Christmas is coming

We had a great thanksgiving together. We were extra grateful this year due to the health of my mom. We were grateful she was with us to enjoy this day and that she felt relatively good. Jill and I helped her get the massive job done. It was a beautiful meal, but it just didn't feel the same. Spirits were different and the day did not have its usual "happy feel". 

Aside from that, the kids had fun. Isla and 

Hossana played all morning with the parade on the tv. Snacks were in abundance and huge cupcakes were waiting to be devoured. Below shows some of the fun moments during the day.

 Mmm delicious snacks

Sneaking crackers all day

Grateful for cousin love!

And little fluffy headbands!

Sifting through the Black Friday adds is a huge tradition.

Santa made his appearance!

My little turkeys!

The tree went up!

And we hung the ornaments with care

We took a day trip to Blackberry Farm to ride the Christmas train and to meet Santa.

Riding the Christmas Train

Bundled up tight 

And finally meeting Santa!

Catching up on Halloween and November

Usually I am all over posting about Halloween and fall. With my mom so sick, it has been hard to catch up. So here is a very brief recap of our October. 

We did a small photo shoot with the girls mainly because it was Estelle's first time playing in the leaves. Needless to say she was completely enchanted by the small crispy objects surrounding her. 

Isla loved them too. She is still my little outdoors woman.

It was a world of wonder for them.

We did a "Touch a truck" date with Emmett and Owen. Isla was in heaven! 

It was a great day!

I tried to get these girls out as much as possible while the leaves were falling and the colors were changing, 

They are my light during the darkest times. I love them so much! 

One weekend Papa gave Isla her own personal hayride. We mainly got together to visit with grandma. We did this on one of her better days.  Grandpa pulled them around on his hay trailer with his old tractor. Isla was spoiled rotten! 

Yet again marveling at the turning of the leaves. 

Isla's preschool had a Halloween parade before class to show off their costumes a day earlier. It was an adorable assembly!

She performed a little twirly whirl at the end for everyone to see and had the whole room cheering. I seriously need it enroll her in a dance class! 

And finally Halloween came. Last year it was pouring rain all day, this year it snowed and remained in the 30's with blustery winds. It was not fun. We only trick-or-treated at 6 houses. Poor Isla was so intrigued, but Estelle was not amused and started to fuss. Isla was a fire woman because she insisted on being a "wee-o wee-o" as she calls firetrucks. So me being the ruffley gaudy mom that I am, made her a cute little fire woman complete with a tutu. Estelle predictably became the side kick Dalmatian. It was adorable.

Delicious treats from our neighbors the Harners. They gave the girls treats from their amazing bakery. & of course chocolate from Graham's. 

That wraps up Halloween. The decorations came down and were swapped out with fall/thanksgiving items. 

Even though my heart has been in the dumps I still try to make my home a happy place for my family. It's November, the month of thanks. I wake up everyday thankful to hear my moms voice when I call her in morning. It will continue to be that way each and everyday we have together.