Enjoying the Thanksgiving Holiday!

Our original plan was to stay home for Thanksgiving, but we had some last minute changes and decided we needed to be with our family to really appreciate what we are truly thankful for...FAMILY!!! So, we headed north to my brother Keith's and spent Thanksgiving with my family. It was a beautiful day for a drive. The kids were delighted to see snow as we headed away from the city. Fortunately we packed our warm clothes so the kids could enjoy time building snowmen and hiking through the snowy woods at Uncle Keith's house. It was a wonderful day. We spent the rest of our weekend getting ready for Christmas. We went to the tree lot and found the PERFECT tree and came home to decorate!!!!!!!!!!!!! Russell and Sloane loved the lights while Aron and I enjoyed listening to their non-stop chatter about Santa, reindeer, and jingle bells! We are so thankful for all the blessings God has given us!!! We are looking forward to seeing both my family and Aron's at Christmas!!!

Grammy and Sloane enjoying some cuddle time!

Grandpa and Russell playing football checkers.

(Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears)

Russell was getting ready to build a snowman, but decided eating the snow was more fun.

This is Sloane's first time in snow pants and boots. She was a little nervous at first, but within a few minutes she was walking around like a pro!

Sloane helped Daddy hang the Christmas lights.

Russell put up the Christmas star with help from Daddy.

Busy Week!

After a busy, restless, cold, and not so pleasant week; we are enjoying some family togetherness this weekend! Russell and Sloane love playing together and are busy inventing new games as I type. They make me laugh constantly!!! Enjoy the pictures:

Last week I blogged about our first snow and this week I am blogging about raking leaves...something seems turned around? That is Michigan for you! The kids had a ball raking, jumping in, and throwing leaves today.

Sloane enjoyed every minute of the fresh air (although it was extremely COLD)!

Both kids actually helped out a little with the raking. However, they mostly raked them up just to jump in and scatter them all over the yard again :-)

Today was Royal Oaks' annual Holiday Magic Parade. We bundled the kids (and ourselves) up and met the neighbors downtown to enjoy the festivities. Russell and Antonio were inseparable as they watched the bands, clowns, dancers, and fire trucks go by.

We had to head home before the parade was over because we were all freezing! We didn't even get to see Santa, but we stopped for hot chocolate on our way back to the car...YUMMMMMM!!!
Lately Russell has had to take a stuffed animal to bed every night. Last night, he decided he needed his football with him in bed. He woke up this morning and walked out to the family room with the football in one hand and his Green Bay helmet on. He then asked for his Packer shirt. Uncle Keith would be proud! Russell tossed the football around all morning yelling,
"GO PACKERS! TOUCHDOWN!!!"

We decided on pizza for dinner last night and the kids went with me to pick it up. The cashier gave them both a sucker and cookies. They were so excited to get home and eat their sucker. I couldn't resist, so here they are eating pizza and suckers...everyone is allowed an unhealthy meal every now and again, right??? Ever since our Halloween party, Russell thinks special meals need to be eaten at the kids table. They were so adorable sitting by themselves enjoying their meal and Aron and I felt like we were having a date with only the two of us at the dining table (even though the kids were only two feet away at their table - we don't get out much)!

The First Snow

When I took the kids out today the snow was falling, but it was not yet sticking. Well, by this evening it was sticking!!! After repeatedly hearing Russell say, "I want to play in the snow, I want to play in the snow, I want to play in the snow..." Aron decided to take him out. He LOVED it!!! Both Russell and Mac were rolling around and running everywhere! Sloane and I opted to stay inside and finish our soup dinner. I have yet to buy Sloane snow pants. I suppose I better do that soon because she does not like to be left behind!

Ready to go!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...this is FUN!!!

Attempting to make a snow angel.

Movie Star!

Aron was away all weekend for deer hunting. He goes every year with the men in my family. He enjoys his time away and I enjoy spending some Mom time with the kids. We stayed in all weekend due to the blustery weather. We ended up making cookies and rice crispy treats. We also cuddled in my bed watching cartoons in the middle of the day!!! The kids thought this was a blast and had to bring their stuffed animals too. They thought it was even better, when Mac joined us!!! Another fun moment was when Russell turned us into our own band. We all had an instrument and jammed to the Wiggles CD for almost an hour. Today, we braved the outdoors. Russell was just itching to run around in the snowflakes coming down. We lasted about 45 minutes before he complained that his "legs were shaking." Sloane was hilarious this weekend...she wore sunglasses in the house almost every second of the day. For most of the time, she also needed one of her brothers baseball hats. I think she is practicing to be a movie star on the run from the paparazzi!!! What a character - CHECK IT OUT...

I am adorable!!!

Do you need something?

Thank you, thank you very much!

No autographs, please!

Fun At Home!

We have had a nice weekend at home. Russell and Sloane had fun just hanging with one another and Aron and I each managed to get away with friends for a little time. I got out Saturday evening to enjoy time with some girlfriends and Aron went with some of his buddies to the Lion's game today. Here are a few pictures that I took throughout the weekend.

Friday night, Russell wanted to go swimming... So we filled the tub, pulled out his swimming trunks, and he added the goggles. Too cute!!! What is next with this one???

Sloane is really into the potty (more so than her older brother)! I found her this morning pulling off her pajamas, followed by her diaper, and then she proceeded to carry the potty to every room in the house and sit on it. Here she is in the family room thinking she is pretty hot stuff! I have my hands full with this little girl! I swear she is going to be accident free before Russell!!!

Last night, I decided to try a bubble bath. I was planning on having one child in at a time beginning with Sloane, but once Russell caught sight of the bubbles, he had his clothes off and was diving in faster than I could grab a towel to protect myself from the spraying water.

Here Russell is rocking out with the Imagination Movers on Disney Channel!

Happy Birthday Russell!

Our little boy turned 3 today! I can not believe it!!! Time flies!!! We decided to celebrate with a low key party at home with just the four of us. Russell wanted a Go Diego Go party so we decorated with all the fun accessories including a Diego table cloth, balloon, napkins, plates, cups, and party bazookas! Although Russell does not care for cake, we still got a small one topped with a Diego candle. It was a great party!!!

After a yummy McDonald's Happy Meal,

it was time to open presents!!!

A new backpack! Time for rescue missions with Diego!!!

Mac and Sloane helped open the leaf blower.

This was Russell's favorite gift!

Russell had to rush outside in the dark to try out his leaf blower!

Time to make a wish!

Sloane enjoyed the birthday cake!

Halloween Fun

It was a busy week beginning with a fun visit from Papa Carlson and Bevie. They brought us a delicious dinner and dessert, yummmmm!!! The kids loved spending time with them. Unfortunately, Sloane was recovering from hand, foot, & mouth virus (yuck) so she wasn't the best company! My mom came to town on Monday to watch Sloane so I didn't have to miss more work. I love having retired parents!!! Sloane was happy and healthy by Thursday so we were able to go ahead with our Halloween plans.

After a hectic Halloween day at school, I came home to prepare for our 3rd annual neighborhood Halloween party and to dress my little cowboy and cowgirl. All the families came to our house for pizza and pictures followed by a group trick-or-treating walk. This was the first year that the children really understood trick-or-treating. It was so adorable to watch a half dozen little ones run up the sidewalks and yell "TRICK-OR-TREAT" then politely hold out their pumpkins. Sloane was a doll keeping up with the older children. She was determined NOT to be picked up and to carry her OWN pumpkin even when it was nearly dragging her down from the weight of all the candy! Upon returning to our home, Russell chose Scooby snacks from his pumpkin and Sloane chose a mini sucker. We have now hid the candy in hopes they have forgotten about it while Aron and I are secretly sneaking our favorites :-) Aron's mom also came into town for the festivities so the kids are enjoying lots of love and hugs from Grammy Carlson and I am enjoying having another pair of hands to help out!!!

Our little cowgirl!

Practicing "TRICK-OR-TREAT!"

Watch out! There is a new sheriff in town!

Pizza, pizza, pizza!!!

Heading home with my 20 pound pumpkin!!!