Should we cut down a Christmas tree this year?

At the beginning of the month Tim and I had an ongoing conversation about whether or not to go to a tree farm and cut down a Christmas tree this year.  Having grown up with a fake tree I had never cut my own tree so I was definitely interested.  However, instead of taking the adventure we chose our yearly tradition of going to Ruch's tree farm and choosing from their pre-cut trees.  Since finishing our lower level about 5 years ago we've actually purchased 2 trees.  A larger one stands on the upper level in our living room and a much smaller one stands in our family room in the lower level.  We've joked about the smaller trees that we've bought the last couple of years.  They have been either very short and chubby or slightly resemble Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.  This year our tree choosing was the extreme opposite.  We literally held up 2 trees and within 5 minutes of arrival we had both trees wrapped up and ready to take home in the back of Tim's pick-up.  While I was secretly sad we didn't get the experience of cutting down our own trees, I was pleased that our family tradition was such a success.  Leah and Elizabeth especially enjoyed the trip because the owner of the farm gave them their first candy canes of the season which they ate on the short car ride back to our house.   

Did you have fun passing out candy?

On the last day of November Leah, Elizabeth, and I marched in a parade downtown Holland.  This was the first time any of us had ever seen the Christmas parade, let alone participate in it.  I wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, but when the gym I recently joined asked for moms with children between the ages of 4 and 7 I volunteered our services without hesitating.  The idea was for the moms to pass out free day passes to the gym while the kids pass out candy to kids along the street.  Leah and Elizabeth knew about the parade about a week in advance and Elizabeth literally counted down each day.  On the day of the parade Elizabeth's excitement could hardly be contained.  It was a brisk night so we bundled up and drove toward downtown.  Finding a parking spot was a lot easier than I thought.  We walked toward our group and the girls were given elf hats and a neon necklace.  Then the wait began.  The wind was super cold and Elizabeth quickly realized that the parade was not all that she dreamed it would be.  Leah was ready to leave before the parade started too, but I convinced them otherwise.  As soon as we started moving it was much better.  Leah did a fabulous job being an elf while Elizabeth walked right next to me with big crocodile tears frozen on her face because she was so cold.  Thankfully we were toward the front of the parade (27 out of 77) so we were able to finish the parade and then walk back to our car while viewing the rest of the entries.  It was fun to see the town all lit up and the many different people that our family knows.  Leah and I are all set to do it again next year.  We'll just have to see about Elizabeth!

How did you spend your Thanksgiving?

We spent Thanksgiving this year in Michigan with Tim's family.  I've always enjoyed the Thanksgiving meal and it is especially tasty when someone else helps prepare the meal.  I love turkey (the dark meat is my favorite) and could eat mounds of mashed potatoes with gravy.  Corn is my favorite vegetable starch and Tim's sister makes yummy sweet potatoes that I've enjoyed eating in recent years.  I usually look forward to apple pie for dessert, but this year I gobbled down rich chocolate cake in celebration of my niece's 15th birthday.  While I enjoy all of the food associated with the holiday I never really eat a whole lot.  It is just nice to be with family and be thankful.  Of course, it has now become a tradition to watch the Lions lose on Thanksgiving too.  Go BEARS!

What are you thankful for?

Each November our family focuses on gratitude.  To symbolize our gratitude we make a tree and every year it turns out a little different.  To make the tree this year we started by writing down 20 things we were thankful for on different pieces of paper.  Once we were all finished writing we took turns reading our strips.  Afterward we made individual chains that were hung on a tree branch chosen from the woods behind our house.  This tree will remain up in our home until we start decorating for Christmas next weekend.  Hopefully until then it will serve as a reminder for us to have an attitude of gratitude.

Can you make the pile bigger Daddy?

Since the beginning of November our family has been busy.  Tim was gone hunting for 9 days in Nebraska and the girls and I enjoyed some bonus time with my mom while he was gone.  Since his return last weekend we've returned to our regular weekly routine of school and gymnastics.  This weekend we were able to do a couple of extra fun things.  Last night we went to the play Annie at Grand Rapids Christian High School.  (Imagine how many times we heard Leah singing "It's a hard knock life" today).  This afternoon  Leah and Elizabeth played in a big pile of leaves after asking Tim to make the biggest pile he can.  Then tonight the girls went to their gymnastics gym for dinner, craft, and bouncing while Tim and I went out to eat and ran some errands. 

Are you ready for a hike?

Earlier this fall the girls and I went with Tim's mom, my nephew, my niece, and her friend for a hike up Mt. Pisgah.  The weather was perfect. I'm not sure how far we hiked in all.  The 250 plus steps to the top were a bit steep, however the kids managed to run up without much trouble.  The view from above was beautiful and worth the effort.  It was a neat hike and one that I would definitely do again. 

Can you do a trick for a treat?

This year for Halloween Leah dressed up as a black cat and Elizabeth was a strawberry.  While Tim was off hunting my mom and I took them trick-or-treating.  Our first stop was downtown Grand Haven.  The past few years it has been busy, but this year with the construction it was almost impossible to move from store to store.  The girls managed to fill their pumpkin bags with a few goodies and enjoyed looking at all the different costumes.  When we returned home they helped pass out candy to the few neighbors who came into our cul de sac.  Then once it was dark the girls and I walked to the limited homes on our street that had lights on and even managed to drive to a larger cul de sac further down the road.  In the end the girls came home with a large load of candy and really enjoyed the holiday.