Hunting For The Perfect Tree

We decided to experience the hunt for the "perfect" Christmas tree this year.  We have always had our free fake tree and decided to venture out with our friends the Histands to find a real tree.  We had such a fun time and I highly recommend our new $10 family tradition.  

Kelly and I had quite the fun time hiking straight up the mountain, carrying our children, trying to get to what looked like the perfect trees.  Well, the trees are quite decieving from far away; they always ended up being bigger and not as perfect as they look from down on the road.  While admiring our not so great trees, a couple of forrest rangers recomended we head up a trail where there were supposidly good trees.  We took their advice and ended up on a hike with nothing to show for in the end.  

Following this excursion the boys took off to hunt some trees down for us.  When we recieved word that the boys spotted some "good" trees  Kelly and I started our trek back up the mountain with the kids clinging to us.  Owen cracked me up because the whole time he kept saying "fall," questioning wether this would be his fate.  Well, after going up the mountain and back down a little ravine with kids in tote, the boys were right.  We arrived at a patch of trees with a handful of good ones to decided on....that is if we could have decided quickly.   Finally, decisions were made and we were heading home with 2 trees in hand.  Thanks for the fun time Histands, we look forward to the annual outing next year!

 

The three unopinionated members of our tree hunt

Aaron cutting down my tree.  Blake was still watching the kids at this point.  I'm not sure I would have trusted my husband cutting down my tree with the saw

The boys with the "perfect" trees in hand

The cold, proud recipiants of the Christmas trees

Once we got home we decorated the tree and got up the Christmas decorations.  Allie just loves this little train set that Blake had when he was a kid.  She sat for some time just watching the train go around the tree-so cute!

Our whole day turned out to be a big kickoff to Christmas.  Boise Center On The Grove lights up a Christmas Tree every year and Blake and I have been going for the last 4 years.  Every year we seem to drag more people down with us.  I just love events in the community where we can come together and have a fun time.  Who doesn't love standing out in the cold, bundled up next to family, listening to the live band play Christmas carols, singing out load in my off tune voice, and counting down to light up of the tree?    

Allie and her Aunts

The weather was so nice this year that so many people ended coming out to the tree lighting.  Allie needed a better view of the tree, so she ended up on dad's shoulders

Our yearly family photo....this year we are missing a few things in our picture.  1-The big lit up tree in the background  2-Allie chomping on her binky

Thanksgiving

Well, what a day!   Thanskgiving this year was spent with the Hansen Household.  We started out the morning with a flag football game.  I am not quite sure how the game ended up, due to running after and keeping track of kids.  

Following the game everyone's appetite was ready for the Thansgiving Feast.   We literally had quite the feast this year.  Some new additions to the dinner table were stuffed mushrooms,  yummy cheese spread, and Texas Roadhouse Rolls (can't go wrong with these).   The afternoon was lazily spent getting ready for Black Friday.  Katie and I started out our shopping a little early.  Michael's Craft Store opened up at 6 p.m.  on Thanksgiving Day.   One store crossed off our list and many more to go the following day.  

Good buddies...sporting their orange flags for the game

Everyone huddling around....preparing their "play"

Aunt Katie with all the kiddos....who ever knew running down the hill could be so fun

Cheerleaders from the sideline

Of course, my kid was up and down and out of her seat most of the meal.  Miss Natalia...Allie's second mother chased her down to force in some bites of food so Allie could have dessert

All smiles after Turkey dinner

Tryptophan from the turkey hard at work

Nauty OR Nice

Allie has had a mix of nauty and nice in her lately.  Today I made the mistake of leaving crayons accessable to Allie's reach.  We were both downstairs and Allie had gone upstairs to grab something.  After being upstairs for a minute, Allie called down to me "Mom come look."  I regret not going up the first time she called for me.  When I finally went upstairs I was welcomed to a beautifully colored wall.  In order to keep myself sane for the moment I took Allie and put her in bed, shutting the door behind me.  I immediately took a deep breath and went to the internet to learn how I was going to clean crayon off the wall.   Thank heavens for the internet; I don't know what I would do without it.   After learning that toothpaste would remove this masterpiece I went and got Allie.  I thought it was only fair that since she made the mess she needed to try her best to help me clean it up.  

 Work by my little Picasso

 After Allie helped me clean up for a minute, I went to work scrubbing solo.  I had forgotten to put away one crayon and you think this girl would have learned her lesson.  No, she was hard at work behind my back coloring on the other wall.  I went and laid her down for a nap and told her we weren't reading books.  I think this was a first time we have never read a book before bed and she was devastated.  She knew she had not been good and that mom wasn't happy.  She looked up at me and said, "Don't tell Mr. Peeps I've been naughty.  I want a baby!"  (For those who don't know about Mr. Peeps, he will make his appearance in a few days)

Well on the flip side of the coin Allie has fallen in love with her new baby Megan.  She just adores her and is so sweet to her.  Allie has to have her baby everywhere we go.   The reason this doll fell into Allie's lap is because she weaned herself from her "binks."  I couldn't believe it myself. 

 After recently talking to a friend about weaning her little guy from the binky at one year, I was kicking myself because I should have followed suit.  Allie has gotten more attached to her binky lately and I was dreading breaking her away from them.  Only a few days after talking to my friend Allie woke up one morning and had bitten the tip off of her bink.  I reminded her every day that when the binks were gone, there would be no more.  She continued every day until all 8 binks were broken.  After we had a not so bad first night without the bink, we went and picked up Megan.  We've had a couple nights of  peeing the bed, and a couple weeks of adjusting but things are now smoother.

Turkey Trot

We participated in the first annual Hansen Turkey Trot this weekend. The YMCA puts on a turkey trot relay every year and we decided to try it out. How it works is you sign up in groups of 4 and each member runs a 2 mile section of the race. We ended up recruiting 12 members of Blake's family. It was a chilly morning, but we got a little dusting of snow at the end of the race which made it all worth it.

We were a little early in getting down to the park. Instead of waiting in the freezing cold, we opted to hang out in the car

Braving the cold

Rod, making his way to the finish line. Waving to all his little fans on the side line

Natalia, Grandma Julia, and Vance.  Vance was getting ready to pass up the girls

Vanae and Kyle sprinting to the finish line

Our sideline fans

Funny Girl

Allie has been cracking me up lately with the things that she says.  I have been writing them down because I don't want to forget.   Here are a few of my favorite.

Allie: "I want my binky."

Mom: "It's not time for bed."

Allie:  "Are you being honest to me?"

Allie had just pulled all the magnets off the dishwasher and started coloring at the table.

Mom: "Allie, please go pick up your magnets before you start to color."

Allie:  A very long pause as she is looking at me, "o.k.... I will obey."  

We had just had a Family Night Lesson on being obedient, so I am glad to see things are starting to sink in.

Allie was standing on a barstool over by the dishwasher.  I opened up the dishwasher door in the middle of the cycle to grab something out.  Allie leaned her head over in my direction where the steam was escaping from the dishwasher

Allie: Mom, it's raining on my face!

Allie just keeps getting more fun to interact and talk with, I just love how she keeps me laughing!

Nurse Allie

I think we have another future nurse in the family. Allie randomly asked me for my "nurse bag" the other day. I wasn't quite sure what she was referring to when she asked for this because I only bring my purse with me when I go to work. She led me to our bathroom where she requested a bag on the top shelf that contained my stethoscope, an otoscope, blood pressure cuff, and other fun toys from nursing school. I don't know when I last got this down, but it's been a long time. Allie's memory ceases to amaze me. She had a great time listening to hearts and tummies and looking in dad's ears. She has already decided she wants to be a nurse for Halloween next year.

Listening to mom's heart. When I asked her what it sounded like she said "boom"

Listening to her tummy rummbling

After playing nurse, Allie enjoyed helping me make cookies. Allie just loves helping out in the kitchen. Allie has been dying to have her own apron. Every time I put mine on, she wants her own. Well today we make-shifted dad's to fit her. If anyone has a great kid's apron pattern, let me know. Santa might be bringing one her way

SNOW!

Well Blake convinced us, like always, to go on a work trip with him for a few days.  We can never resist when he has to go to McCall and we get to go play at the cabin for a few days.  It snowed all day on Tuesday, which happened to be Election Day. I had some what of a relaxing time sitting by the fire, watching some movies,  watching the snow fall outside, playing blocks with Allie, and intermittently tending to Allie throwing up.  

Allie was a little bit under the weather for the day with some gastro bug, so in between puking episodes, I gave in.  Allie was dying to go outside and play in the first snow fall.  We had packed the snow gear knowing it was supposed to snow.  Allie just loved just sitting and eating the snow.  I think we are in for some fun in the snow this year!

Allie right as we walked outside...so sick, but so excited about the snow

Allie's stomach couldn't keep anything down at this point....but why not try snow

Since moving around is still a little difficult with the snow gear, Allie opted to sit