Tis the Season

Lots of art going on this month. The kids never stop drawing or coloring.

Playing the game Pandemic with the boys. May help us understand what is going on in the world.

Bathroom is coming along. Kids are watching daddy working on the floor.

Evan loves his overalls.

Evan's kitty is putting on a show for the other stuffed animals. 

Daddy Daughter visit to Lowe's, this girl loves her hardware stores and Daddy.

Maggie got older this month. We were fortunate enough to celebrate with her.

Evan talking on his banana phone.

I had some helpers in the kitchen this month to make cookies. Little people are always willing to help with cookies, as long as they get to taste test at the end.

First snow and snow men

Evan's didn't get much height.

Evan working hard at school

Eliza is still enjoying swim class.

We got the tree up and decorated.

Not much room for it this year with Evan's work school station in there, but we made it fit.

Eliza sure likes to hug that wall when she sleeps.

Eliza didn't really enjoy watching Harry Potter. We decided that she could hide with Mommy during some of the parts with the blanket over our heads.

Mike cutting up our Thanksgiving turkey this year.

We did not starve, and we didn't let others. We packed up all the leftovers and gave them to family the next day. 

Magic shows have been really fun this month. The kids have been making all kinds of tricks for us, and the outfits are some of the best we've seen.

"There's nothing under my hat" - Evan

Bathroom is done and the kids are enjoying the first time back in the bath since the demolition. 

Eliza has been lucky enough to be able to have preschool over zoom now for 1 hour a day 4 days a week. She's really been enjoying having her own meetings.

We've started giving the kids tallies, which turn into chores if they misbehave. Evan is sweeping the floor after dinner as his chore.

Cold snowy morning walk

We volunteered with our friends to go to Church and decorate some of the trees with the kids. I will say the ornaments were not lacking at belly level.

After decorating we enjoyed some popcorn and the Grinch.

Eliza making a silly face on the way to church.

The boys enjoying building the Lego things from this years Advent Calendar. 

At swim class the kids need to wear their masks to the lane before class. She looks a little Mad Max to me.

More coloring and drawing.

The kids enjoying watching crystals grow on the snow Bumble. 

Breaking the wish bone from the turkey. Eliza won, Evan was not pleased.

Mike got a bit older this month. He enjoyed a small gathering of us, and his favorite dessert (cream cheese strussle).

We were lucky enough to visit with Uncle Geoff this month. We went to his house for dinner and a movie. The kids and us had such a nice time hanging out. Geoff will also be getting older this week.

Daddy and Eliza enjoying the movie.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year!

 

Time to Dress Up

Just love Evan's expression in this picture. He found out at this moment that he stacked the deck against himself. 

Alex has now lost 2 teeth.

Evan really wanted more Halloween decorations so I got a few more for him while I was at the store. 

Oh the joys of brushing teeth.

Eliza working on a rainbow.

Eliza has been enjoying crafts while the boys are in school

Here is her caterpillar she made. 

I got to enjoy a dinner out with a few friends of mine to celebrate my friend Sara's birthday.

Another wonderful visit with Uncle Geoff and he made all of us crapes with strawberries, mini chocolate chips, whip cream, and cool whip. They were amazing! 

We had a nice birthday celebration with the Wades and Dad and Jodi for Shawn and Jodi's birthday.

We were lucky enjoy their slide show of their 10 day tour out west this summer. 

Happy Birthday Ladies!

Love this girl!

The boys enjoying some Connect 4.

Pulled the last of my carrots from the garden.

Some did really well. I think I'll leave them in longer next year. I planted these in the spring and pulled them in the fall.

Daddy and Evan hard at work one morning.

Eliza keeping her mask on while drinking.

We got to Cranbrook for our family pictures. Here is a sneak peak of them.

The WB Parks and Rec put on a Park and Treat event that we were able to attend. Eliza was a Butterfly, Bat Princess. Alex was Link from the game Zelda. Evan was a Astronaut. 

It was a bit chilly waiting.

The kids had to stay 6ft back from their buckets while the people filled them.

Eliza playing nicely while the boys are doing their school work.

The kids came home speckled in mud one day, Eliza showing her speckled face. 

On our morning walk we got to see snow for the first time. My black hoody showed the snowflakes so the kids could touch and melt them.

Pumpkins are carved and ready for Halloween.

Lots of coloring this month with the kids.

Mike hard at work clearing the leaves. 

Our trick or treating crew. The Wades joined us on our adventure. Only a few houses had candy, and most of them were on tables at the end of the driveway in bags. The neighborhood was mostly black though, and we were the only group out.

Still got lots of candy

Evan staying good bye to the baby car

Alex got this from Nana when he was almost 1 for Christmas. He hardly fits into it now.

Eliza enjoying some time in it.

Now it belongs to Lila my niece. She loves it and she's the perfect size!

Auntie Em and Lila had us over for a nice visit.

We got to fly kites and ride the bikes down the driveway.

On our way home from Auntie Em's we stopped by to see my Grandma. We got to have a walk around the building with her and sit outside and have a chat.

Eliza was dressed by Mike one day, and she was totally 80's.

The kids now have to do chores if they get 3 tally marks on the charts we have made. If they are mean, don't listen, throw something, etc, they get a mark. We had to come up with a system because the kids have been getting really stir crazy.

Mike took a week off work and decided to remodel the kids bathroom. Here he is breaking out the flooring.

We've been lucky enough to have him join us on our morning walks.

Eliza came in with a ton of purple chalk on her face, not sure what she was doing there.

More coloring

A drawing I did while sitting with Evan

Another drawing I did out of a magazine. 

Eliza doing some water colors.

Floor is out, ready to paint

New plumbing going in. Thanks for your help Oma.

Paint going on, now we have a green screen.

Backer board going in

Vanity top being bought

Slight miscalculation on the size of the van with the kids in it.

Evan had a little bit of an uncomfortable ride home. I was right up against the steering wheel.