Christmas Tree Book Report

This is Bradley's first book report.  He had some very specific instructions as to how the report was to look.  It was a little bit of a pain to find the poster board, but I think it turned out well.  The book he read was

The book is called "The Bogg Monster vs. Frogosaurus"

The finished product looks pretty good if I do say so myself.  :0)

Each "ornament" helps explain the book.

Bradley with his report before heading out to school.  

Nathan wanted to be in on the picture too.  He is getting to be so big!

Good job Bradley!

Dec. 13, 2013

Leave Removal

This year the community scheduled a day to have all the leaves removed.  We had huge piles of leaves along the curb for weeks through out the community before they came.  The problem was that half the trees dropped all their leaves by the end of October and the rest hung around until the first of Dec.  The day they finally came Eliza and I were having lunch.  I was a little surprised to see the how they picked them up.  When I saw the truck I had to get a picture...it was great.  :0)

There was a large tube with long handles they used to suck up the leaves.

The guy in green is getting ready to put the hose back on its stand.

They picked the leaves up pretty quickly.  I think they should do this a couple times a year.  It was great to have the leaves gone!

Dec. 6, 2013

Getting Pictures for the Christmas Card

When I started getting ready to make the Christmas Cards I asked Andy if he was fine with only putting the kids on the card.  He said we needed to be on the card because people like to look at him.  :0)

One day after church we stepped outside to get some pictures of us since we haven't had any done recently.

Bradley was my model to help me find the right light.

Andy posing for as I checked the lighting.

Bradley was our photographer.  He did a pretty good job with what he had to work with.

He was a little bit far back on this one.

Sun ray shining through.  Not too bad though...

Andy shines like a beacon on a cloudy day.  :0)

Time to adjust the angle.

Oh!  The Dad loves the Mom!

Thanksgiving with the Andersons

Bethany and Tory drove up to see us for Thanksgiving.  They left on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to avoid all the holiday traffic.  Unfortunately for them a storm front had moved in and it rained, a lot, on them.  Their 5 1/2 hour trip turned into 8 hours.  They were super excited to be out of the car!!  We were glad to see them as well.

Wed. morning the kids found Uncle Tory and got the games going.

They were excited to play chess and some snake game.  Uncle Tory has a couple of strategy games on his tablet.  They LOVE to play with him.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  Our neighbor Mr. Charlie came as well as the Warburtons.  Their dad was scheduled to work, so we had them come for dinner and to play for a while.  Daniel is showing off the cool whip from his pumpkin pie.

Turkey dinner always makes dad sleepy...or maybe it is just that he sat still for too long. :0)

Aunt Beth and Sarah-Jane playing while our delicious dinner settles.

Nathan 

Eliza and Bradley snuggling with dad.  We didn't let him sleep for too long before we headed outside to terrorize the cul-de-sac.

The boys got some stomp rocket wars going.

Bradley shooting at Daniel.

Daniel shooting back.

Edward practising his swing.  He is a pretty good hit.

Catherine loved our flower pin wheel.

Nathan was interested in anything that the kids were doing.  He had to investigate everything.

Once he gets a hold of something he doesn't want to let go.  He chewed on a rocket most of the afternoon.

Eliza is getting pretty good at hitting off the t-ball stand.

Edward getting ready for another round under Nathan's supervision.

Sarah-Jane riding the Winnie-the-Pooh truck.

Uncle Tory and Aunt Beth enjoying the nice fall weather.

Uncle Tory playing catch with Dad.

There's Aunt Beth's smile!

Daniel 

Daniel trying to block Bradley's throw.

Eliza ran around trying to shoot people with the stomp rocket.

Daniel throwing the ball to Dad.  Can you see it?  (It is green.)

Dad making a one handed catch.

Bradley trying to run across the cul-de-sac without Daniel getting him.

Sarah-Jane 

We just love having this girl around.

Nathan caught a ride on Dad.  He really liked it!

Nathan and Daddy

Catherine and her mom Emily shooting the stomp rocket.

This is a fairly normal picture of Nathan.  He is constantly heading out across the cul-de-sac.

Aunt Bethany is a kid magnet.  The kids love to play with her.  She had kids chasing and hanging on her most of the afternoon.  Edward is catching a ride on her leg here.  (Debbie doesn't have anything on these kids!)

It was a great day and we are so glad we had family and friends to share it with.

This is an apple swan that Aunt Bethany made for us.  The kids thought is was so cool we couldn't eat it.  It is still in our fridge.  :0)

Aunt Bethany and Uncle Tory stuck around until Sunday, Dec. 01.  Uncle Tory had some work he had to get done over the break.  We tried to let him work as long as he needed, but there was a party going on...and we did stay up way to late too many times.  (I am too old for that!)

We really appreciate the Anderson's willingness to drive to see us again.

Nov. 26-Dec. 1, 2013