Merry Christmas

We had another wonderful Christmas full of good food and family. We were so happy to have Grandma M come for a visit and share the holidays with us. Holden loved all the lights & decorations, TV specials (which we are still watching) and, of course, the generous gifts and visit from Santa.
Enjoying a cookie at the school Christmas partyGiving me the gift he made.A beautiful handprint ornament!

Getting ready to head out into the snow.Despite his snowgear, Holden preferred to stick to the shoveled driveway.

Shopping for the Feast.
Say Cheese!

The Feast fun begins.
Dig in!
Watching "It's a Wonderful Life" with cousins Annika, Olivia, and Colin.

White Christmas, sort of.

Santa, did you come?

Of course!
Ernie Fire Engine from Ernie - an immediate favorite toy.

The sing-along in full swing at Uncle David & Aunt Susan's house.Hanging with the boys.New tent from Grammy.Grammy of the year!I see you!

A little light reading of Happiest Baby on the Block in his new beanbag chair from Grandma M.

Thanksgiving

Grammy and Ernie joined us for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Yummy because Grammy was in charge of the kitchen, not because the rest of us contributed much besides stuffing ourselves with her yummy food.

Holden prefered for us to wear the headband he made at Farm School.

Chef Grammy

We got in the Christmas spirit as soon as the turkey leftovers were in the fridge.Watching Charlie Brown in his Christmas jammies.At the train museum. Notice lonely Santa. This place was filled with kids but even the big man himself couldn't compete with all the choo choos.

Happy Halloween

Holden and Shreyes heading out for Trick or Treating. Despite not wanting to dress up, he had a blast getting candy and saying thank you to everyone. He got lots of treats but was not the least bit interested in eating any of it. Wondering how long his anti-sweets phase will last. We even have to force him to eat gummy vitamins. Clearly he did not inherit my sweet tooth.

At the neighborhood block party beforehand. His expression captures his mood for the day and his complete disinterest in all things costume related.

Jack-o-lantern sloppy joes I made for the party. Pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Decorating his pumpkin at Farm School family night a few days earlier. A hayride around the farm in the dark followed the crafts. We love Farm School!

Posing for a picture with Reilly.

Fall Fun

Fall festival season is upon us and we've been taking full advantage of it.

Highlights from festival #1. Petting zoo was a big hit. Moonbounce...not so much. Extra fun was had running into friends Sydney, Owen, and neighbor Shreyes.

Fall fun weekend #2 - a special weekend with Grammy & Ernie while we went out of town for a night. Saturday was a trip to the open house at the fire station.

Sunday was spent at another fall festival, perhaps the best one yet. Holden got to take a ride on a real train to and from the festivities. Grammy reported he was a little hesitant at first but quickly warmed up.

Fall fun weekend #3 - a trip out to the Shenandoah Valley for a hot air balloon festival although no hot air balloons were seen due to the wind. Still it was a fun festival and a beauiful day. Check out the Great Pumpkin.

More petting zoo action.

Fall fun weekend #4 - actually picking out our pumpkins then a birthday party for our next door neighbor Shreyes.

The boys on the swing set during the party.

Trying on hats - this beautiful fall weather will soon turn into colder days but at least he'll be cute and warm.