Gee Wiz, it's (almost) Christmas

The has been the weirdest couple of months. Too warm and (really) dry, weather-wise. I'm so thrown off that I'm having a hard time convincing myself that Christmas is coming. This isn't a complaint. It's just a statement. To help us get into the Christmas spirit we had an after-school craft session. We created snow flakes. Thank you Utube!

To find snow, we had to go up higher elevation. We weren't going to harvest a tree this year because we are traveling back east for the holidays. But, public lands was having a promotion where a 4th grader in each family got a free tree and pass into a national park. So, we went ahead and had our great search for the 2016 tree! Ava picked out a grand one!

It was 53 degrees that day! Heat wave for December !
Gee Wiz! It's almost Christmas I think!
lol

I didn't get out all the usual decorations. Good thing we have a tree up now to make it look more like the season. Of course, packages arrive one after the other.
P.S. When you have little people in your house the package is so much more fun than anything that was inside ;)

The little elves in the house are telling me that it's almost Christmas. We put up a string of lights around the tree to help set the mood....

I'm sure it's the weather, but is anyone else in Baker confused right now?
When you walk around town at the lights, and go to the annual events it looks like Christmas. I'm just accustomed to having "significant weather systems" move through to make it feel like Christmas!
When Old Man Winter doesn't knock, I feel off. I guess we have to go to Ohio to get snow.
Again, I'm not complaining. I'm just making a statement.
I'm sure the weather will make a statement sooner or later too!
lol

Isaac is 7 !

Our little man has been entertaining us for 7 years now. His birthday was on a Monday (a school night) so we had a mellow dinner with one of his favorite foods and sweets - burritos & brownies. Grandma came knocking at the door too which was a treat. Isaac had been talking about and anticipating this day for months... haha.

We sang Happy Birthday (Willow singing her little lungs out) and then came the big moment. Those little flames didn't stand a chance..... I believe it took one big breath :)

Did you notice something a little off about those candles? Isaac figured it out after he blew them out.
Dad must be a year behind. I am giving Bryan credit for that mistake since he put the candles on ;) 
There are only 6 candles! Next year maybe he'll top the dessert with 7 ! Minor details.
Ha!

Speaking of silly, these kids of ours.....

Awe.... we sure love our Zig Zag !

He looks dashing with his new hair cut :)

Happy Birthday to our fun, loving, compassionate, intelligent little man. You have the ability to brighten a room with your infectious positive energy and contagious smile. I love how you regularly make us laugh with your terrific sense of humor. You have an amazing gift of uplifting spirits.

Part of Isaac's birthday adventure would come on the weekend. He wanted to return to the "Museum of Curiosity." Craig, Gretchen, Matthew, and Emma were able to join us along with John, Nomi, and Charlie. We all stayed at the same motel and got some great swimming in at the pool. It was great to eat food, swim, and play in the city with friends. We wore ourselves out. It was great.

Thank you everyone for cards and gifts. I think he had a memorable, special birthday!

Thanksgiving Weekend

When the kids go to Garrison School for K - 2 they have this tradition of making Pilgrim/Native American dolls. This year we have our first red-headed one! Haha I love it!

As you can see, we have a growing collection over the years :)

Sydnie, Jorja, and Morgyn spent the night with us. It was great to hang out with the cousins.....

We were fortunate to have good weather to go for a walk.....

The kids decided to build a spontaneous Teepee using a dead tree and wire that was near the old dump site......

Thanksgiving arrived!
I should have taken more photos, but the days seem to slip away. Here are a few I managed to get ~ thanks to my phone ;)

We decided to get the kids out of the house to play in the cottonseed at the dairy. They had a lot of fun.....

Most kids don't know what cottonseed is. This was a fond childhood memory for me. We spent endless hours here.
It was great to see everyone for Thanksgiving. Like I said, I wish we had gotten more group pictures. Hopefully we can all get together in the spring or summer. Time is valued. Time with family is precious.