~Surprise House 2013~

So this post comes about two months later than it should have, but we had a great time celebrating the holidays again in 2013 with the Surprise House!

December 3: Put up the Christmas tree! 

Since we didn't get back from Thanksgiving until December 2nd, we didn't get started with the Surprise House until the 3rd. And as most things go, we had some set-backs. Most of our lights (which all worked last year) no longer worked, so instead of putting up our tree we hung out stockings and set up our tree the next day.

December 4: Roast hot dogs in the fireplace!
We had fun cooking our dinner in the fireplace and also setting up the tree.

December 5: Watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"!
This is a holiday favorite for all of us....we love Dr. Seuss!

December 6: Watch "The Polar Express" in Mom and Dad's room!
We all piled into our bed for a family movie night.

December 7: Go get Christmas ice cream shakes!
Love Chick-fil-A's seasonal Peppermint Chocolate Chip shakes....yummy!

December 8: Eat candy canes!

December 9: Read Christmas books together!

December 10: Go to Parker's Christmas program!
We all enjoyed getting to watch Parker participate in his 1st grade program at school. He did a great job!

December 11: Watch Christmas Ice Age!

December 12: Drink Christmas milk!
We love Target's holiday-flavored milk.

December 13: Go to Corey, Blythe, and Charity's house!
The kids had an absolute BLAST painting ornaments, decorating cookies, drinking hot chocolate, and watching movies while Andrew and I were at a Christmas party. Thanks again, guys!

December 14: Drive around and look at Christmas lights!
One of our favorite traditions.

December 15: Eat snowman donuts for breakfast!
I saw these on Pinterest and just had to make them.

December 16: Watch Veggie Tales "Little Drummer Boy!

December 17: Go and play with Charity!
We were excited to play with Charity so that Corey and Blythe could go out!

December 18: Take a glow bath!
Just glow sticks and a bathtub. What could be easier?

December 19: Eat Christmas nachos!
With red and green tortillas chips, of course.

December 20: Celebrate Christmas Eve at home!
Since we are usually not home on the actual holidays, we celebrate separately with just the four of us before leaving town. We opened stockings, a special Christmas Eve present (new PJs), and watched a Christmas movie together!

December 21: Open presents!
Our Christmas morning at home.

The next day we left for Oklahoma where we spent the holidays with family, so stay tuned for a post about that!

~ Thanksgiving 2013 ~

Thanksgiving was a couple of weeks ago, and we sure made quite the week out of it! We decided to go to Arkansas to be with Andrew's mom's family, and we stopped in Oklahoma on the way there and back to sleep and see some more family. Here are the kids in the car!

We were excited to see Andrew's dad and Grandma and Grandpa Strait and enjoy a nice visit!

Next we were off to Arkansas! On our way there, we were passing some of Andrew's old stomping grounds, so we had to stop and take a couple of pictures. Here he is at his high school.

We were all so glad to finally make it to Arkansas! We stayed at a resort near Bull Shoals Lake, and had a great time over the next several days hanging out with family!

Second cousins!

The guys.

Sadie with Nonni!

Thanksgiving dinner....

....and the rest of the crew!

Our family on Thanksgiving....the thing I am most thankful for.

The kiddos with Nonni.

Some of us walking down to a playground near the lake.

Swinging!

He's a monkey bars pro!

Nonni and Parker.

Sadie and cousin Abbey!

Just us girls.

Playing football with Nonni!

The girls swinging.

A little down time.

Guitars and card games.

Sadie and Abbey were sad to say good-bye!

One quick shot of everyone before leaving!

Saying bye to Nonni and Bret....

....and Papa and Gram!

Arkansas to Colorado is a two day trip, so we stayed at my parent's house in Enid coming and going. On our way back home we got to see my grandpa and his wife, Mary Lou!

Saying bye to Grandma and Poppy!

On our way back home, we got a real treat! We stopped at a gas station just after leaving Enid (one that we never stop at, by the way), and happened to run into some awesome friends that we haven't seen in waaaay too long. We were only able to stand a chat for a few minutes before getting back on the road, but it was amazing to see them! Miss you, Emily and Doc!

After 8 days and nearly 32 hours of driving, we were ecstatic to see the mountains in the distance welcoming us home!

Just life....

We had a busy November....actually, it feels like we are always busy lately! Such is life. At any rate, here's a little bit of what we were up to last month....

Every November we participate in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse that sends shoe boxes filled with presents to children in need around the world. The kids are always excited to pack and drop off their shoe boxes. I like to think it's because they love giving to others and not just because our drop-off location always gives away cookies and stickers. Either way, it is a great way to get them involved in the process of doing good for others and realizing that there are people in the world who aren't as blessed as they are. 

Last month we also created a new little hideout in Sadie's closet, complete with a girly little chair and bookshelf. She loves to spend time in there.

Parker stayed busy losing teeth. He lost two in 5 days! We are still waiting for his two front teeth to come in, although it's starting to look like it won't be too long now.

Parker and Sadie ready to run errands one morning. They looked too cute not to take a picture!

Prettiest cowgirl ever!

Stay tuned for a Thanksgiving post coming soon!