I couldn't hold off any longer...

I had to put Christmas music on the blog today.  It's the 1st Sunday of Advent, AND we are decorating our tree.  I am also fiddling around with Christmas card ideas so while all of these things are happening, Christmas music is running through my mind =)

It really is the most WONDERFUL time of the year!

We had a very simple Thanksgiving, it was just what our party of 5 needed...very laid back!  I am Thankful for too many things to list.  This time of year is very special to me and tugs at my heart, in a good way!  I remember 8 years ago when I was preparing to host our first thanksgiving(as a married couple =),)  and I didn't feel quite right and mom my was teasing me that maybe I was pregnant...and I was, with Olivia.  It seems that my best pregnancies were this time of year with the 3 babies I have here with me on earth.  Nolan was a September Birthday so he was just shy of November, my little butterball Leo also came to life in November.  Last year I found out I was pregnant with him the day after Thanksgiving.  Today, it's one of the things I have been thinking about over and over.  Leo is one of the sweetest things I've ever known!  It has been so fun celebrating all of his "FIRSTS." 

So here we go heading into December in the next week and I CAN'T WAIT!  Liv brought home her Advent packet from school Friday, we love this!  We are going to start The Elf on the Shelf with the kids this year.  Something new for Shane and I as well.  Isn't it fun to start, or relive family traditions?  It is so important to me to have traditions with my children.  I hope that everyone reading this had a beautiful Thanksgiving Day!

*On a side note, I do have to say that I am very disappointed that all of our snow melted! I am probably an oddball since I am one of of those people who LOVES to be snowed in ;) I wish we would have had as much snow today as we did last November. The picture I have at the top of my blog was taken last year when we cut down our Christmas tree, that's how much snow we had, it was c-r-a-z-y!

Some of my Fall Faves~

I love the Pacific Northwest for so many reasons.  Fall up on Greenbluff is so beautiful and everything about is spells tradition for our little family.  This year Leo got to join in and we had a great time, cold weather and all.

Leo's 1st ride on tractor to pick apples

Awww little bud.  Shane kept saying how much Nolan looked like a little girl in this hat.  This hat has quite the history and my poor kids have to suffer when I make them wear it, even if it is too small...because I love it so much ;)

I am laughing...wow, look at Nolan's face, hahaha...

Roly-poly's first time at the pumpkin patch

Gotta love the pony rides, my kids insist on this each year

Liv gets a pony that poops & pees the entire ride, and so the look on her face is also making me laugh.  She wanted off the smelly pony~lol!

Wiggle Worm

I MISS MY BROTHER!!!

So sad Leo was sleeping in the carseat next to us, wish I'd pulled him out because this isn't a picture with the 5 of us =( 

Cheer Gurls~

The Raiders cheerleaders are finished for the season.  The coaches set up an end of the season cheer party for the girls, it was really sweet.  They had framed a picture of each cheerleader and then the girls signed each other's frames.  They also received a trophy.  Her coaches were awesome and I know she'll have one of them back next year.  Olivia absolutely LOVES cheerleading...she's got rhythm, coordination, and well, she's really good at it!  I shouldn't be that surprised since she's always dancing, singing, listening to music and making up routines.  She has really come out of her shell and I think cheer helped her do so.  There will be a L  O   N  G break from cheer now, won't start up again until next Fall.  However, she's already on a team again for next year, I think this will be her "sport" if you will =)  I am so glad she's found an activity that brings her so much joy.  Included are a few pictures of the last game.

Raiders Cheer Team =)

This could be one of the cutest, and most favorite pictures of her.  Um...the sign, upside down, nobody noticed I guess :)  Poor Noodle!

Our very low key Halloween~

Our Halloween was so mellow this year. We always have the same family and friends over, a 5 year tradition and this year, it didn't happen. My kids were pretty bummed. Nolan has a cold and Liv has been fighting one for the last couple of days so I figured it was best not to expose everyone to our germies. So instead of making a pot of chili, I made chicken noodle soup and rolls. I still had to make brownies though(which I have hogged!) We live in cul-de-sac with great neighbors so we always go around to the same handful of houses. And then over a couple blocks to see a few friends. Shane's tradition...when we hit the Herzog's, Chris hands him a Red stripe Beer =) 
This years costumes~Olivia was a Cheerleader, and Nolan a football player(Raiders.) Was cute because Liv & Nolan matched since she cheers for the Raiders in Popwarner Cheer. Leo was a cow.  It was too cute considering he's got a roly-poly body.  He's getting so chubby,  he was almost too big for it because he's grown so darn fast. We got his costume right after he was born so I figured 3-6 months would be the right fit, wrong...he could have worn a 6-9 month! When my friend Siri saw the kids she said I should have made Leo the football, what a great idea, wish I'd thought of that! Nolan says he wants to be a football player again next year, so maybe Leo can be the football next year?!

My little bubble blowing boy!

I would like to eat his little head off...I know I can be a little much!

YUM!

Cuties!

Loved the tail!

JP trying to look tough ;)

Oh wow Liv!  She loves to Cheer that's for sure!

Gotta love Gam's Clown outfit...she's had the same one for 19 years, I love it.

We made it back home.  Nolan is proud of those skittles.  Poor little buddy, he would tell everyone who answered the door "I can't have any peanuts!" Which pretty much includes every chocolate candy/bar under the sun!  At the same time, I am thankful his is aware and can help protect himself(although his mama is right on top of it!)