Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was a great one spent with family and friends. Here are a few pics from our trip back home (and a couple from his christmas program at school)...

Jackson's Christmas Program

Jackson & Daddy in front of our tree

Jackson & Santa

Santa brought him a giant snowman cookie Sledding w/Cam & Austin

Getting pulled behind the snowmobile
Making cookies w/great nana Barnett
Silly faces w/Hannah

Playing w/Sydney & Madelyn

Giving Sydney blow kisses

O Christmas Tree

The weekend before last, Nana and Papa Barnett came over and we continued the tradition we set last year of trekking into the woods to cut down the perfect Christmas tree. We tried a different place this year and had a wonderful time! They had cookies, and cocoa and a fire to keep warm. They even had Santa driving a tractor, pulling the wagons out to the field where you could choose from over 20,000 trees. It took a little time and we had trek thru some deep snow but we finally found the perfect tree. It was such a fun weekend and we look forward to continuing the tradition next year. Merry Christmas Nana & Papa!!

Beginning our Journey

Jackson had the right idea, riding in the sled.

The "Perfect" Tree

Our 2008 Christmas card

Since then we've had quite a bit more snow, a warm up with rain that melted most of the snow and now a deep freeze. This morning the weather gauge was reading -1 and a windchill of -17. BBRRRRR! We were able to get out and play in the snow a few times before it melted and I'm sure we'll have more chances since it isn't officially winter yet. I have to admit that I really don't mind playing in it, especially when I see how much Jackson loves it. We are looking forward to heading to MI for Christmas and seeing lots of family and friends that we haven't seen in a while. And we are looking forward to Jackson's Christmas program at school next Sunday.

Playing in the snow.

Our backyard after another 8" of snow.

Making snow angels.

We've gone retro.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Gingerbread cookies

Last night we decided to make gingerbread cookies. I rolled and the boys cut. Then they had a little fun with the flour.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! This year we had a really quiet Thanksgiving. It was just the three of us and we took our time getting the turkey in the oven and looking thru all the ad's for Black Friday. We watched the Lions lose and then stuffed our faces with turkey, well except Jackson he wouldn't touch the turkey or anything else and ended up eating chicken nuggets, ketchup and cookies. The kid is such a cookie monster! We thought about putting up Christmas lights outside and then decided to put it off til another day. It was a great day to relax and just be a family, for that I am thankful.


Over the past week we had our first snow fall of the season and couldn't wait to go play in it. We shoveled, went sledding, threw snowballs and made a little snowman. Who has since had the candy we used for his face eaten by a squirrel and the neighborhood dog, Carson. We've been to many toy stores searching for just the right things for our list to Santa. And at school they made turkey hats for Thanksgiving. Jackson also went to his first Pee Wee basketball class. The class is made up of boys and girls ages 3-5. The first lessons were on how to dribble, shoot, and pass. They still need a bit of work but it was so much fun to watch him and daddy out there. I think they both had a good time.


We hope you all had a good Thanksgiving and please know that we are so thankful to have such wonderful family and friends. See most of you in a few weeks for Christmas!

Halloween

Wisconsin does trick-or-treating earlier than the traditional Halloween night and our town had theirs last night. For as long as I can remember Halloween's in the Midwest are always cold. A few times we even had sleet or snow. This year was no exception. It was cold and windy with gusts up to 40+. I thought a few times our little mouse was going to be blown away. He said his "fur was wagging and his ears were wiggling". We went down the street and around most of the block before he decided he wanted to go back home. When we got home we sat out on the front step and handed candy out. I think he almost had more fun giving it away then he did getting it. :)

Hope you all have a warm and happy Halloween!

Our little mouse

Jackson & Daddy

Picking out some candy

Handing out candy at our house.

Jackson & mommy (I had to have a black nose too).

Pumpkin Patch & Fire Dept

This week we had a lot of fun going to the pumpkin patch and to the petting farm. We also went to tour the Richfield Fire Dept with the MOM's Club and to the park. The weather was beautiful! We're trying to soak it up while it lasts, that four letter "s" word will be here before we know it.

Jackson petting the calfs. He didn't like their tongues. :)

Saying hello to the little piggy's.

He had to check out the tractor!

We took a wagon out to the pumpkin patch. This is the one he picked out.

Heading back to the farm
Say "Cheese".

Checking out the fire truck with his friend Geyer.

Learning how to use the fire hose.

His new fire hat.
Playing on the see-saw. The leaves were amazing here!

"Look mom, no hands!"

Riding the Merry-go-round.