Tradition

Nine years ago we began a tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. So, the time arrived and off we went to the Christmas tree farm.
Mommy and David getting ready to go

Mommy and David last year before leaving for the tree cutting

David telling us he is ready - keys in hand... Thanks Mimi for my special Christmas tree cutting shirt; this is just what we did, we cut our tree and put it in the back of Daddy's truck


it was a cold weekend - we had to bundle up

Daddy and David at the farm

the tractor dropped us off - time to find a tree

on the hunt... for the tractor

then he found this tree, we really did almost cut it since David picked it, but then decided we would just get one tree

here it is - our Christmas tree

David was not too sure what Daddy was doing

back on the tractor ride - we are all very cold

while Mommy paid for the tree David found the trucks

the swings


(here is David last year)

and his own tractor to drive

Now it is time to decorate...

Family Fun at Thanksgiving

We began celebrating Thanksgiving Wednesday evening with Greg's family. David ate a few sweet potatoes, green beans, and many bites of corn. Then he was off to play...

until Aunt Amy offered him a cupcake... a few bites...

and off to play sporting a little icing on his face

reading time with cousins, first Krista

then Jake

and then an attempt at a family picture. Although David looks calm and content in this picture he had not been the previous 10 before, therefore in this picture Angie is the one that looks a little frazzled.

Thursday morning we headed to Crosby to celebrate with Angie's family

after a very yummy lunch, David ate ham, corn, and then was off to play... the kids passed the football


and then it was time to head in to watch the football game, David changed into his Cowboy's gear to cheer on his team

more cousin reading time, this time with Luke

we skipped Black Friday madness and headed out for a walk in Angie's parents neighborhood, we ran into two other families Angie's family knows, we were not the only ones passing on the shopping malls




at the end of the day the boys took baths and relaxed together in their little chairs at Gram and Grandad's house

cousin hugs

before heading to bed David showed everyone his Christmas wish list... a lawn mower seems to be at the top

Thankful

For loud laughs

sweet smiles

and warm hugs

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for our "perfect gift!" We had to wait for so long, but we have found because of our wait we appreciate every minute, even the hard ones !
"Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4: 6-7

When David is 15

we will have to remind him of how much he LOVES yard work. Multiple times each day David asks to, "Mow Mow", which is translated to lawn mower. He also asks to "we E", translated to weed eat. Mama's standard response is, "only Daddy's can do that." When Daddy is asked it only takes a couple of David's requests with a "peas", translated please, attached before Mama hears the lawn mower or weed eater start up outside. David could do these tasks all day, in fact Greg has started mowing neighbors lawns because he has cut ours several times in a week. One day, when it is really David's turn and we hear a negative comment toward yard work, his love of this work is documented. And weed eater has been added to David's wish list.:)
trying to talk Daddy into mowing for the second time in a day


Daddy agrees, David remembers he needs something from the shed...

"GS", translated gas he says - Daddy complies with the request even though their was none needed this go round



off to mow, think David has been watching, almost an exact copy of Daddy

then it was time to mow side by side



and next follow the leader in a circle



2 hard workers!