The Christmas tree

We put up the Christmas tree with Grandma and Paka.  We did that last year, only last year I believe I was curled up in my bed after I tried to help and ended up puking, while Grandma and Brice helped over see the ornaments being handed out.

But not this year!!!  No puking and being sick for me this time. 

Annalise wasn't too sure about the commotion haha! 

And Grandma was making a list, and checking it twice.  Of groceries.

My favorite little ornaments are these little pictures ones I made last year.  I'm excited to make some more for this year, with our newest little family member in them.

Also the manual labor or putting up the actual tree is hard work, I guess :) 

Also I didn't realize till after I took these last two pictures that Liv had wiggled out of her shirt.  She tends to do that sometimes.  Obviously I'm used to it, and barely notice. 

Over the river and through the woods. . .

My parents are here visiting for Thanksgiving.  Usually when they come anytime that isn't the middle of summer, it's cold, wet, and miserable here.  So I was happy that for two day of their visit, at least, they were able to see some sun and nice fall days.

Then the gloomy clouds and rain set it.

But we did have those two days.

And on one of them my dad and I took the boys on a hike at Audubon Park.  I am seriously loving this park this year, and have probably been more times in the past two months than I have the entire time we've lived here.

I never knew there were so many fun trails and that it was so pretty.  But now I know.  So I imagine I'll be visiting a lot for the rest of forever. 

Jace led the way with the map.  Or what he thought was the way. 

Cam was a trooper through the whole hike, which was probably a total of just under two miles.  He had to put on a brave face for Paka.  Had it just been me, I'm sure there would have been A LOT more whining.

And of course the best part of hiking, and really the only reason for it, as far as these two are concerned, are the snack breaks. 

The hike we went on was the Wilderness Lake Loop, and so so there are a lot of fun bridges to walk over.  Lots of them had signs showing they were Eagle Scout projects.

This is my favorite picture of our adventure.

Annalise Kate 5 months

When I realized, in horror (might I add), that I hadn't done any cutesy pics of Sweet Lise of her five months I was in the middle of dressing her between church and heading to Granny's for lunch.  So it was either quickly put the dress back on, which would have probably turned her sweet little mood into a super grumpy one, or just quickly take some pics with a bow sporting no clothes.  So that's just what I did.

She could not stop yelling and blowing spit at me and the camera.

But she still is the cutest thing ever.

Oh wait, let me correct myself.  She could stop yelling long enough to stare at her chubby wittle legs  Because they're so cute.  

At five months, our Leesie-girl loves to eat, watch her brothers and sister, cuddle with mommy, smile, yell, eat, and play with toys.  She doesn't roll over, makes no effort to squirm around, and has recently began to love her door hanging bouncer.  She jumps like a crazy person in it.