LeishaLAtkinson: December 2010

The Christmas Tree

It was a ccccoooolllllddddd December Saturday.

Everyone was bundled up and ready for the hunt to begin.

Off to work crew! Find us that perfect Christmas tree.

At last it was found. Nic and Arielle were put to work sawing it down.

Kiley watched and hung out in the tree wagon.

Bella cringed on the ground trying to decide which way it would fall.

Dad held the tree (because Lilly ran around the tree, and again, we didn't know which way it would fall) while Valerie watched on.

Finally the tree came down and Nic used his boy scout skills to cut us a nice base.

Arielle and I huddled around with joy that we found the perfect tree and would soon be sipping hot chocolate in a heated car.

Let's haul that baby home!

Look at that tree!!!!! It is the tallest we have ever found. It looks like I am off to buy more Christmas lights!

Thanksgiving

This year the best part of Thanksgiving for me was.........

That it was so casual and laid back. Everyone helped prepare dinner and we didn't have a set time to get things done by. It was a great way to celebrate this year - considering my tendency to want to do nothing......hormones, right?

Jim and Lilly worked on a cheese, meat and cracker tray.

Our yummy appetizers we snacked on most of the day.

Arielle helped me make the pie crusts.

Nic did a lot of cooking. Here he is getting ready to do the stuffing.

Bella and Kiley are working on the kids favorite pie - Chips-A-Hoy chocolate pie.

Valerie made these yummy rolls - Rhodes style.

Jim boiled our flavor injected turkey. He had to sit outside and hold the umbrella over it so the flames wouldn't go out.

Bella and Arielle set the table for us.

And dinner was served!

I believe in disposable tableware, sorry environment. I do recycle though.

Nic is not drinking beer. It is a favorite ROOT beer.

Arielle likes a crust only pie.

I made this delicious pie. Close to picture perfect, it signifies how grateful we our for our happy and comfortable lives.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Fall Sports

This fall Valerie and Nic played Volleyball, Kiley played Field Hockey and Arielle and Bella decided to take gymnastics. I didn't get any pictures of Val and Nic because I was the assistant coach and didn't even think to take my camera. They both played well- Valerie got a lot better at blocking and playing at the net. Nic had a lot of energy and would run for almost every ball.

Arielle and Bella love going to the gym. Every time I watch them they are bouncing around in place they are so happy. Bella falls down about 10 times a lesson, just because she is bouncing so much in one place. Arielle seems to get competitive and likes to do things fast.

Kiley played Field Hockey this year for the first time. She had a lot of fun with her friends. She even played well enough to get invited to an end of year all-star game. Too bad it was on Sunday. Luckily for Kiley though, she was the only one I got pictures of playing.

Halloween

We can tell the kids are getting older because there weren't as many pumpkin carvers this year. The ones that did carve though made some great jack-o-lanterns.