Christmas Adam

On the Duggar's show the other day they mentioned that they call the day before Christmas Eve, Christmas Adam because Adam came before Eve.  I like that.  

And with that information, these were the events of our 2011 Christmas Adam.

Mike was given some awesome basketball tickets to watch the Badgers courtside.  Uncle Chris, Grandpa Mark, Grandpa Ken and Uncle Kenny had a good time.

Back home we frosted cut-out cookies

Christmas Traditions

Picking out a Christmas Tree at Riehle's Tree Farm

 

Daddy's helper.  Lincoln loves watering the tree...
actually, he loves to do anything daddy is doing.



Christmas Cookies

The boys were great kiss unwrappers.

 

Singing in the Children's Program at Spring Creek Church

Making Gingerbread Houses

Thanks Cake & Bake for hosting and eliminating our clean-up!



 Country Springs Holiday Light Display

Chicago Trip

With the anticipation of a new baby and my restrictions, some of our Christmas traditions have been just a little different this year. Mike & I thought it would be nice for the older kids to have a day off of school to spend with daddy. Brooke, Clayton and Mike took an early train down to Chicago to spend the day. They had a great time at the Lego, American Girl and Disney stores, enjoying lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and finishing with a horse drawn carriage ride through the city.



Fun on the train!



 

Inside the carriage

Top bunk...here he comes!

Clayton is FIVE and we've been talking for months now how exciting it will be when he turns 5 and gets to sleep on the top bunk.  Most of the hype has been because he'll need to move to the top bunk out of "necessity" so that Lincoln can assume the position of the bottom bunk...hence making room for Baby in Lincoln's old room.  Clayton's been a bit hesitant about sleeping up there...we'll see how it goes!

He had a great birthday and currently loves all things Lego and Angry Birds.

Ready, Set, GO!

For Halloween, we had several families from the neighborhood over for pizza before heading out to trick or treat.  My hope was for a group shot pre-treating, but before most of the adults even had their coats on the kids had already raced forward and finished 3 houses.  Everyone had a great time and collected enough sugar for weeks to come.  Our family had....

Dr. Brooke Stanley

Bumble Bee Transformer Clayton




Lion Lincoln

 


Who, for the record was the first lion to not cry when having his whiskers put on!



SEVEN! How did that happen?!



As Brooke went to bed on October 28th, she asked, "Take one last picture of me mom while I'm SIX."

Birthday Breakfast Tradition
We made a new favorite of ours.  Brownies with oreos and rollos layered in the middle.  Nothing like a sugar-high to start the day off right.

It wasn't Brooke's year for an official friend birthday party, but we did honor her request to go bowling with a few of her closest friends.  The girls had a great time bowling and then enjoying some dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.

Every year I cannot believe how a baby who starts off at 4 lbs connected to many monitors and tubes is now a 7 year old in the first grade! 

Pumpkins!

A little bit of carving....a little bit of painting.  Clayton especially wasn't a big fan of scooping the goop from the pumpkin.  Brooke had very grandious plans for her design - a bit past mom's ability.  And Lincoln was content to just be a part of the action. 





  

Happy Halloween!

Backyard Smores

We received notice that Mike's credit card he uses for all his work travel was discontinuing their rewards program and that we should watch for a check in the mail. Originally the plan for that account was to take a nice vacation, but since it'll be a while since we do any traveling as a family of 6, Mike decided that chairs and a bonfire pit would be a great option to promote some family time. The kids LOVED sitting out there and enjoying their first round of smores. Another great idea daddy!