Christmas

We were excited to celebrate with Andrew this year!  Silas had fun with the Santa bit, even though I think he had forgotten his lap request of a soccer net.  Despite the picture he was pretty unimpressed. He preferred his superhero toys and finger lasers.  After only the second successful nap in his new bed, we were off to the cousins for joyous displays of roughhousing.

Bat Cave

Paint Crew

Christmas Prep

We got a real tree!  It is so much more beautiful than our sparsely branched and even more sparsely lit fake one.

 

We were Joseph in the preschool performance.  He killed it.  Now every time he sees a nativity he asks, "Is that me?"

Ms. April whom we adore.

At Mizzou with Buds

I had so much fun, Friends!  See you next year for the comfy tiger shirts.  (Maybe Amanda Stapp will be available for a reprise of this... :)

Wear this every Sat?

This water did not look so suspicious at the time.

In case he becomes a future Tiger.

Missouri with the FOMD

Thanksgiving dinner.

Hiking at Fantastic Caverns.

Training with Uncle Trevor.

At the Chief's and Buc's game.

Some of my favorite bits of the trip:

• Silas toting a hatchet and tagging along behind Mr. Roebke on a mission to cut the tail off a dead squirrel. (Good for fly fishing hooks apparently.)
• Conn and I sporting our Outlaws shirts and cheering on Trenton as he flies down the field after a soccer goal.
• A bag brim full of beef jerky... sitting next to French onion dip... sitting next to fudge, with a side of cheese ball. 
• Visiting the model to imagine our lovely new lake cabin under construction.
• Crafting twinkly Snowman ornaments with my favorite niece. 
• Conn forcing pumpkin pie on everyone to reveal our news.
  

Tailgating

Another weekend of showing up to abuse the delicious and fun fruits of another's labor. 

Family Photos

Halloween

Halloween lived up to my hype of the funnest day of the year!  We went out on the town with Eleven from Stranger Things and Silas was fearless ringing doorbells and giving his lines.  He ate more candy than he's ever seen in his life and probably will continue to.  It remains a toss up if he likes Trick or Treating or handing out candy better.  The Robin Hood/Peter Pan comments were about 49/49 with a few elves thrown in too.  I'm fine with all 3.

Spooky Story

The One Where Kristen and I Do Boone Hall Plantation

Anderson and Her Son

We are out of school for the second year running for weather in October.  Silas and I went to Anderson to hang out with Lacy and family.  Much was accomplished in the 26 hour stint.  A haircut, a library tour, cowboy boot buying, duck feeding, the cutest of parks, tag, best tacos I've ever put in my mouth, very fine pizza as well, and house shopping where we discovered my dream home, but alas, it is on the market a bit early to suit our needs.  I could definitely live in Anderson. The current residents don't hurt.

 

 

Jack and the Beanstalk Indefinitely

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” - G K Chesterton, Orthodoxy

I stole this from a blog that I love.  It was posted about two years ago, and I had to read through the better half of a year just to find it again, but it stuck with me and the blog is fun, so it was an evening well spent.  We are certainly in the "Again!" phase.  I suppose it is a long phase and I don't wish it away, but I like to think of this quote for stamina when I am Fee-Fi-Foe-ing for the 97th time as that sneaky Jack steals whatever item I can find in proximity.  Funny how I would cry my eyes out if I knew, when the time comes, it was the last time he would choose that particular role play.  It is fun to think that one day we will delight in monotony again, and even when the beanstalk is neglected, it won't ever be chopped down. 

Silas on his beanstalk.

34

This is what I wore on my 34th birthday.  Also, my day was amazing because 1.) Miss America 2.) Crabby Patties, soda, and purple cupcakes 3.) These folks (plus the photographer).