Ringing in the New Year

Another year bites the dust! After a few shopping errands (and really not looking forward to our last stop, the grocery store) We decided to stop in at our favorite neighborhood bar/grill for a drink and popcorn. Popcorn machine wasn't on so in my mind I thought "disaster"..... and to the contrary it was one of those beautiful, peaceful, relaxing dining experiences! Those moments that you wish you could freeze and take yourself back to when moments maybe aren't so great. Boys ended up ordering lunch (and actually ate most everything) We had more than 1 beverage (BONUS) - Lance and Dad played some old fashioned tic-tac-toe, dot to dot, and hangman (Thanks Santa for the great games!) And then a regular customer, sitting at the bar, came over and gave both boys their first $2 bill for their excellent behavior - how good does that make a parent feel? And the boys too - Lance was already plotting what he could spend it on at the grocery store. And to top it off, the kids meals came with ice cream - WITH sprinkles - the little things!

The evening festivities were just simple - a couple good friends to hang out with, Grandma and Grandpa stopping by and a few drinks. AND in bed before midnight as usual. But never-the-less a Happy New Year! Always ready for a fresh start.

Chase's handy work with the iPhone camera!

 Deep in thought......

 His money and ice cream!

Last Hike of the year

Keegan and the boys found a new place to hike nearby a few weeks back while I was editing photos - it's a quaint little island just miles from our house right on the Mississippi! We picked a great last day of the year for a hike. It was chilly, but manageable for us all. It makes us look forward to the camping season for sure. We are all able to somehow find a place of peace out walking in nature (Ok, most of the time :-)

There was a think layer of ice covering the Mississippi along the shore, so I took the boys out to break the top of it with sticks - and this spells F-U-N for a 3 & 5 year old let me tell you!

After finding an old house that used to be on the island, sliding and throwing rocks across the ice, I asked for one selfie family picture to remember our fun hike - guess who didn't like this request? I am trying, really trying to let it go - so we took it without him!

 But I managed to get a couple of him doing his thing......

 He was pretty excited to get to walk Daisy himself along the path.

 He really had to tug when she saw all the birds though - LOL

 And after driving 10 miles to go to a favorite riverside restaurant, it was closed...... so we stopped in at a local corner bar/diner where the boys were excited to eat "snack" type food for lunch :-)

A few December Festivities

From decorating the tree, to baking cookies, making gingerbread houses, addressing envelopes, wrapping presents, and last but not least, finding our Elf Charlie each morning - the boys (especially Lance) are so excited about the Christmas season and all that goes along with it - "If only it would snow" Says Lance!

GINGERBREAD (or graham cracker) FUN!

 Helping stamp those Christmas card envelopes.

 Look where we found Charlie! (& no, Charlie did not bring this to us - it was a present from last year!)

 & lets not forget about the Christmas program! Ahhhhhh - he looks so handsome - and like such a big Kindergartener.

 Baking cookies with Dad OR eating hershey kisses???? Hmmm......

 Writing out labels - practicing that writing!!! 

 A trip to Wallace's for a fun train ride.

 MORE cookies!

 Daisy, again, convinced there is something good in this tree!

 LOVE those smiles!

OH CHRISTMAS TREE....

This really is one of our most favorite days of the year! I think Keegan and I get just as excited about picking out the tree as the boys...... except, yes except, I had to almost ruin it by trying to throw in that DARN Christmas card photo this year, what??!?! WHAT was I thinking, seriously? It was too cold for the vests, I still had not figured out the darn remote, and nobody wants to sit still for a picture at the cool tree farm!

BUT, as upset as all may have been at one point or another, I did manage to get a few keepers, despite the pics I used for the annual card photo.

"Lets do this!"

The common theme of Chases' poses for me..... 

 OR THIS!

"Tall enough?"

 the best we could get........

 He played along for about 30 seconds...... until he had to, ya know, go to the bathroom..... really?!?! Pick a tree kid - your choice! LOL

Good Times! Cold, but good!

DEC Picture Time

The boys really have been pretty good about participating in Mom's little monthly photo at the same bench...... If there is a theme and they get to help out then it usually goes a little better - and this one was no different. Lance really wanted Charlie, our elf on the shelf, to be in the December photos so why not? If it will get him excited about the monthly photos, then lets do it, right?!?!

Had we put mittens on, it might have been THE perfect session, but who puts gloves on in 20 degree weather? Bad Mom moment as Chase is screaming that his fingers hurt!

They still cooperated (with some candy bribing of course) and it was a fun little quick session! They even found 2 small patches of snow to play in.

So hard to keep them from talking in the middle of snapping pics......

 I LOVE these giggles.....

 Off to explore together, SANTA style!