Annual Christmas Tree Craziness

Dec. 20th was scheduled as Christmas Tree Gettin' Day...

we were missing a few kiddo's, though

Joe was in Bemidji...

Stephen had a final left on the 23rd (what's up with that, Uof M?)...

Clare had to work...

 

ah well, off we go with the rest of the bunch...

 

Timmer came with his game face on...

 

and the living room was all ready for the new addition...

 

 

so we hit the road...

 

Francis was unimpressed with his mittens...

 

and plenty of snowballs were flying right out of the shoot...

 

but Miss Marianna was ready for some fun...

 

we all spread out to find our personal favorites...

 

maybe this one?

 

Stephen paused in pursuit of a tree to take on a younger brother...

(he surprised us and came home for a few days before heading back for that last final!)

 

the Cleopatra kid had to get a few snowballs in...

 

then the Big Guy in Charge called everyone back to order...

 

this tree?

 

oh, wait...how 'bout this one?

 

ok mom, get the picture over with...

 

maybe this tree?

 

there was some serious thought about this tree...

 

Marianna even got a little attached...

 

but everyone else moved on...

 

maybe eating snow will ease the pain...

 

one final takedown by Stephen...

 

some Santa wannabe's...

 

shopping the pre-cut's...

 

Therese takes a detour...

 

decision made...

 

time for cocoa and candy canes...

 

yum, even better than snow!!!

 

back to the ranch for some trimming...

 

yikes, who picked out this tree??

 

Therese got into the spirit of decorating right away...

 

taking out old favorites...

 

breathing deeply through the mess...

 

oh, we're getting there...

 

Grandpa and Grandma's extra lights in action...

 

FranMan's taking it all in...

 

Success at last!

Old Thanksgiving Pictures and a Few Extra Thrown In

Found this old post that I never finished, so here goes...

 

the out takes of our Christmas picture...

 

 

and the finished product...

thanks to Rachel!

 

 

Joseph's girlfriend, Rachel,

and one of the kittens...

 

our traditional Thanksgiving family activity...

football

 

big guys are out of shape...

there was lots of huffing and puffing...

 

 

1st snowfall this year...

 

Francis got to the dish water and

decided to wear the suds...

 

making snowflakes...

 

celebrating O Antiphons...

 

 

 

and yet more kitty lovin'

 

 

A Shiner in Progress

Johnny sported this brand new black eye last Friday morning.

 

Apparently, Gabriel jumped on him at bedtime the night before.

So I asked if they had put some ice on it to which Gabriel piped in,

 "No, we used holy water and that worked."

Well, it might have made him feel better but it sure doesn't look better!

 

 

 

Same shiner, same bathrobe, same attitude...

two days later.

 

(He now answers to Cleopatra around here.)

Some Science

A wonderful homeschool mama has agreed to

drive Matthew and Andrew into town for biology classes

while Grandma and Grandpa are gone for the winter.

 

 

So that leaves Friday afternoons for little kid science...

 

Marianna wanted to be a part of the fun, too.

 

We are learning about the human body and our senses.

 

Lots of coloring, cutting and pasting...

 

to make some pretty funny faces.

 

I think I know that guy?!

 

Marianna modeling her very own "5 senses guy".

 

 

The finished project.

 

Fun!

 

School Stuff and Other Crazy Fam Pix

 

Francis really loved Dan's birthday card.

 

Here he's trying a new look.

Glasses and socks compliments of Therese's doll collection.

 

Loving on our new kitties.

 

Poor, poor kitties.

 

There's a whole lot of lovin' going on.

 

Helping Clare with homework.

We had to phone the Math Guy for help!

 

Obviously, Marianna was here!

 

My Spelling Helper

 

Texting a favorite recipe to Math Guy.

 

Winter evening fun.

 

Therese's sewing for her dolls.

(It's an apron, in case you're wondering.)

 

St. Nick brought new pony holders for Marianna...

 

but Francis insisted on trying them out.

 

 

Marianna is working hard at her letters and numbers!

 

When boredom sets in, we resort to fort building!

Celebrating Advent

This year, the kids did all of the Advent prep.

 

 

Matthew took care of the Jesse Tree.

 

Gabriel found the Christmas stockings.

 

The "hired help".

 

Johnny managed the advent wreath

(even had the right color of candles this year!)

 

 

Marianna and Therese colored their own set of

Jesse Tree ornaments for their room...

 

 

while I worked on making new Jesse Tree ornaments

from this book .

 

We were all set before the First Sunday of Advent.

That's some kind of record for this family!