Better Late Than Never, Christmas Addition - Part 1

Part of the reason this post was delayed for so long, is I can't get any decent videos to load onto my blog anymore!

Jemma had her 1st Christmas Program this year through her Pre-School! The last few years we have gone to watch Jade, so she was pretty excited for her turn. Her class were the Shepherds. Hopefully I will be able to figure out how to load videos again soon, but in the meantime here are a few mediocre pictures!

We had our annual drive to look at Christmas lights and get McDonalds chocolate shakes!

I got to help in Jade's classroom for their Winter Party! I was in charge of a bozo bucket game station. The kids also played pin the face/accessories on a gingerbread man and go to decorate gingerbread man cookies!

Our first Christmas Celebration came on 12/23. We had a wonderful Brunch at Honey Jam Cafe followed by gift opening and playing at our house with Nate's parents. Jade was a little under the weather that day, but she's a trooper and made the best of it!

A big thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for their very generous gifts for the girls. We had such a fun day, and even got Jade's entire Lego set constructed!

Stay tuned for Part 2! :)

Winter Wonderfest - Navy Pier

We continued our annual tradition by taking a trip to Navy Pier in Chicago for the Winter Wonderfest. Unfortunately, Grandpa (Nate's dad) was unable to join us this year. We had a blast, but definitely missed having him along! 

Highlights for the girls included the carousel, snowballs, bounce houses, train, cookie making and spending time with Grandma!

This year, you received a free pass to ride the big Ferris Wheel with your admission to the Winter Wonderfest! This was my first time ever riding it, we all loved it!

Thanks for a fun day, Grandma!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we had our annual Christmas Tree putting up and decorating day! The girls were the most involved this year, which made it even more special!

Annual picture in the empty tree box!

Nate did a great job straightening branches, while Jade and Jemma played with the Nativity set and I prepared the snacks!

Our feast! The tradition has always been a grazing style meal. This was the first year that Jade participated in that way, and she loved it! This was always my favorite part about putting up the Christmas Tree up when I was a kid. 

The girls were very helpful with the ornament putting up this year, and did a great job with all the non-breakable ;) ones!

Putting the star on top with Daddy's help!

The finished tree!!

Thanksgiving

We had super busy, but very fun and special Thanksgiving Day!



We headed out bright and early for my parent's house in Crystal Lake for our first celebration. We were joined by my Aunt Marianne and my Grandma (GeeGee).

Grammy made a delicious Turkey!

Nate & the girls were ready to eat!

Family shot!

Around 2 o'clock we headed home to feed and let out Charcoal, and then headed right out to Nate's parents house for celebration number two! Some of us were able to catch a catnap in the car!

Nate's mom prepared another delicious feast! The girls were super thrilled to visit with their Uncle Mark's and Nana, too!

Jade and Jemma with their Nana (Nate's Grandma)

We were so blessed to be able to share the day with so many of our loved ones! Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween Fun

We finally got around to carving our pumpkin a few days before Halloween! Jade enjoyed separating the seeds from the guts, and Jemma wanted nothing to do with touching any of it. 

The girls had such a blast last year, that we had to go back to the Trunk Or Treat event at our church! There were a bunch of games, crafts and bounce houses set up for the kids to do before the costume parade and trunk or treating happened. It ended with the giant pumpkin drop, definitely a fan favorite!

For Trunk of Treat, Jade dressed up as a mermaid, and Jemma dressed up as Doc McStuffins!

With friends Grace & Sarah!

Waiting in line at one of the trunks!

Afterward he headed over to friends house for a cute Halloween Themed kids party! The girls had a blast!

Both girls go to wear their costumes at school on Halloween! Jade decided to dress up as Rapunzel, so she didn't ruin her mermaid costume at school. Jemma decided to dress up as Doc McStuffins, again!

Jemma's parade was first thing in the morning, and boy was it cold out there! The kids were such troopers!

Jemma's class posed for a quick picture afterward!

I picked Jemma up from school and we headed over to Meadow Glens Elementary to watch Jade walk by in her costume parade! Jemma thought it was pretty fun to eat her lunch in the car, and sit in the front seat!

The kids were moving fast, this was the best I got!! 

Hi Jade!

Later that evening the girls got dressed up again, this time both as mermaids. 

Jemma had just been woken up from a nap, so her mood was slightly less than cheery! ;)

"Pink Ariel"

"Traditional Ariel"

It was pretty cold out there! Jemma lasted for a lap around the block! Jade and Nate stayed out a little longer and then went back out for round 2 after dinner while Jemma and I stayed home and handed out candy! They came back with a lot of GOOD stuff to share!