Christmas Week 2013

After a year of waiting, and a month of preparing,

Christmas week came!

All God's precious angels arrived...

 ... and the elves set to work on last minute gifties (thank you Dad and Joe for helping me finish that dollhouse!!)...

 It was time to celebrate! 

(Eva sang in the children's Christmas choir at church dressed as an angel. It was, as you'd expect, pretty magical, more so than Dre's Christmas cheer.)

 Donned we then our most festive apparel! Pup-cousin Waffles sported his yule-tide knit,

...our patriarch displayed an uncomfortable amount of swag with his sleeve tattoo,

... and Uncle Geo put on some weight....I mean Kevlar, he put on some Kevlar. Because he is a really cool cop that is not to be messed with. Seriously, don't.  

And it was Christmas! (this is T's "Chrissmiss yeeah!" face)

Some more happy faces. : )

The occasion was made perfect by everyone's favorite: feasting!

Well, almost everyone's...

xo

December Days

As you may have noted, I'm more behind on blogging than I've EVER been, and nobody's interested in Christmas when summer is just around the corner, but nevertheless, I'm sharing. : ) Here are some windows from way back as we colorfully prepared for the happy holiday.

Reading and discovering the surprises during Advent is the kids favorite.

Another favorite (and one that Dre got to participate in this year) was decorating the gingerbread house with Mama Patti!

Early presents!

I began (late) a little project for a little girl...

We gathered  the evergreens...

and decking of the halls commenced.

Treats were made...

... and others consumed.

 As well as many mugs of cocoa. 

 Why not, it's Christmas.

 It even snowed a little! Well, slushed more like, but still!

And naturally (get it) we explored weekly, like we love to do.

 xx

Postcards from Autumn

This fall was a full one (which is part of the reason I've been absent here) and a sweet one with many adventures and days out of doors. Just how we like it.

Ma, Pa, and Patch came for a visit in October and made excessive noisf, so the town put up a sign.

We hiked a mile through the multicolored battlefields, and though it was warm (in the 60s) ...

... sweet southern-blooded Grandpa still froze.

More southern family was enjoyed at the Campbell Thanksmas celebrations.

And we made some new buddy friends who also like to smile sweetly for the camera. (I wonder if Dre will ever be intimidated when he get's older by how cool his sister is.)

I spent one glorious afternoon alone in my mountains, taking in all the fall.

Target was eagerly patronized,

Walmart less so. (Mummzie no like, but ain't they cute??)

 A very nervous Finley the Penguin accompanied his mom to the dentist. (he declined the fluoride treatment)

Leaves were leaped upon,

poses were struck,

doodles designed

snow spotted

cars cruised

scholars were schooled

Shucks, even corny crafts were made!

Autumn is our favorite.