Advent season

The warmth that fills our hearts and homes this time of year is something that I want to do better at holding onto. I am guilty of getting sidetracked by the things "I need to get done", etc. But here are some things that we've enjoyed and I want to remember as we have prepared for Christmas this year. 

Mom, Alyssa and I had a craft morning where we made this chunky yarn Christmas trees. They were not only incredibly easy to make, but also very quick...and fun. Plus, Mom had scones and coffee and fed us lunch..so it was a good morning!

We made Christmas sugar cookies...and frosted them. These three were really good frosters. They did them ALL (in years past, they would kind of fade out and I got to finish the rest).

 This is a few of them that they made.

One morning, Noah came upstairs dressed like this..totally NOT matching. Ben noticed, and brought out two different pant options that he could change into. He very clearly did NOT care for this gesture, as he said, "NOOOO! I am NOT changing!! I'm dressed like Christmas!!!!!!"

So, the argument ended pretty much immediately..and his festive little self went to school in his red shirt and green pants.

We have a shepherd boy, named Freddy, that moves every day (sometimes he forgets, but he tries to move when others rest) that the boys enjoy finding. He leaves a verse and sometimes a special treat. He is on his journey to find Baby Jesus, but along the way he shares the good news with others. 

During this season, the town of McPherson offer a series of free movies shown at the Opera House. I took Noah and Christian to see the Polar Express. We got popcorn (which Noah has reminded us isn't very healthy as it has too much salt and butter...as he learned in school that that is just not very good) and had a little outing! Jonah opted to stay home with Daddy to have one on one time with him, while Isaac took a nap.

 The boys were in the church music program on Sunday morning 12.16. The pre-K and Kindergarteners sang a few songs and then the Wednesday night choir kids (Noah and Christian are in that ) did the longer program. 

 Christian singing his duet with another boy in church. 

Amazing how last year, he was not even 1 year old..and this year, he is INTO EVERYTHING!

October Moments

October had some beautiful days, 3 birthdays in our immediate family, and plenty of moments outside, and our very special neighbors moved into town.

Christian and his creations...and making a birthday card by using the Art for Kids youtube channel.

 The two little birthday boys helping make their cupcakes..and sampling the leftover batter.

No words. I just love this. 

I had made up a target game using squeegees, that involved various things ie; give Mommy a hug, give Mommy a back rub, give your brother a hug, and receiving a treat.

 Isaac REALLY likes to get attention from certain people. Christian is one of those people. He was reaching for Christian, and he finally picked him up (somewhat awkwardly).

Christian was on a school soccer team this month. He really enjoys it, his favorite part is playing defense. He says, "its too much running to be on offense!" Some good self-awareness of athletic strengths :).

Isaac still doesn't eat a very broad diet..his 'table food' is quite limited. But donuts are a hot item on that list for SURE! He was sneaking in some bites left from Birthday Boy Jonah in this picture.

Daddy and the boys camped outside (just in our backyard) one night. They all made it inside before morning due to being too cold...but they did it.

We had some beautiful walks, just gorgeous. The colors this fall were more vibrant than previous years. 

Someone was super proud of his building abilities from the soup cans that were on sale at the grocery store.

I went with Noah on his field trip to the pumpkin patch. It was fun, windy, and Noah is just a hoot. 

Our dear neighbors across the street moved ALL the way into town (like 1.5 miles). We will all miss them very much (even though we will still see them at church..and we can stop in..its just not the same!)

Halloween this year, 5 out of 6 of us dressed up to go trick or treating....silly, yes..but also fun!

Gathering Place [Tulsa]

We made a very short, get away over the boys' fall break from school. We left Sunday morning, and since the weather looked like it was going to be beautiful...we headed to Tulsa (the indoor alternative was going to a science museum, also in OK, that can happen another time.). I had heard via social media of this "park" called The Gathering Place. I only saw a few pictures, but it was explained as such a neat place that was unlike any other normal park. So it seemed like something we should check out!

We got there early afternoon, and a FEW (hundreds) other people had the same idea. It took a bit to find a place to park. But there was still plenty of time to play and explore. It didn't take long to figure out, we would want to come back again the next day to really take full advantage of being here. 

I cannot even begin to explain how crazy amazing this place is. It is a free "park", but its like an amusement park, except in playground form. The way they built it was so artistic and unique. I loved how adults and kids alike can totally play on it, and its equally enjoyable for both!! 

There were different areas especially designated for smaller children. It was hard to get pictures of Isaac there in general...if he was out of the stroller (which the 2nd day, with FAR less people, was almost the entire time) he was on the move. But this area with this giant snake-thing/maze that you could climb on top of AND inside was a hit for all of them. 

We spent quite a bit of time in the elevated roped/net-like pathway area. I went up with Jonah, while Noah and Christian were acting like teenagers just roaming the place like they had full confidence in figuring it all out. It was fairly high up, with different options of coming down: slide, or a rope maze/climbing thingy that was a bit intimidating. There were large holes within the ropes that a small child could most certainly fall through. I was very glad I went up and was there when Noah and Jonah were climbing down. They all LOVED it. Just loved it. 

Jonah and I walked like normal people , somewhat cautiously through the pathway.

Noah and Christian on the other hand were like monkeys...climbing on the sides, etc.

Another reminder, that Christian is no longer a little boy. He handled these obstacles like a grown boy, so proud and happy to have skills to do so quickly....as I was commenting on how far down it was! :)

I maybe laughed the whole way down that slide...it went fast and I didn't want to scream :)

They had an area of these hanging pods, so crazy how they all climbed up there, and then had plenty of room to sit inside! It looked so bizarre to see them "dangling" from up high all in a ball. There were various heights that the other pods were hanging from. 

 One of Christian's favorite areas was this log/beam climbing section. There were definitely grown men challenging themselves on their agility. Noah was way more cautious of this area. He wanted to hold my hand if he was going to walk, so much of it, he scooted on the logs.

Before we left Sunday late afternoon, we stopped at the slide area...oooooh man. So fun. So fun. Those slides can move a person! Everyone tried them out, and everyone was a fan. We made sure to make time for this again the next day. Christian was like a machine...slide down, climb up, repeat.

Noah would get off the slide, and just leap with excitement...doing his giddy laugh. You just can't replicate it. Pure JOY.

We had some hungry customers after we made it back to the car. We ate at Texas Roadhouse...and discovered that that will likely be happening more when we get back home as well. Everyone enjoyed it QUITE well, and its so loud in there, it doesn't matter if they would be noise. Win-win!

For Jonah, the highlight of going on a trip, is the fact that we get to stay in a hotel...which he says with the emphasis on the 'ho' part, "ho-tewl". He loves himself a hotel swimming pool. Doesn't matter the size, doesn't matter the temperature. He is there for it. He has even requested that we stay the night in the hotel a mile from our house...which is just hilarious to me. 

So my man was super pumped about some swimming time. So were Noah and Christian...and Isaac is just a mess about it, he just wants to run around the outside of the pool...which is not exactly easy to manage with the other boys.

After a night in the hotel, we were dressed and ready for another go at it. There were way less people, as it was a Monday morning. So we didn't have to be on such high alert as to keep close track of everyone. There were many times we were the only ones in a given area. 

There was this really neat sensory garden area. This mirror maze was kinda crazy.

Isaac and Ben stayed down below while Jonah and I explored the playground area. Noah and Christian had gone waaaay ahead and it took us a bit to figure out where they were. Lots of climbing, bending, running, walking on ropes. Just a very, very cool place to play.

We got back Monday late afternoon. So glad for the beautiful weather, and the fact that we have healthy bodies that allow us to play like this. Thankful for the really awesome place that the Gathering Place offers. It is almost 100 acres, so we no way covered it all. But what we did, we really enjoyed...and hope to return back again!