours of just mist and wind.

All 3 kids were really in to their costumes this year.  This is the first year that Caleb actually understood what Halloween is about (the candy, of course!) so he kept up with the big kids all night.

My niece and nephew came over again this year.  I was really afraid that Ali would think that she is "too old" to Trick or Treat this year (she's 14)  but she informed us last night that she is going to Trick or Treat until she is 17.  We all told her that she could Trick or Treat forever as long as she still dresses up. 
 

I love this bunch of monsters:  GracieAnn (6), Aidan (10), Alison (14), Caleb (4), Kanin (9)

Pumpkin Patch 2013

Last week we went to the Pumpkin Patch.  I love the Pumpkin Patch not only because the kids have so much fun but I just love all of those fall flowers and decorations.  We didn't get a chance to go last year so all of the kids were really excited for it this year.

Aw, I love these kids.  They all look so big, though, in this picture.  Makes this Mommy a little sad.

Gracie's eyes in this picture crack me up.

This particular Pumpkin Patch is the one that we went to the first two or three years for Kanin.  I need to go back and find a picture him at ages one, two, and three in one of these same little carts.

The kids loved these big tire swings.  They really are a lot of fun!

After the Pumpkin Patch, we came home and decided to paint our pumpkins.  The kids were so excited to paint them.  We I usually end up carving them and it takes me forever so I decided that this year the kids would actually decorate their own pumpkins.

As much as I hate to see the summer come to an end, I love all of the fun activities that come with fall and the changing seasons.

4th of July in Chicago

from July

This year we decided to go to Chicago for 4th of July to visit family.  Our niece's husband is in a band (Mason Rivers) and they were playing at a couple of festivals up there.  We had never seen them play before so we thought it would be a great way to visit family and see the band.  (Check them out HERE).

Our kids do not do so well driving so we decided to ride the train from St. Louis to Chicago.  My sister-in-law and niece do it all of the time and highly recommended it.  I'm not going to say that it was the easiest thing in the world but what is with 3 kids?  They all thought it was really cool for the first couple of stops but then they kind of got bored with it.  Scott and I, though, thought it was great.  We didn't have to drive and we could each just sit back and relax.  The one thing the kids did love, though, was the food car. 

All decked out in our Red, White, and Blue

Kanin, Caleb, my great niece Kenzie, and Gracie.  You can see Mason Rivers in the back round playing on the stage at the Naperville Rib Festival.

Here they are the next night (I can't remember the name of the town).

Here is Gracie being Gracie.

It was a great weekend in Chicago.  The weather was perfect (not too hot), the music was great, and it was good to be able to hang out with family.