All I Want For Christmas...

Conversation in the car today:

Kim (to the kids): What do you want for Christmas?

Sebastien: A mountain.

Genevieve: A castle.

Oh boy.

Tree Time

Last weekend we went to our favorite tiny tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree. The kids were so excited about it this year.

 Here's Dan and Sebastien looking at what was soon to be our tree:

 Genevieve spent a lot of time checking out her gloves...and I snapped this picture from the glove's perspective.

 "Look! A doggie!" was the fib we told them to get them both to look in my direction.

 Eating yummy cookies in the lodge while Daddy ties the tree to the roof.

Thanksgiving Vacation

As you most likely know, we went to South Bend for Thanksgiving. As always, we had a wonderful time but didn't manage to see everyone and do everything that we wanted. As my mom said though, wonderful memories were made...even if some of those memories include everyone getting the stomach flu the night before Thanksgiving! Here are some picture highlights from the trip.

Dan and I, Dad and Brian started off Saturday morning going to the ND vs BC football game. We hit up the always popular Uncle Mike and Aunt Ann tailgate before heading in to the game. We had amazing 50 yard line seats thanks to Uncle Tony.

 The next day we went to the North Central train museum in Elkhart and it surprisingly was fun for everyone. There was all kinds of kid stuff inside and plenty of trains to climb in outside.

 We walked around Notre Dame campus one morning too with Brian and Jesse & Erin Hensley and kids.

 Here's us and the Hensleys in front of the Main Building.

 Sebastien lit his first candle at the grotto.

 Our goddaughter Mary is playing here with Genevieve.

 And of course, we had dental checkups. Sebastien did ok with his and Genevieve did amazing with hers.

 The family celebrating Dan's 31st birthday at Gina's house.

 Grammy Patty shows Sebastien how to stuff a turkey.

 Kim and Dad at Rum Village park.

 Dan and Popoo at Thanksgiving.

 Brian, Mikey, Andy and Dad play cards while Genevieve looks on.

Kid-Free Day

While the kids were visiting Becca at school in Maine with Grandma and Grandpa, we wasted no time enjoying our kid-free weekend. Out to breakfast, scenic drives, a winery tour and tasting, Christmas shopping, dinner with friends...Simply.Amazing. I love my muchkins, but this is so needed every now and then.

I Can Fly!

As well as being the title of Genevieve's favorite book (and Sebastien's too for a while), "I Can Fly" kind of summed up last week. Due to the Halloween snowstorm, trick or treating was postponed about a week. The kids, therefore, got to be PeterPan and Tinkerbell one last time while we trick-or-treated around the neighborhood. Sebastien and Genevieve were not shy and seemed to love the experience. We actually made it around the block!

 The second reason that flying came into play this week, is that the kids had their 2nd gymnastics class. Unfortunately, Sebastien had a meltdown and didnt participate in much of his class (despite being totally fine the first class), but Genevieve really seemed to think she could fly. She was running and jumping and bouncing all over the place.

Here are the kids at gymnastics:

 Here we are about to go trick-or-treating (To my Indiana friends: note how it's dark at 5pm BEFORE trick or treating even begins! Have I mentioned how much I despise DST?) :

 Riding in style while Grandpa pulls them.

 Showing off his candy in front of our house.

Snowtober

Locals are dubbing this October snowstorm "Snowtober." Millions in the Northeast are without power,  including us. The snow itself wasnt anything crazy, it's just that it was heavy, and heavy snow falling on Oak trees that still have ALL of their leaves makes those trees fall over and snap off branches. And that's why no one has power. Luckily Dan got the last generator at any store within 200 miles by calling around really early on Sunday morning. With our generator, we have heat and a working fridge. We also managed to get some lights and outlets working, but thus far are without hot water and a way to cook. Power will be out at least a week but I'm hoping not much more than that. Why does this happen EVERY SINGLE YEAR?? Trick or treating has been postponed until next week, but at least we're still going to have it. But instead of focusing on the negative, let's focus on the positive:

- playing in the snow with summertime toys is pretty darn fun.

- Gwynnie gets to wear her doggie Snuggie

- the kids LOVE their new slippers and wear them all waking hours

- since it's Halloween, we made a pirate snowman

- toys that light up are extra fun when we play in the dark basement

- candlelight nights after the kids go to bed are extra cozy

- first fire in our fireplace since Sebastien was a newborn

- lots of take-out meals and restaurants

- more time at Grandma and Grandpa's house

-the possibility of kiddie bathtime playdates this week with their friends who have power

- thanks to the generator and having fiber optic cables, I still have the internet!

The night before the real storm, we got a snow dusting and the kids loved having front seats to the show.

 The night of the real storm, we built a fire. Sebastien looked at the fireplace in his Goodnight Moon book as a reference to tell Daddy where to put the fireplace tools.

 Dan and Sebastien snuggling as the storm rages outside.

 The kids begged and begged to go out in it...so we did.

 Summer toys still work in the snow!

 The next morning (after the craziness of buying and hooking up a generator was over) Dan and Sebastien built a pirate snowman who Sebastien named "Mister Pirate Daddy Dan."

 Later that day we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for a warm home-cooked meal (they  didn't lose power) and some relaxation.



Cuteness

I snapped these on my phone this week and just had to share. Below is the kids on the

 carousel after grocery shopping. It is now a tradition after every trip. (Yes, I am a sucker - but look how happy it makes them!!)

And then I walked into the room the other day and Genevieve was "reading" like this. How cute.