November 29

When I was growing up, my family always celebrated Christmas with a trip to the Christmas tree farm. It was one of my favorite traditions, but now that there are grandbabies and multiple work schedules and so many more people in our family, it's too complicated to make the Christmas tree farm happen. Instead, the new tradition seems to be the Garden Glow at the Botanical Garden. Thanks to my parents, we have all been able to go as an extended family the past few years, and it is one of our favorite parts of the season now.

Tonight was the family trip, and everyone except Billy was able to be there. Mom is still recovering after her knee replacement surgery, so Chris and Dad took turns pushing her in a wheelchair.

She might have had the best seat in the house!

I just love Lily's excitement in this picture. Also, you can practically see Mom radiating joy from being at the Garden with all of her grandbabies.

Lily was thrilled with the whole thing.

She also loved decorating the snowmen.

The field of colored luminaries were a  new feature this year, and they were gorgeous!

The light tunnel is always a favorite.

All the kids got in the big snow globe, but Max didn't want to go out on the stage.

Playing chase inside a tree of lights.

These two are best friends, and I love it.

Peek-a-boo!

(It was not warm enough for long sleeves and no coat. I have no idea why my child eschewed the coat, hat, and mittens I brought for him.

There was a field of blue lights, and Lily immediately began singing "Let it Go". You know, from Frozen? She was pretending to be Elsa.

She stood up on a "stage" in front of the blue lights and sang her heart out. It was adorable.

Does this look familiar? 

You know I can't resist a good series, so we had to stop by here (the kids call it the "cheese slice") to recreate this picture:

Pretty fabulous, right? I wonder what next year will look like! (Hint: no more babies. Maybe Eli holding my hand, instead of being worn?)

Best friends.

Cutie pies!

All of their grandbabies are in this picture, they're just not all visible. (Max and Jace are hiding in the trees somewhere.)

Emily and Ryan! Can you believe he will be 19 soon???

We did this visit with out the BOB, which was liberating. Chris brought our Lillebaby, though, and Lily hopped up for snuggles whenever she was tired or cold. 

Lovely.

Taking a break.

I'm pretty sure this was my Mom's favorite part.

Do you blame her?

Like I said - best seat in the house!

Then we took a s'mores break.

By the end of the evening, Jace was worn out. Emily borrowed our Ergo, and up he went. What a happy little guy!

Chris and I ended our night under the mistletoe, with Eli under my coat, Lily on his back, and Daisy hiding somewhere outside of the frame.

They were too cold and tired to cooperate for this picture, but look at how happy they are!

Except for Eli. He was just done.

What a fun evening!

November 26

We got our tree set up, so I tried to take Christmas card photos.

The kids were terribly uncooperative, and it was nearly dark before we got started. These aren't keepers, but I'll share them anyway.

This is Lily's "so happy it's scary"' face.

And then just plain happy. This is her new Christmas outfit, and she is thrilled to be wearing it!

Daisy got a new Christmas outfit, too, and she felt beautiful.

Sweet girl. I actually really like this picture of her, except that it's so grainy and noisy and green and... well, she's cute.

Caleb was feeling suave in his new cardigan and bow tie!

Eli wanted nothing to do with pictures.

This was when I called it quits. Eli wouldn't even sit down for the picture. Two year olds (or nearly two year olds) are ridiculous.

Then we got out the kids' little trees that Grandma got for them a few years ago, and they were SO. EXCITED.

Enjoying the view.

Reading by Christmas light.

Lily is so in love with her tree!

It's a little too pink for me, though, so how about some black and whites?

I love this.

November 24

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hosted Thanksgiving again this year, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that we were able to keep things really low key. It was a fun evening!

Grandmother helped the kids decorate a gingerbread turkey, which was probably the highlight of their evening.

Daisy was so proud! 

(Even now as I type this nearly a month later, Eli is pointing at the scream shouting, "YUM! YUM! YUM, MOMMY!")

Chris and Eli both wore zip-neck sweaters with collared shirts, so I took a picture of my "matching" boys. Aren't they handsome?

We waited until well after dark to try to take a family photo, so this was the best we got.

The whole crew

After we ate, we played. Grandpa entertained the kids, and we enjoyed hanging out. It was so much fun!

November 21

Lily's new favorite activity is building castles out of blocks. It's funny how she is suddenly more big girl than toddler.

And by "funny", I mean "equally exciting and heart wrenching".

It kills me how proud she is of her work!

She is just the sweetest.

November 19

This is all I have for today:

At the same park as yesterday, waiting for my clients to arrive. There were 5 children 5 and under, and my voice didn't work above a whisper/squeak. 

Also, it was cold.

Fun times.

November 18

I have an extended family photo session scheduled for tomorrow, and at the last minute the client requested a new location that I've never been to. No big deal! The kids and I headed out to scout things out today. It rained off and on during our scouting trip, but they (mostly) didn't mind, especially when it meant that we had the whole playground to ourselves!

The park was gorgeous, and well worth the drive!

Are they the cutest little models, or what?

Next time we come, we will bring something to feed the swans, ducks, and geese!

Or maybe not. I'm still traumatized by an incident in college when Chris let a duck bite me.

You know. Climbing on a cannon while it rains.

See? No one else on the playground! (Don't worry, Mom. I think this was during a break in the rain, which is why Eli is just wearing a shirt. When it was actively raining, I promise  he had a rain coat on!)

It started raining pretty hard, so we hopped in the van and headed home. Luckily I picked up some food to feed the kids on the way home, because the heavy rain and winds meant that our drive took over an hour. We got home just before this happened:

Hail.

It was a pretty exciting morning!

November 17

A friend loaned me a pretty wrap to play with, so of course I took a selfie.

Eli was only moderately impressed. Apparently he doesn't appreciate how luxurious a wool/silk/cashmere/cotton blend is, or how nice these colors look on us.

A friend and neighbor contacted me yesterday with the exciting news that, after years of submitting manuscripts, her writing was finally being published! But she needed a head shot... immediately. Luckily, today's forecast was sunny and 80 (in November!) so I told her to come over this afternoon. Daisy helped me scout lighting conditions in our back yard.

She was a willing subject, even if her wardrobe wasn't quite on point.

I love this one; Daisy just curled up on the chair and pretended to sleep. When I turned it to a moody black and white, it immediately switched from a strange picture to a mysterious image with a story behind it. Can't you imagine a little girl lost int he woods who happened upon a chair? (A note to my devoted reader Catherine: can you write a story about this?)

I think Eli is in the story, too. Perhaps he is climbing a mountain to rescue his missing sister, who has fallen asleep in the woods?

Or maybe not.

But he is busy being adorable.