Sooo Behind

At this point I think it's necessary to begin this post by saying, "if anyone still reads this".... Yeah, I've fallen behind. This month has been nuts with trying to get everything ready for Christmas and Jane's birthday not to mention helping to plan church events and going out of town several times. Ok, ok enough excuses. So here is something we did TWO weeks ago..... We went to Dewberry Farm to cut down our own Christmas tree and let the kids have some fun on the farm.

Yup, in South Texas this is what you wear to cut down your Christmas tree. And can I tell you something? We were hot... in this... at 10 am. I guess we should have worn shorts ;-)

Give Janie a piece of hay and she's happy, indefinitely. We took a hay ride out to the fields where they grow the trees and I learned an important lesson. When a random guy using your camera tells you to smile and say "Christmas tree!!!", ignore him. Otherwise, you may end up with the expression I have on my face here -->

That's what I get for trying to be festive. After turning down many trees for defects that apparently I alone was skilled enough to detect (I can be kind of a Christmas tree perfectionist... I'm pretty sure Nate dreads the picking out process every year.) we found out tree and Nate set about cutting it down. Micah, of course, was managing the process loudly... it's not his fault that he always knows the best way to do things, and that he always wants to impart that knowledge ;-)

After conquering our tree with the abnormally sharp saw provided by Dewberry, we dragged it back to the pickup area and proceeded back to the farm while the tree got all gussied up for us. Nate took on slide mountain with the older kids....

And Micah gave Lizzie some lessons in how the bouncy pillows work...

I wish that girl would let me do her hair in something other than just a headband. The headband is utterly defenseless against a good bouncy pillow...

QUICK!! They're getting along!! Take a picture... NOW!!

And another, and another...

As a parent you have to time your picture taking to make sure you maintain the perception that your kids are perfect and absolutely always get along.... which, of course, my kids are and do.... sometimes... when they feel like it... usually sugar is involved (in this case, fresh fudge :). I'm (sort of) kidding. It's just that when my oldest get along, they really get along. They love each other sooooooo much. When they don't get along, they really don't get along. Anyhoo, Micah took some trike rides...

And Lizzie and Jane had a swinging good time (see what I did there? ;-)

We had so much fun! Even if we were sweating a little.... ok, a lot.

P.S.- Jane just took her first real steps!! Incentive? iPad