Putting up Christmas

PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS
We had our traditional FHE of putting up the tree!  My pencil tree had come earlier that day so I put it up before everyone got home as well as all the nativities.  But once everyone was home, we drove over to Harmons and bought our real tree :).  It was a fun night, putting all the decorations on it.  I love talking about all our memories and hearing everyone talk about past Christmases.  So we put the real tree in the family room and it's SO NICE to not have it crammed into the living room.  And it's fun to have Christmas throughout the house this year.  Molly seemed to get into things and it seemed like she remembered last year a little bit!  So that was fun.  I had Nate be our camera guy :).  Good times.  Christmas can start now!  12-3-18

"First Christmas" ornaments from Grandma Hatch

Molly's animal mobile one from last year!

I'm pretty sure Charity was having a rough night, that night.  Not in the best mood, but look how well she fakes it for the camera!  poor girl.

Nate's always the camera man for this, so it's the one time of the year we see mom :).  I do exist!

Poor Brad was really sick that day!  Stayed home from school and everything!  Poor kid!  I feel bad that we didn't get to wait til he was feeling good.  But look at him!  Such a trooper.  The pictures of him sleeping on the couch in the middle of all the mess didn't make the cut apparently.

Noah's year to put on the angel!  I wonder if Nate will be able to lift him up the next time he does it??

And the holiday specs!  The Cutlers gave us some new ones this year!  So fun!  

This is Luke trying to put the angel on my tall tree :).  Hilarious!

Gingerbread Houses with the Hatches

GINGERBREAD HOUSES WITH THE HATCHES
We got to have our traditional gingerbread houses activity with the Hatches afterall!  We were so glad they were in town!  We invited Grandpa and Steve as well.  Had soup and then got to work!  I am still mad I didn't get any "in the making" pictures this year!  Such a slacker!  But I did manage to get the end product ones just barely before they were leaving.  It was such a fun time!  The kids are all old enough (or have old enough siblings that help them) that we adults (and Izzy) were able to just sit in the living room and visit.  That was really nice!  I loved it.  It was so good to see Brent too!  I guess it's been a year and a half.  Didn't feel like that long for some reason.  But good times!  It's fun how well our kids get along when they're together.  They all watched Rocketman together as well. 11-29-18

First Real Snow

The first real snow always calls for a snowman!  Erika and Noah built this one, Luke made one in the front yard, which I don't think I ever got a picture of.  Luke's was funny because it melted leaning to the left.  It was completely laying on it's side.  Funny snowman.  11-24-18

New Cement Slab

I finally got out there and got some pictures of Brad using the new court.  This is just so exciting!  I love that he can be out there, practicing, without having to dodge cars or tick off neighbors.  He seems to enjoy it and spends a lot of time out there, even though it's cold.  I think once winter is over, Luke will spend more time out there too, but Noah is right there with Brad a lot of the time.  So fun!  I'm so grateful for all of Nate's hard work and sacrifice!  I can't believe it actually happened!  So fun!