Brrrr! December!

Right after Thanksgiving, as if on cue, winter arrived! It has been cold! These three pics were our attempt at a Christmas card photo shoot, but the girls were too cold to keep up their smiles very long. The red noses are cute, though!

We have experienced our first snow of the season! We made it outside just in time to play and sled for an hour before the ice and sleet hit.

Sophie was really into the sledding this time!

Even Daddy and Leah took a turn (and a spill).

We cozied up inside with hot cocoa and some cuddle time on the couch. Maddie, Leah, and Kent all took naps.

Bull Run Light Show

This is our second year to drive through the Bull Run light show and play at the carnival. It's cold, but we bundle up and embrace it. I think it was right around freezing.

Cookie Time!

With only a few weekends until Christmas, it was cookie time. The girls and I have a tradition of baking one type of Christmas cookie each weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Saturday, we baked about 7 dozen peanut butter Hersey kiss cookies. We kept one dozen to enjoy now and froze the rest until Christmas is closer.

Thanksgiving 2013

Kent and I love to cook and host Thanksgiving dinner. I think we have only missed cooking twice in the last 13 years. We were fortunate to have my mom, Jim, Aunt Nancy, and Uncle John here this year.

Kent and I upgraded our dining room table for the event (via craigslist, of course). Our new table is big enough to comfortably seat 8. I am looking forward to many holiday meals around it.

The girls, especially Maddie, were big helpers in the kitchen this year. Madeline wanted to help with everything from the cranberry salad to the casseroles to the table settings.

Madeline made everyone name cards, and Sophie wrote everyone a special note to put next to their plate. My favorite was the one she wrote for Maddie, "You are the best sister."

This year's turkey was 22 pounds. We love making lots and lots of food that we can eat for days. It is stuffed with homemade stuffing. Madeline and I spent Wednesday night cutting four loaves of bread.

Here is a final view of the table. I love putting out the wedding china. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Enjoy your many blessings.

Dad and Mel's Visit!

Dad and Mel came for a visit this month. The girls were sooo excited, and Kent and I were, too. Maddie and Sophie were counting down the days for at least two weeks.

Leah loved having company during the day. She even shared her bed with sweet Dixie.

Dad made us a squirrel maze. You put corn inside, and cover the front with plexi-glass. Now we wait and watch the squirrels play and eat.

Saying good-bye was tough, especially for Sophie. But, we have to share our grandparents, and they were off to Josh and family in New Jersey.

Happy Birthday, Rae!

We spent an afternoon in early November out at Dawn's to help Rae celebrate her fourth birthday. The kids had fun playing in the woods behind the house and eating cake, of course.

Holloween

I am behind in my blogging! I see I still have the Halloween "after pic" of Maddie on Halloween. Look at all that loot!

Halloween!!

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday! This year was no exception. Both girls opted for scary costumes! Madeline was a "Graveyard Bride" and Sophie was a witch. Sophe decided against the face paint on Halloween eve, but she was super cute. Madeline went all out. Are you surprised?

It was a warm evening, but a bit rainy. I think that is why we had fewer trick-or-treaters than the year before. Kent took the girls out until about 8:45, and I stayed to give out candy. I had several of my students stop by, and I really enjoyed that!

Kent did the face-paint. It's pretty good, I have to say.

My Birthday!

I turned 39 last weekend, and I was pretty excited about our plans. I planned for the four of us to go horseback riding in the mountains, and I hoped for good weather and beautiful fall foliage. I was not disappointed. The girls were so excited, and the weather turned our perfect. I was worried about Sophie feeling nervous and apprehensive, but she enjoyed the whole experience!

The view was so lovely!

We had a really great day together!

After the trail ride, we returned home for some football and food with our family. My mom and Jim joined us for some Chinese food delivery, as did Kent's parents. It was such a nice evening!

I made my own cake, which was something I was looking forward to. It was a pumpkin cake from scratch and delicious! It wasn't the prettiest of cakes since I threw it together for our 6 o'clock gathering after our ride, but none of it went to waste. I am considering making one for Thanksgiving!

The girls helped me blow out the candles since I came down with a terrible cold the week before. I loved my birthday. Who knew turning 39 would be so perfect!