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!

Festival of Trees FUN!

Since school has started for Lance, this was the 1st FULL day of having both boys home again! I was a little apprehensive (and negative) about how the day would go..... Because they do so much arguing these days! But we packed the day full of FUN and I couldn't have enjoyed the day any more than I did. These ages around Christmas time make it so much more fun - their smiles, excitement and energy......

We started the morning with their favorite - cinnamon rolls and Chick Fil A - and getting out some of that energy!

Chase and I attend a Wednesday morning music class and the teacher invited older siblings to join in.... Lance may like the class more than Chase does!

Then onto Festival of trees where they enjoyed driving trains, looking at elaborate gingerbread houses, talking to a giant nose..........

And last but not least...... Visiting SANTA CLAUS and giving him their short lists.

 Chase: A Jeep & a Camera

Lance: Ninja Turtle Half Shell Layer (he was VERY specific) and bubble bath, for me. 

 Dad got off early and we made a little road trip to order his new snowmobile gear (Lance then decided maybe he should have asked Santa for a snow mobile!) LOL. Sooooo glad we already visited Santa.

Ready or Not......

The day has arrived, his first day of Kindergarten! We talked for weeks about this day (and during the summer months I realized that we both were really ready for this) That being said, it doesn't keep the emotions from catching one off-guard! Was I sad? Not really - is that bad? They were those "tears of JOY" The tears where you feel this excitement for them, you can feel their energy and happiness but you also worry just a little that you did everything you could to prepare them and hope that they will just be OK! And I knew deep down he would be ok ( I mean this is my super social, talk to anyone, make friends anywhere, go with the flow, ask questions anywhere you go LANCE! How can he NOT be ok?) And the emotions are also those of "letting go"...... I'm leaving it all in the hands of him, his teachers and his friends. For 7 hours plus a day he makes his own decisions and I'm not there to remind him to be kind, be careful, eat his healthy foods first (and he didn't in case you were wondering.... LOL! He ate his yogurt and 2 Oreo cookies), etc.

He hugged me tight goodbye and had the biggest smile on his face, ready to start a new day and a new year. And that is what got me the most - that BIG, happy, "I got this Mom" smile :-)

And when he came charging down the stairs of the bus after school, the smile might have been even bigger! We (and really I mean HE) talked for 30 minutes straight about every detail of his day and I smiled listening the entire time - this is beautiful - everything about it!

 The neighborhood has this amazingly cool 1st day of school bus party and I think the parents are just as excited as the kiddos! It was a WONDERFUL surprise!

 (We did these the night before, so we wouldn't have to take away from the fun of the first morning!)

"Ahhhhh!!!!! The bus is here!!!!"

Chase asked about Lance ALL DAY LONG - we had a fun date day, the two of us, which kept my mind occupied. What better place than the Zoo with this adorable  little guy.

6 months

6 months, half a year..... crazy how my day to day thoughts and actions make it feel as though time slowly ticks by, but when I reflect and look back through photos (memories) I realize just how quickly those 6 months fly by! I am guilty of wishing away time - the "oh I can't wait for when...." thoughts.

When it's January and cold and we've watched too much television I long for a glimpse of sun, and weather that lets us camp, visit parks, pools and the zoo! And now it is July and although I still am loving the fresh air and sitting on the deck at any given time..... I do long just a bit for our "routine"

These boys keep me in check. They remind me often to live in the moment- put down the phone, forget about dishes and laundry and to just play, read, watch a show, go for a walk.....

I do miss some of the aspects of "job" life, but I feel so incredibly fortunate to have these days watching my boys grow! 

Here are the first 6 months of pics at our same bench at the park - can you tell which month was their favorite, and probably mine too!!!!