O' Christmas Tree

Chris decided that this year we needed to go to a tree farm to find the perfect Christmas tree, so we did. His friend/co-worker, Bryan, has a tree farm, so Chris went Friday and picked out a tree and then on Sunday, we took Maddie and Ty to cut it down.

I bribed Maddie and Ty with a snack while Chris put the lights on the tree. For some reason Chris didn't want their help with the lights.

Ty helping Daddy trim the tree.

Maddie helped me decorate the tree.

Then Ty found the bells for the doors and loved the noise they made.

Maddie joined Ty in ringing the bells.

Gobble, Gobble

I packed Maddie and Ty for our Thanksgiving trip!

On Thanksgiving Day, we traveled to Louisville to Aunt Linda's. It was a perfect trip because the four grandchildren rode with Ma and Pa in the Expedition while the parents rode together in a separate vehicle!

Maddie and Carson rode in the very back.

We celebrated Christmas at Thanksgiving too.

Maddie got a microphone. Thanks Cousin Kris!!

Now Ty and Maddie are official superheros since they have their capes.

Maddie relaxed with Uncle Sam and watched everyone else open their gifts.

Maddie playing on Logan's new tent and tunnel. It was a hit!

Ty camped out in the tent.

Aunt Tracey gives the twins all their manicures and pedicures for me. Maddie doesn't seem to mind.

Ty wasn't really pleased with her. He likes his toenails long!

23 Hour Trip

We made a quick trip to Wilmington starting Friday night after Chris got home from basketball practice. One of Chris's Cross Country runners was running in a meet in Kettering on Saturday morning. While he was at the meet, the four cousins played and played!

Then Pa called and told us to come ride on the combine. He was finishing the corn when we arrived.

Ty and Maddie sitting inside the combine.

They were enjoying it, but I was worried they were going to move something important!

Ty loved the combine and kept signing "more" when Pa was emptying the corn out of the auger.

Ty and I were in the tractor by ourselves. Maddie wanted nothing to do with the tractor.

Aunt Tracey found Maddie her own ear of corn. Maddie was not too happy that walking in the corn field was so difficult. She kept saying "big" and pointing to the combine.

Then Aunt Tracey had to find Ty his own ear of corn. What one has...the other must have too!

In the afternoon, we went to Logan's indoor soccer game. Logan was trying to keep cool during a break between quarters. After the soccer game, we packed up the car again and headed back to Zanesville. We will return to the farm for Thanksgiving!!

More Leaves & More Pics

Chris got a new leaf blower. He wanted me to mention all the details, but I can't remember them except it is a backpack leaf blower and really powerful!

Therefore, we spent the entire Saturday afternoon playing in the leaves while Chris blew them in a gigantic pile.

Maddie and Ty even helped by camouflaging a climbing toy.

For the first time this fall, Ty truly enjoyed the leaves. That didn't bother him at all. It must be the new leaf blower!

Ty thought it was funny to bury Maddie in the leaves.

"I think this one is my favorite!"

Ty looking a little nervous when Chris was too close.

Where's Maddie?

The twins hanging out with the leaves.

"These leaves are the best!"

Thank You Ma

Somehow Ma even managed to give Maddie a cooking lesson!

Maddie put the pineapple and cherry on the ham loaf.

My mom comes once a month for a week to babysit. Well, last week was her November week, and what a week it was! The week consisted of Parent-Teacher Conferences for both Chris and me, the first full week of "official practice" for basketball, and Ty's usually busy schedule of therapies. Chris and I (and maybe even Maddie and Ty) could have not made it through the week without our live-in nanny. We even had to enlist Mimi and Papa on Wednesday night to help. They brought over dinner and helped with baths while Chris was at a Cross Country meeting, and I was at P/T Conferences. Thank goodness the week is finally over, and thank GOD for grandparents!!

A Teachable Moment

That was the fire truck that came. Chris said I could have gotten a better picture than that!

Chris has been doing an awesome job with the leaves in our yard this fall. He has raked and then burned them every week for the last three weeks. Well, this week the leaf process became quite interesting when the Falls Township Fire Department arrived at our house! Chris was finishing burning a huge pile of leaves which he had been working on for a few hours when he came to the back door and yelled in that someone had called the fire department. It turns out that the smoke from the leaves had made its way down to Maple Ave. and someone called the fire department thinking that a building was on fire. I looked out the window and saw a fire truck with its light on in our side yard. Immediately, I yelled for my mom to bring Ty, and I grabbed Maddie and darted out the door. I asked one of the six firemen who were surrounding Chris, if we could take a glance at their fire truck. Chris was giving me "the look"; however, I continued on after the fireman said he wouldn't arrest Chris in front of the kids! Maddie and Ty were intrigued with the big red truck with bright flashing lights (probably the whole neighborhood was too), and then the fireman came over and told us to get in. We climbed in, checked out their gear, and they even gave the twins their own hats! They gave Chris some information about burning leaves, too! Once back in the house, I found our book about fire trucks and read that. I think Ty and Maddie really understand it now.....therefore, it was a teachable moment.

Push

Maddie climbed up on the kitchen chair and started to read her book. Ty came over, and Maddie told him to "push."

Ty trying to push big sis.

State Cross Country Meet

Allison placed 5th in Division I!!

Ty hanging out in his stroller passing time by eating a soft pretzel.

Maddie trying to get out of the stroller. She needed to explore Scioto Downs.

After the race, we were playing with my sunglasses while waiting for the awards ceremony.

One of Chris's girls on his cross country team made it to state for the third year in a row. Since the weather was perfect and Mimi was willing to go along, I decided the twins needed to attend the meet. They enjoyed watching all the people, and I enjoyed getting to see Allison run.