It's My Most Favoritest Weekend of the Year...

The first weekend of December.   Chill in the air.   Small town America open house.  I love it.  Our little town gathers on the main street amidst fires burning from barrels and free carriage rides.  There are musicians on every corner.  This year I even claim one of them.  It's Ethan (and friends) who serenaded the wandering townsfolk to Christmas music.

 The elementary school decorated the Christmas tree this year with snowflakes each student designed and printed on a 3 D printer.  We looked for Ben and Will's, but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.....or as Will would say "literally" a snowflake in a Christmas tree.

On Saturday morning we pick out the best Frasier Fir and bring it in the house.  We take a break mid decorating to attend the local Christmas parade.  This year Kevin and Ethan decorated his trumpet for the festivities.  It took a little bit of manuvering but the effect was worth it.   

After we warm up from the parade, we drink hot cocoa, listen to Christmas music (This year's favorite Pentatonix.) and decorate the tree. 

Lovely. 

You know it has been a long time since you have blogged when

1.  You can't remember your password.
2.  You can't remember how to get to the blog.

Oh well.  I did it anyhow.  Take that google.

Here's a little bit of news.  Ethan turned 13 this summer.  He is taller than his mama now.  She can still wrestle him to the ground if she needs to though.

 Will lost his front teeth.  I always think kids are so cute at this stage.

 Ben, our only child who didn't suck his thumb, got braces.  Can you say kharma?  He turned 11 this summer.

 

 Kevin and I worked our fingers to the bone to dig out and replant the landscaping in front of the house.  We had the plans done last year by a landscape architect of our nephews and were blown away by the quotes to have someone come in and do the work.  We are pretty happy with the outcome.   I look forward to seeing how things look as they mature.

I had the day off from teaching today.  I spent it cleaning house mostly.  My friend, Kim, would be most disappointed in my spending a day this way.  However, it was necessary.  I promise.  I had to make space for the Christmas tree!

After a summer of our family room flooding at every raindrop, we had french drains installed this November. It has been so lovely to have a dry basement!  We are still in the process of putting things back together.  It's amazing the dust produced when they jackhammer the floor.  We still need to slap on a fresh coat of paint and move the furniture back then we will be able to live downstairs again for the first time since JUNE!

I will try to post again sometime, assuming I can remember my new password!

Flashforward to present day....it's cold.  It snowed.  We played.  We shoveled.  Enough said.  

In the midst of all that, I had a birthday.  Below is the cake that Ethan decorated for me.  Gets the point across I guess!  What's the need of fancy flowers and other bells and whistles? Chocolate shavings....who needs 'em?

That's me opening one of my three pairs of boots this birthday.  Oh yeah.  Mama's toes are loving life this winter.  

Ethan has been expanding his talents in the kitchen after his semester in middle school Home Economics. We asked him to set the table and this is what we found.  Pretty impressive I must say!

Ketchup

Seems like a lot of time has passed.   Oops.

My life lately consists of school, home, basketball, getting ready for school, cleaning at home, going to basketball games, go to bed, get up and repeat.

Flashback Christmas 2-0-1-5

All three boys participated in the Christmas Eve program at church.  It was very sweet.  Will was so small that you couldn't see him at all only hear his little voice projected over the microphone.  Nice memories though.  If I were a scrapbooking woman, I would dedicate 2 pages to this moment in time.

Here are the boys in their Christmas Eve pajamas.  Ben has decided to no longer wear a shirt to bed.  What evs.  

We had the traditional shrimp and fondue Christmas Eve party with my family.  Then we were so excited to have some of Kevin's family with us on Christmas day!  The boys even waited until almost three o'clock to open their presents.  So proud of them.  

 

Finn enjoyed himself immensely! If you can put a dog to sleep does that mean you are talented or really boring??  I never did know for sure.