Pre Christmas Activities

December brings lots of fun activities. This year Marc and I decided to go and cut down our own Christmas Tree instead of going to a lot. We envisioned this wonderful experience. But... as with everything the vision and the reality did not quite match. Truly the kids were not that interested in finding the perfect tree- they did enjoy picking up the various bows on the ground and sword fighting. We found a tree we liked and we didn't want to lose track of it- so we left Jessica in charge of guarding our chosen one while we continued looking around.

We ended up going with that tree in the end.


And this is what Justin did most of the time.
Later that day Mimi came up to build Gingerbread houses with the kids. She does this every year and they very much enjoy it.




The next day was Cookie Day- the day I go and bake cookies with my friends to share during the holidays. Marc gets annoyed because I never come home with any cookies he likes. This year when I was away he and the kids had their own Christmas treat making day. They saw these reindeer cupcakes in Family Fun magazine and decided to make their own. They came out really good!



Marc brought his 8 to work. Jessica shared hers with a friend. But when Justin tried to eat one of his he cried and quickly fixed it. I don't think his were ever eaten he couldn't bear it.

Thanksgiving!

That's right folks from Halloween to Thanksgiving! These would be the only pictures we took all month! I hosted T-giving this year. We invited the Odells to come over- Becky's parents were going to try to join us as well but unfortunately couldn't make it. Grandmommy, Grandma Sara and Big Andrew also joined us. Marc and I spent no less than an hour measuring our various tables and drawing up different diagrams to find a way to fit us all around the same "table". We did it!


I swear I invited Andrews for reasons other than to have him carve but since he was there....

Emma and I were wearing the same outfit (I am so sure she was horrified but she humored me). Um, yes 11 year old Emma now practically towers over me- sigh.

October in a Nutshell

Well October is when I start getting SUPER BUSY with work so my personal pictures tend to decline- which is why I can put all of October into one post. I was able to take the kids to the CT Renaissance Festival on Columbus day- it is such a fun day. We are totally going again in April. We spend the entire day outside, watching shows and being entertained!





Justin tried ice skating at Miles' birthday party. The fact that he actually tried impressed me. The fact that the stuck with it for the whole party was a miracle.

Marc took the kids to a pumpkin patch and did all the pumpkin patch stuff.




Justin carved his own pumpkin- pretty sure the rest of us did too- but I don't seem to have photographed that at all.


A few weeks before Halloween I picked up two singing Xmas hats. Justin then decided he wanted to be an elf for Halloween. Marc had reservations, but when Justin makes up his mind HE MAKES UP HIS MIND. We made his costume together and he chose the decorations- thus the random pom pom on the shirt. This picture was taken at the school costume parade. He got so excited when he saw me and immediately turned on his hat!

Jessica, my Harry Potter fan, was Hermione for Halloween. I was quite proud of the hair. After she showered the night before I put her hair into 6 cornrow style braids and she slept in that. We took the braids out just before we went trick or treating.



We had so much fun trick or treating with a big group of friends this year.

And there it is- October!

The Big E

There is a big fair that happens here every year called the Big E. It runs for 2 weeks in September. Every year I pick the kids up early from school and bring them to the Big E. The first few years we would run into the D family. After awhile it became tradition and we tried to coordinate our schedules to go at the same time so we could be together. It works well for me since Jessica likes to do the roller coaster rides and Justin does not- this way she has someone with whom to go on the rides. Unfortunately my trip to Scotland was during the second week and the D family could not make it during the first week. So I gave the kids a choice. They could go with me on a gorgeous weather day but without their friends or they could go next week with their friends and Daddy, but who knows about the weather. Well I got dissed. Actually they tried to arrange a deal where they could go with me the first week and go again the next week too. Marc agreed to pick them up early and go to the Big E. This is a big deal because Marc is not a big fan of the Big E and would be happy to never go again. But he agreed. Unfortunately the weather was awful the week we were gone and it rained almost every day. They had a very soggy trip this year.

For the first time EVER Jessica actually got a little dizzy on a ride. Seriously I didn't think it was possible. Apparently Michelle convinced Jessica that if she ate something greasy she would feel better. Jessica was all too happy to try out this remedy.

Justin's first time on the "crazy mouse" roller coaster.

Marc will have to admit there is one thing he enjoys at the Big E...

Guest Room Before and After

Biggest Transformation yet! Been awhile since I posted some before and afters. We put hardwood floors upstairs in our three bedrooms and the hallway but left the fourth bedroom until this fall. Before I left for Scotland we emptied out the room so that Marc could do some repair work and I painted it when I returned. The hardwood floors went in a week later. Let's roll back the clocks a little...

This is what the room looked like when we bought the house. 3 boys were calling this room their bedroom.

Here is a shot of the lovely carpets the day we closed.

Here is the room just before I left for Scotland- wallpaper removed and ready for its transformation.
And here it is today! I kept waiting until I had the room all "perfect" before I posted pictures, but decided that is never going to happen so Voila! Hardwood floors replace nasty carpet and walls are now a calm and lovely beige.

View #2 looking to the right from the doorway...






Day we closed- yummy carpets!




The area we now refer to as Lego Land- it keeps them away from my bare feet at least.


Here is the closet- we haven't put the new door on yet- we have it, just bought a hollow core for the closet door. Hopefully our children can refrain from punching and kicking holes into the doors. I was hoping it would be a game room and a linen closet closet- right now mostly a game room closet. We added lots of shelves. No, I did not clean up the closet for the pictures- keeping it real.



Not bad right? You would stay here, wouldn't you? If I made my kids move their Legos out of the way so you didn't step on them and scream aloud.

Weekend at Frost Valley

Labor Day Weekend Frost Valley YMCA hosted an Alumni Reunion. Unfortunately it was mostly a summer camp Alumni- but that is still fun too. Truth be told our last few weekends at Frost Valley were less than what we were hoping to experience. Perhaps as former staff our hopes are too high. In general my biggest complaint, besides the high price, is that the staff have been less than friendly and really left a bad taste in my mouth. Having run these weekends for years I know the value of the staff, I know that they make or break the weekend for guests- but somewhere along the way that message was lost. When this weekend came up I had no interest in going back (and yes that makes me sad). Marc had to practically beg me to return and I reluctantly agreed. We were excited when we heard the summer camp director had a strong hand in planning the weekend- we really like him and he "gets" it. [sidenote: he has since left the Valley- sigh]. We decided to give it a go again. It was fun seeing all of our old friends and meeting their children.

They made sure to include lots of Summer Camp Classics- like the newspaper fashion show!

Aunt Meg came up too! We didn't tell the kids she was going to be there- so they were pretty surprised.

Jessica loves going across the cable bridge- Justin, not so much, he has yet to try.

We were introduced to the game Sleeping Queens. Justin watched and learned how to play for over an hour. And then hounded me to buy the game that I finally purchased it from my phone on the way home. He was very excited at its arrival later in the week.
We played Bombardment. I have never really been clear on how bombardment is played. Basically it is Dodge Ball. It was more of a boys village kind of thing. Marc took Jessica out on the court with him and she had a blast.
Then the grown ups gave up the court to the little kids so they could play.
...and you can guess how that turned out...
We played Geranimo! [well we tried to but Al Filreis was leading it and he only called on his "pets" so it meant my kid sat their almost the entire time. yeah that is fun! not. luckily she is a good sport. But would it have killed the man to at least call out Geranimo occasionally so that everyone could get up and run???? ok- rant over]
We had a nice time- mostly. I am leaving off my altercation with the self rightous staff member who told me I was forcing my child to do something and I had to let her know that I was encouraging her and she should try that some time- oops guess I did bring it up.

I don't think we will be back in the next few years. For now, at half the price and twice the fun we are sticking with Camp Jewell!