SNOW!

I'm not a big fan of the cold weather... but I am a big fan of SNOW (just as long as I don't have to drive in it!) We've only gotten one decent snowstorm... and unfortunately, it looks like we're going to have Christmas without snow... It's sad to think that our grass is greener now in December than it was in those hot days of August...

However, I'm glad that Amaya had an opportunity to play in the snow earlier this month.

Amaya and Daddy ready to shovel!!

She's actually quite a bit of help too!

A Winter Wonderland!

Off for a ride!

Nothing tastes better than a cup of hot chocolate after being out in the snow.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

After weeks of anticipation, we finally got a substantial snowfall! Now we are ready for the Christmas season! On Friday morning, we picked up our Christmas tree at Whitings. And our Christmas tree this year means even more to us this year. Most of you know that we've been attending Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and heading into the Christmas season while ON BUDGET is challenging. And purchasing a Christmas tree - that we hadn't budgeted for and that we're just going to enjoy for a month and then throw out doesn't make a lot of sense in the Dave Ramsey world especially once we learned that Whiting's had increased their prices. Steve was prepared to spend whatever we needed to - he didn't want us going without a tree this year. Neither did I... but does it really fit in our budget? So, I prayed about it and decided that if we couldn't come up with the money and it wasn't it our budget, I was going to be okay without one. The very next day we received a card in the mail with a very generous amount of money! (THANK YOU OVER AND OVER!) AND... earlier in the fall I had brought several articles of clothes into a consignment shop and when I called to find out how much we had made... we had just enough to cover the rest of the Christmas tree. It was very liberating to go to Whitings with a price-point in mind, pay CASH, and be 67 cents under budget! Once again, this is an example of God's provision.

Amaya helped my mom earlier in the week decorating their Christmas tree and I though maybe the novelty would have worn off. But, she was just as excited to decorate our tree!

Getting the star on just right!

We bought Amaya a small artificial tree last year and she had a blast decorating it just the way she wanted. (And I refrained from moving and adjusting the ornaments!)

In our box of ornaments, she found a bunch of Steve's homemade ones - I think they look awesome on her tree!

Amaya definitely has the decorating gene in her system. She wanted to help me put branches in baskets all over the house.

Here's my "keeping it real" picture... I forgot how messy the house gets when we drag out all the Christmas decorations. It honestly looked like a Christmas explosion. I also think I have a little ADD when it comes to decorating... I'm here and there and back again and it takes forever for any progress to really get made... Oh, well... it gets down eventually.

I usually pick up a new ornament or two each year... one of them I got on our vacation to Michigan...

... and this one I picked up at the Festival of Trees.

We also started a tradition of getting Amaya an ornament every year, but we haven't really found one yet to suit her... there's still some time left though.

Our finished tree - with only 800 lights or so... Only had three strings of lights that were dead, so I was glad we had a little smaller tree this year so I didn't have to go out and buy any more.

Amaya put two of my Christmas bears until the tree - just like Grandma does!


Amaya was a great helper... she liked handing me decorative pinecones and berries to decorate the banister.

The finished result!

Some of our other decorations... Amaya helped with the branches in the basket...

and another...

and another...

Amaya even filled up the vase and arranged the poinsettas... pretty good!

The only thing that would have made the day perfect was a snowstorm...

... and we only had to wait 18 hours or so...

On Saturday, I was reading my Bible by the Christmas tree and when I looked up, it had started to snow!

Bring on the Christmas season!

Festival of Trees

Once Thanksgiving is over... I'm ready to start thinking about Christmas. And there's no better way to get into the spirit than to attend the Festival of Trees. All the proceeds go to Hiawatha Homes, so it's always an enjoyable time, plus we get to help out a great charity. We enjoyed Christmas cookies, hot apple cider, listened to Christmas music, and saw the most amazing trees!

Caught a quick picture of Amaya just as she finished her thumbprint cookie.

Right away, Amaya spotted a lady dressed up as Mrs. Claus and she wanted to listen to the story of the Gingerbread Man.

Then, Amaya wanted to listen to the choir singing Christmas songs. She could have sat there all day, but we had to rush a little bit because we had church that evening.

We looked at all the trees... here are a few of our favorites...

A VIKINGS TREE!!

Amaya liked this one so much she wanted a picture by it.



Amaya really liked this "teeny tiny" tree!

Right before we getting ready to go, Amaya saw Santa. Now I know I have issues with Santa... I still do and probably always will... but I asked Amaya if she wanted to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wants for Christmas. We were surprised she wanted to... but she was a little hesitant and reluctant. She smiled long enough to get a quick picture, but wanted off his lap before telling him what she wanted for Christmas. We're glad that she understands that Santa isn't real - that it's just a man dressed up like Santa and that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Snow Coming?

When Steve checked the weather forecast this morning and said that there is a chance of snow this week, I almost didn't believe him. Really? Snow already? Although, there's another part of me - the part that's refusing to pull out our winter coats - that is somewhat surprised we haven't had any snow yet considering how cold it's been. Anyway, I decided I'd better get our fall pictures blogged before the snow comes!

Every year, I'm always surprised at how many leaves we have! I shouldn't be though - we have two big trees and usually get all of our neighbors leaves! This year Amaya had her own rake to help Steve with the leaves.

Steve already accruing a rather large pile.

It's hard for a little girl to wait until all the leaves are raked up before jumping in. So, she scootered around our cul-de-sac while waiting. (Our wonderful neighbors across the street have a little girl a few years older and gave Amaya her old scooter and helmet! It was very sweet and very generous of her!)

Finally!

Away she goes!

Where did she go?!?

Amaya is hoping that in a few short weeks, she'll have enough snow to run and jump in!

Halloween

or Halloween this year, Amaya wanted to be a cheerleader. We had a couple of different options - either a Vikings cheerleader or a "pink cheerleader." Amaya chose to be the pink cheerleader. We were glad that the weather cooperated and it wasn't too chilly.

Isn't she the cutest cheerleader?!?

Our first stop was to visit her Great Grandma and Grandpa Struckmann. Great Grandma was very excited to see Amaya - their first trick-or-treater for the night!

One of my co-workers invited us to stop by their house - but it was clear across town - which isn't too far - just far enough that Amaya fell asleep....

After the Flynn's house, we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Horning.


Next stop - Grandma and Grandpa Gustafson's house!

My parent's neighborhood had quite a few outdoor lights on, so Steve and I took Amaya up and down their block. She wasn't too shy and remembered to say "trick-or-treat," but needed a little help remembering to say "thank you."

Amaya enjoyed trick-or-treating so much, that my dad and I took her out again and went up and down the next block! She was skipping and humming away, having the time of her life! Since it was nearing 8:00pm and there weren't very many kids out, many houses gave Amaya quite a bit of candy to get rid of their stash! She scored big time!

Back at Grandma and Grandpa Gustafson's house, Mike and the kids stopped by in their costumes...

Ben....

and Mike....


... all the kids... plus Mike...

Growing up, Mom and Dad always took a picture of us by the front door in our costumes... Here's the traditional picture of Amaya....