Jingle Elfie, Visit with Santa, and a Gingerbread House!

After our SUPER FUN Thanksgiving weekend, we were so glad Reaggie had ONE more day off of school of Monday!  We made the most of it :)

December 1st marks when Jingle Elfie makes his appearance and he flew right in and landed on our kitchen light!  Silly guy...he has been getting into quite a bit of trouble :)

Reagan made the cutest thing at school to go with "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly," so she was telling the story to Jingle Elfie!

That morning we got to the mall soon after they opened to see Santa!!  I thought that since most kids were back to school that Monday it should be pretty empty and it WAS!  Thank goodness :)  We waited in line for about 2 minutes and then it was our turn with the big guy!  Keith was able to meet us there too, which was an added Daddy bonus!

sweetnesses...this is just SOO both of them!  Reagan is sweet and a rule follower (most of the time) and then there is crazy Landon (who is also sweet, but just a NUT!)

We're next!!

Santa was so sweet and so excited to hear that the kids have been extra good this year!

Landon telling Santa he's like a "trucky"...no surprise there!

Pinky promising Santa that we'll leave him white milk and cookies!

After our Santa visit we walked around a little and then got some lunch.  The girls wanted Panera and the boys got Chick-Fil-A.

Once we got home, Reagan REALLY wanted to make a gingerbread house.  I had bought a kit at a yard sale for a quarter, so we gave it a shot.  Much to our surprise it was already put together!!!  All we had to do was make the icing, which had to be pink, and get to work. :)  We had so much fun working on this while little man was snoozing!

  

  

The finished product!

Thankful Tree

We did our Thankful Tree again this year for the month of November and this year Landon chimed in on what he was thankful for...oh man, it was pretty hilarious!  Although they are funny, both kids did get the concept of what they were thankful for and we tried to explain, throughout the month and always, just how blessed we are!

November 1 - R- I am thankful for Mommy, Daddy, Landon, and Bailey.
                       L - I am thankful for my trucks.
November 2 - R - I am thankful that I spent time with my Daddy today!
                       L - I am thankful for having a cupcake today!
November 3 - R - I am thankful that I spent time with my family.
                       L - I am thankful for candy.
November 4 - R - I am thankful that we have enough money for me to go to St. Anne's.
                       L - I am thankful for Mommy, Daddy, and Reagan.
November 5 - R - I am thankful for my cousins.
                       L - I am thankful for my family.
November 6 - R - I am thankful for our food.
                       L - I am thankful for Miss Heidi!
November 7 - R - I am thankful for Bailey.
                       L - I am thankful for my motorcycle.
November 8 - R - I am thankful for getting Rockettes tickets.
                       L - I am thankful for cereal.
November 9 - R - I am thankful that Mommy and I had a fun weekend together.
                       L - I am thankful for my trophy.
November 10 - R - I am thankful for the earth.
                         L - I am thankful for fires.
November 11 - R - I am thankful for my friends.
                         L - I am thankful for my rescue truck and that the lights turn on.
November 12 - R - I am thankful for puzzles.
                         L - I am thankful for my dump truck, pick up truck, and iPad.
November 13 - R - I am thankful for the house we live in.
                         L - I am thankful for my life and iPad.
November 14 - R - I am thankful for Landon.
                         L - I am thankful for going to breakfast with Mommy and eating her french toast.
November 15 - R - I am thankful for our house.
                         L - I am thankful for Handy Manny shows.
November 16 - R - I am thankful that I have friends.
                         L - I am thankful for shows.
November 17 - R - I am thankful for spanish with Senora Consalas.
                         L - I am thankful for Mommy, Daddy, Reagan, and Paw Patrol.
November 18 - R - I am thankful for our Thanksgiving Indians that we made.
                         L - I am thankful for my cars.
November 19 - R - I am thankful for my brother.
                         L - I am thankful for Daddy and trucks.
November 20 - R - I am thankful for my teachers.
                         L - I am thankful for Mommy and cookies.
November 21 - R - I am thankful I could be in the parade.
                         L - I am thankful for Daddy.
November 22 - R - I am thankful for my school.
                         L - I am thankful for Mommy.
November 23 - R - I am thankful for Landon.
                         L - I am thankful for Reagan.
November 24 - R - I am thankful for Miss Jessie, my dance teacher.
                         L - I am thankful for my family and the deck.
November 25 - R - I am thankful for Daddy.
                         L - I am thankful for my family and Handy Manny.

Oh Christmas Tree...Part 2

This afternoon we headed to Coleman's to get our Christmas tree!  We've had this on the calendar forever to go with two of our favorite neighbors, but the Stringers have had sick kiddos and couldn't come.  We missed them!!  The Hunts were still able to come though and we all had fun!

on the hayride to go to the Christmas tree field...this is a cut down your own farm, so fun!

This is Landon's "mmmmmm" face!  LOL...he loved how the trees "melled"

The floral headband is STILL on :)

is it tall enough Daddy?!

Yup!  We found it!!

This is classic...my Landon is using his magnifying glass to inspect the tree, the dads are talking about getting a nice straight stump, and Reagan and Landon H are just looking on...pretty funny.

Landon got a nice sappy piece of the trunk and he was LOVING it!

hauling that tree back to the hayride!

There were so many trees...we were surrounded on the way back!  R and I had to sit on the edge of the trailer!

The tree is up and it's a "big tree, lotta sap!" but as Aunt Bethany would say, "she's a beaut Clark!"  Can't wait to decorate tomorrow night!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!  We had such a fun Thanksgiving WEEK!

Monday before school...it is SO nice that last year's clothes still fit this year!

On Tuesday Reagan had "Special Friends Day" at school, which was basically a Grandparents Day.  She was SO excited and had Mum-Mum, Pop-Pop, and Grandpa all there!  What a special day I know that was for her, and her grandparents :)  Wish I had a picture or two, but I know she had a great day!

Wednesday morning we had a few flurries...literally a few!  The kids had to go out and taste :)

By Wednesday afternoon we had a full house, Opa and Liz and Gran and Gramps had arrived!  Reagan was helping with the dressing balls prep.  She did NOT like the smell of the onion!

Wednesday night for dinner we went to Cantwell's and it was so nice!  They have it all decorated for Christmas and it's just beautiful.  I was VERY thankful to not have to cook dinner that night too :)

Thursday morning we started with breakfast and by 9:30 that turkey was in!

of course one still needs Ellios lunch :)

my big girl turkey who insisted upon a side ponytail

Chow time!  We ate at 3:00 sharp :)

The only picture of Landon I have...he was VERY busy playing!

We had about 20 people for our first Thanksgiving in our new house and it was so fun!  We loved it!  After dinner we cleaned up, had dessert, and played some Thanksgiving trivia during the Eagles game halftime.  The dishwasher ran about 4 times, my darling husband kept the cocktails flowing, and all had a good night :)

Friday was "operation decorate for Christmas" day!

We gave Opa his birthday/early Christmas gift!

Saturday morning we headed for Baltimore to go to Gran and Gramps' Kriskindle Mart! (I know I messed up that spelling!)  R and I went last year and we were glad all of us could go this year.

First stop, train room!

Reagan bought herself this floral headband...it hasn't left her head since :)

They were lovin' their candy canes...

...and daddy was loving his beer!

We went back to Gran and Gramps' quickly and then it was time to head to the parade!  They still had a little bit of snow left and the kids were SO excited to "play" in it!

bundled up at the parade!!

This morning we went to Baugher's for breakfast and HAD to go down to the playground for a little bit.  Landon couldn't wait to sit on the tractor...he gave us all rides to his farm :)

sweet girl...and yes, baby came with us!

We left after breakfast to avoid traffic...it was a quick, but very fun visit!  It was a great holiday weekend and now it's time to officially kick start the Christmas season!!  Yahoo!!