November

November is always a fun month, we celebrate Henry's birthday, all the Christmas fun starts and Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays. 

Morning grocery trips to Schnucks are super frustrating when you haven't had your coffee yet. 

At some point Ollie started calling his morning chocolate milk "hot coffee". And his mornings just aren't great until he has had his coffee. :)

I actually think this was in December. Elle's Girl Scout trip went to the nursing home by our house to sing Christmas carols. I was so proud of this sweet girl!!

The goal is to keep the ornaments ON the tree. Ollie thinks they are all "guys" for him to play with. 

We got a new puppy!

Sissy had her first indoor soccer game!

She's "meh" on the soccer but all for the time with her friends!

This little boy helped me bake brownies!

Our Woody ornament broke so he asked for 2 days straight if we could go get a new one at Target. He was a tad excited when we finally went!!

We wrote our letters to Santa.

Elle asked for:

Hatchimals, Art Stuff and an Ella Bella doll

Ollie asked for:

Presents, Woody and Buzz teeny tiny and gummy snakes (worms)

Then we mailed our letters to Santa one day after school. 

Elle had a friends birthday party where she tried out the rock wall.

Ollie and I went to Costco the Monday before Thanksgiving and HOLY COW. I thought we would miss the crowd going on a Monday, I was so so wrong.

Elle helped PawPaw make the pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving!

Elle Belle is a HIGE pumpkin pie fan!

The day before Thanksgiving MawMaw joined us to take these crazies to see The Grinch at the theatre. 

I can't stop laughing at Elle's smile!

Snow Day

I went to Milwaukee for work in November last year. It was my first work trip and I wasn't very excited about it and neither were the kids. I got home late Thursday night and Friday morning we woke up to the most amazing snow day. We quickly got dressed and headed outside to play.

After lots of playing they came inside and got "dressed up" for a hot chocolate tea party.

Notice "dressed up" to Ollie means Buzz Lightyear pj's and a bow tie. :)

Then we decided that it was time to start decking the halls! We had held off as long as we possibly could but the perfect snowy day made us start to drag out some Christmas decorations!!

I love a good chalkboard with a holiday quote. Elle has taken over the duty of writing on this one and I LOVE it!!!!!

Elle decorated the tree in her room all by herself. 

And Ollie hauled his tree over to his room so he could start decorating. 

He was so proud of his tree.

He has Woody and Buzz ornaments and here he is saying "maybe I can take Woody and Buzz off?"

because he constantly wants to play with them instead of leave them on the tree.

I never love being gone from my babies but this relaxed Friday at home enjoying the snow was the best way to come home!

Halloween

I really really really love Halloween. 

It is quickly becoming my favorite holiday. 

This year was Mary's turn to host but we ended up staying home since Ollie had been running a fever. 

He was feeling well enough to get decked out in his Buzz Lightyear costume though! Elle chose to be a Witch at the last minute and looked great!

MawMaw & PawPaw stopped by for a quick hello and to drop off treats on their way to Mary's house. 

One sassy little lady!

I'm not sure if she loves trick-or-treating more or waiting for the doorbell to ring and handing out candy!

Hate that my sweet little dude wasn't feeling his best.

It was finally dark enough to hit up some houses!

Ollie went down one street with us before heading back home to hang with Eric. 

Elle and I stayed out for awhile longer then came home for her to continue handing out candy and to watch Hocus Pocus one last time. 

Since the next day was All Saints Day Elle was off school. We had a lazy day at home, hit up Target...the usual. 

For months (ever since she saw the movie Coco) she had been talking about celebrating The Day of the Dead.

While the kids took a late nap I set up a little dinner in the dining room complete with pictures of some of the people (and pets!) we have loved and lost.

It was a sweet little night sharing memories with each other.  

Elle had told me the big reason she so badly wanted to celebrate was so that Hermann could come home again. Just typing that I have a lump in my throat. I love this sweet girls amazing heart and love this tradition she started for our family.