Oh Christmas Tree

Last year was the first year we got to cut down and have a real tree.  The tree we got was pretty but we haven't been able to find a "chop your own" that has strong limbed trees.  My mom had gotten hers at a local nursery and hers was really nice to we decided just to go with that this year.  We got a beautiful one and the kids had fun in the process.  Max really got into decorating it this year too which was cute!

Thanksgiving

We're so thankful for so many blessings.  One of the biggest is family (in case the blog doesn't already make that super obvious:)).  We were thrilled all my mom's family made the trip out so we could all be together again for Thanksgiving.  They make it easy with everyone bringing food along and mom-mom was definitely smiling down on us:)!

 

Our yearly Thanksgiving craft place marker, doubled as cups!  The kids enjoyed making those.

The kids table, Aliyah wasn't the best influence but she was a bit distracted:)

Pickles, turkey and rolls, what a great Thanksgiving dinner!

Bet Dan hasn't read too many Tinker Bell books in his day...

We then made super rounds of visits.  We were happy to see Noah and Mary's new house and play with ALL their toys, what sweet kids!

Grandma came up North!

We were very happy to have Grandma Melody and Grandpa Jeff come up this fall for a visit.  We spent a fun long weekend all together at Ellie's.  The kids always have fun with Luke and Emma of course and even better to have more family there!

 It took her a few minutes to get herself situated into her dramatic "I'm so tired" pose so we had to be SURE to acknowledge it!

 He sure did his laps!

The next Friday then Grandma and Aunt Ellie came up to Harrisburg for 2 days.  We of course had to take them to Chocolate World!

 

We had a great visit and we're so glad they came up.  Hoping for another visit in the Spring before we head down for our beach vaca this summer!

Gettysburg

Max and I both had Veterans Day off so we took a field trip to Gettysburg.  We hadn't been to the new visitor center museum yet and it was really neat to see.  The kids did great considering how young they are.  It was a little chilly but we had a really nice day.

 

 

The "shooters" as they call them!

 Max being embarrassed cause he asked me if it was "charged":)

 She stopped to "read" just about everything!

 

 

 From the top of Little Round Top

 PA Monument!

More Halloween & Fall Fun

What a beautiful night for trick or treat.  You never know what you'll get this time of year but it was warm for October and we didn't have to worry about bundling up a princess:)  Max was happily the Transformer Bumble Bee while Aliyah was Sleeping Beauty.  They make out pretty well in our neighborhood!

 It FINALLY happened.  Max had been so upset about getting rid of his firetruck bed but one Saturday we all woke up and Nate convinced him it was the day.  He took it pretty well.  I had to rearrange his room a big to fit it and though he doesn't like change he was excited for it.  He does well, it's a fun bed, we did get a good mattress for on it and he still sleeps all curled up in the corner:)

 I just want to remember their play time.  They still fight some of course but they also play SO nicely together for hours.  They do love making their "set ups"!

 

Unfortunately we didn't get to play in the leaves much this year.  It took them a while to fall and then when they did it got cold.  This was one fun afternoon for a pile under the swing and at the bottom of the slide.  Now we just have to hope for some snow this winter to play in instead!

 

There is a local church that puts on a really fun fall festival.  We enjoyed once again meeting a lot of our friends there for some animal petting, bouncie slides, face painting, yummy food, wagon/hay ride and roasting marshmallows around the fire.