It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

One night when George came home earlier than expected, we brought out our ornaments and decorated our tree. I love looking at the ornaments from years past--some we've made, some were gifts, but all have memories attached.

It was a fun evening that ended with hot chocolate and our Lego Advent calendar. 

Cole has become quite the mobile guy and very mischievous. The other day he had disappeared and after I searched every room I finally found this:

He was having a ball! Such a stinker.

Our favorite family recently moved to a house about 5 miles away and we have missed them every day! One Friday night, we invited Killian and Kendall over to have a sleepover at our house. 

They had a blast!

I blew up the air mattress and put it in the living room so everyone would have a soft place to sleep. Needless to say, it made a better trampoline than a bed for several hours that night.

 I got all kinds of snacks to munch on while they got to watch Lance's favorite movie ("Cats and Dogs 2: Revenge of Kitty Galore") and I let them stay up as long as they wanted. Okay, that's not entirely true. When 1 a.m. rolled around, I told them we had to turn everything off and they had to stay in bed. Didn't have to sleep, but had to be quiet. I'm such a party pooper.

The next day before their mom came to get them, we invited our other best friends over and made reindeer ornaments with the kids.

Eight kids. Good thing we had a couple other moms there! The kids all did a great job and had fun designing their own little reindeer from clothespins and felt.

Putting on the eyes.

Lance was super excited about this because he had a special idea in mind for his reindeer.

Cole watched the goings on happily from his high chair.

Cute!

Ah, yes. See the eyes? Lance thought it was pretty funny.

One weekend when I picked up Lance from his dad's house, we were able to do a really cool drive through Nativity in Leesburg with my family. This church puts this on every year and people wait in line for hours just to drive through. They have live performers, animals, and intricate scenes that tell the story of Christ's birth as you slowly drive through.

The boys all thought it was really neat. I video taped a lot of it because it was so cute and funny to hear the commentary from the kids. It was a special night that helped remind all of us of the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

Although his schedule was crazy, George did get to see the boys at night before bed and he had a couple days off during the month of December. It's always wonderful when he comes home. The boys get so excited to see him and play with him.

 I love the joy he brings to our home and how much the boys love to play and be with him. 

The night before we left to go to Northern Virginia for Christmas break, we went to the Elmer's neighborhood and got to see Santa drive through on a firetruck.

The boys were so excited about it! We haven't really seen Santa yet this year, so this was a neat experience, especially for Jude. This Christmas is going to be fun because he "gets it". To him, it's magical and amazing which makes it all the more fun for us. I love it!

Boys, Christmas lights, and a parade

December has been a busy month! George is gone almost every day at the hospital. He is doing his Pediatric Surgery rotation and it's been brutal: 14-hour work days with about one day off out of every 10 or 11. While he does a good job juggling these crazy hours with the kids, the wife, and trying to find time to exercise, we sure do miss him and can't wait for a better schedule in the new year.

Can I just tell you how much I'm enjoying this stage in the kids' lives? Cole is growing up way too fast and is quickly developing a sweet, silly personality.

He cracks me up!

The weather has been fairly warm, given it's December, and many days find us outside playing.

The leaves finally all fell off the big trees behind our apartment and one day I swept them all into a pile so the kids could play. Jude decided it would be more fun to jump off the table and soon all the kids were flying off into the leaves.

He jumped for probably close to an hour before it was time to come in and make dinner. I came out of the kitchen while dinner was cooking to find this:

Ha! Success!

We've started putting out our Christmas decorations! While it's a bit of a headache to find the decorations and put them up, I love the way the house feels after I'm done. There's just something magical about the lights, glitter, and nativity.

(As a side note, Cole has started standing, cruising, and has actually taken a couple steps on his own!)

The boys love having their own tiny tree in their room. Jude feel asleep staring at it the first night I put it up.


In an effort to find fun things to do while her husband was out of town interviewing for Residency positions, my good friend invited us to see the Charlottesville Christmas parade on the downtown mall one day.

These kids were so excited!

I think my favorite was the marching band that passed in the beginning. So many memories from my high school marching band days.

The kids liked meeting different characters (not quite sure what to make of the Gas guy) and they LOVED the candy that everyone was throwing out.

You can't tell from his face right here, but Jude really did have a good time.

The Kennel Club walking past with several dogs may have been Jude's favorite part.

Cole liked the lollipops.

The Glee Club! George was part of this UVa group for about 4 years, so I had to take a picture.

I finally let Cole get out of his chair which made him much happier.

Horses! He had a great time watching everything that went past.

The downtown mall has this awesome chalkboard wall that the kids thought was fantastic.

I think Jude was drawing a rocket ship.

No, Cole. The chalk is not food.

It was a great way to spend a lonely morning while Lance was in school and George at work.

Snickers Gap

The day after Thanksgiving, we got our Christmas tree!

My family has been going to the same tree farm for the past 15 years, so of course we knew exactly where to go this year. We love Snicker's Gap! George was still working so he missed this, too. Sad.

It was a perfect day! Mom, Glenn, Chad, Amy, Laura, Tyler, Mason, Jason, Stephen, my boys and I all came to get a couple trees.

Even Vera got to come! 

 I love the farm because the boys can run and jump and be crazy like little boys should.

Laura and her cute family.

Lance being a "tree".

Lance wanted to carry the saw, but in my mind's eye all I could see was him running and falling and then lots and lots of red... So I said only grown-ups could carry it.

He was pretty disappointed. 

Uncle Chad!

This is the first year Jude remembers going to the farm and he thought it was a blast.

I need to remember to put all my children in neon colors next year. Green and blue blend in to the trees just a little too well.

Cole thought it was neat to crawl around. He is such an independent guy and would cry until I put him in the grass.

He liked exploring and probably would have crawled the whole time we were there if I let him.

Isn't it beautiful? I love Virginia. 

Waiting. Christmas tree picking is always an exercise of patience. 

Ah, motherhood. It's a full-time job.

 Thank you, Amy, for capturing me in all my picture-taking glory.

Most of our time at the farm was spent chasing the boys who had all decided the best way to find a tree was to all run in opposite directions at the same time.

They would get pretty far before we caught up. 

Coming back to the group. I know, Jude. Mommy is no fun.

 Although this mommy is.

 Plotting their next escape...

Where are Lance and Jude? 

Amy 

Stephen

My boys.

I've given up hope of ever getting a picture with all three boys looking and smiling at the same time. I'm convinced it will never happen.

Lance with Uncle Stephen, Chad and Jason. And Vera.

Grandpa Glenn was a big help with the kids...

...although I think Jude and Mason had some pretty nefarious ideas for how to deal with him.

15 years ago (the first year we went as a family to the farm) we were waiting for everyone to decide on the same tree (which usually took 2 hours) and got tired. When mom and dad found us, we were like this:

We tried to recreate the same picture this year, 15 years later:

I think we did a pretty good job. Look how much Jason and Stephen have grown!

This year, the boys and I found our tree after only about an hour!

Lance finally got to use the saw. :)

Cutting... and cutting and cutting some more.

Jude trying his had at sawing.

Mom took this picture because she thought it was funny and cute with all three boys. The life of a mom is a wonderful one!

I'm embarrassed to admit that Tyler finally had to take over and finish the felling. 

Lance took his position as the "man of the house" seriously. He tied on the rope...

...and hauled the tree!

We helped him out once the path got muddy. A muddy Christmas tree wound NOT bring much Christmas joy.

Jude really wanted to help, too.

Chad came with me while the rest of the family continued their search.

Watching the trees getting a shake-down.

We grabbed a quick snack while we waited for the rest of our group.

Thank goodness for Chad's extra set of hands! 

They found it!

Every year we attempt a family picture together:

Mmmm... maybe we'll try another.

Thumbs up!

Good enough. 

Can you tell Jude missed his nap? 

 The whole group!

Afterwards we went to Red Robin together for dinner. It was a lot of fun, I just wish George could have been there with us.