Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

It's becoming one of our family traditions to visit a Christmas Tree farm the wknd after Thanksgiving. We went to this one last year too... with Grandpa as a matter of fact! We actually have a fake tree for our family room, so we just go to the farm for the experience and to get a small tree the smells good.

Lucas and Ellen love the adventure. I told Lucas that we wanted a tree about as tall as me, so here he is telling me that we also need a tree about as tall as him : )

And here is our lady, with bunny and binky in tow...

After much searching for the perfect tree, we finally found one!

And so we cut it down...

Daddy and Lucas did most of the work, while Ellen, Grandpa and I supervised.

We brought Grandpa along so he could carry it for us : )

Can you tell Lucas was excited?

Whew! Crisis averted! I just happen to turn around and see poor, little bunny alone among the field of Christmas trees...

Next came Lucas's favorite part... the machine that shakes off the needles.

The tree guy could see Lucas drooling as he watched him package the tree, so he asked Lucas if he would like to help him cut the netting off before he tied it up... yes he would love to!

Black Friday

Thankfully we had a family picture session planned for the day after Thanksgiving, or I may have given in to that nagging voice that was telling me to go to Target at 4am and save on toys.

We were instructed to wear some red. We haven't seen them yet - can't wait! This was post picture when were having some brunch at Mike and Jill's house, rocking our bunnies in the baby swing and watching cousins play Nintend* DS...

I had to post a couple of more of this little lady. She wore this big ole dress all day long because I didn't know we were going to stay that long at the Bartelt house. When she walked up the stairs, which she did a million times, she would hold it up like in the olden days : )

And the rest of the wknd was spent casually at home with family. We watched some youtube videos. It's like having our own personal preschool teacher in our kitchen. Grandpa was generous enough to man the computer a while so that we could make breakfast...

And, finally, Grandpa with his girl...

Thanksgiving Day

So the pressure was on to get the turkey right since we were hosting so many people. All I've heard for 30 years is how hard it is to cook a turkey. I think it must have gotten easier recently because I just picked up a kit from the grocery store that had instructions on how to brine it for 48 hours and then season it before cooking. It was super easy and tasted good... so there ya go. But prepping the turkey was still as disgusting as I remember from two years ago. We said we'd never cook one again when we found out (by watching a youtube video on how to prep a turkey) that you have to pull things, like the NECK out of the turkey's body. It just seems odd. But anyhow, we did it and it was not as bad as I remember.

We were also in charge of the desserts, so the kids helped us bake for most of the day. It was cozy, relaxing and peaceful to be at home with family while it was cold outside and the house smelling of good food. I think I like this hosting thing...

Our kitchen was literally and art gallery of all of the fall/thanksgiving work that the kids have done for the past two years. Who needs expensive art when you have preschool art?

I was happy to have a reason to use the china that Grandmother gave me...

And Jeff was happy to carve his first turkey... or maybe he did it two years ago too?

It was so wonderful to see all of our family that we hardly ever get to see, especially the Goeltz family who we probably only see once every couple of years. Here is Dennis with his sister, Geri.

And Ellen, after just waking from her nap, with Grandpa. By the way, she LOVED Grandpa. She called him paw-paw and was constantly asking for him or showing off for him. Or playing Jenga with him. Last night she stood up in her chair at dinner and said, "PAW-PAW!" and danced for him for a good minute.

Becky's napkin idea : )

And there were 20 loved ones if you count the dogs, Maggie and Tyson...

Tanya, Ellen, Dennis, Geri, Becky, Ellie, Bill, Shanna, Bob, Willie, Max, Mike, Ben, Jill, Jeff, and Lucas

My mom made Ellen this dress last year. It was perfect for Thanksgiving!

After dinner Bob, aka The Guy with the Orange Shirt, played and wrestled with the kids for a lonngggggg time. He couldn't take a break without them nagging him to play again. He was a trooper, but I must say that he seemed to be enjoying himself too!

After dinner we watched football, played Jenga...

... and just enjoyed each other's company.

Mike, Jill and Emma

Turkey Trot

Jeff and I started our Thanksgiving day bright and early at the Annual Turkey Trot race. Grandpa volunteered to watch the kiddos, so it was a relaxing way to ease into the busy day. Jeff did a little better than he had planned on in the 8K, so that was a bonus : )

Thanksgiving Eve

Since there were so many people that came from different states this year, we wanted to get together as much as possible. Our pizza night on Wednesday night was how we kicked it off. Kind of a trial run for Thanksgiving dinner, if you will. The Goeltz family drove in from Missouri, The Bartelts from Maryland, Willie and Jill from Virginia, and Dennis/Grandpa Schroeder from Tennessee. And then there was also Mike, Jill, Max, Ben, their new baby Emma and us. So 18 in all!

Since we only have 6 chairs to our name, we scrounged around and borrowed some card table and chairs from our neighbors. Sandy, always great at the details, sent us a couple of beautiful table cloths.

We had a really great time visiting, eating pizza, playing card games and just hanging out. I love all of these families. It was a great way to start the holiday!

Ben, Max, Ellen, Lucas

Grandpa Schroeder and Ellen

Bill, Ellie Bob and Tyson