November Birthdays

We celebrated Erin and Gisela's Birthday on Sunday after the Scribner Thanksgiving.  We had it over at our house because my mom and dad were installing new floors in their house.  Carter had a swim meet that day that we went to first and then came home and got ready for the party. 

the birthday girls and all the kids

oma with her great grandkids

Here is a video of us singing happy birthday to the birthday girls

Scribner Thanksgiving

We had the Scribner Thanksgiving the weekend before Thanksgiving.  We got together in the afternoon for some traditional Thanksgiving food.  The weather was too bad so the kids got to spend a little time outside.  The cousins had fun playing together and the adults enjoyed playing games and drinking coffee.  We had a nice meal with great company.  It was a great way to start the Thanksgiving holiday.

The girls prepping the food

grandpa al spending some time with a few grandkids

karen with her boys

kids table

other side of the kids table

trying to get the entire table is getting to be a bit rough. they are all getting so big

November happenings

November has been so full and it is not even over yet!  We still have thanksgiving left which usually means lots of celebrations.  We have had a lot of music programs, birthday celebrations, well child checks, orthodontist appointments, swim meets, the start of basketball and getting ready for Christmas.  I know it hasn't even been Thanksgiving yet, but we decided to decorate early this year and we are totally ok with being "those" people.  We love decorating and enjoying the Christmas spirit with all the lights and trees.  We are always anxious to get them down after Christmas, so we want to enjoy them as much as possible before.  We even started to listen to Christmas music! That means it is getting colder and the days of being outside are starting to limit themselves.

playing in the dirt pile by our house

my november bunco group get together

i loved this 80's vest i found at target and he looks so cool in it

this  kid went to church in pants backwards and he didn't even know it

he loves snap chat filters

these two were hard at play

we put up our christmas decorations early. like too early. but we love them

showing off the completed tree

we got the boys their own trees for their bedrooms that have all of their own ornaments on them

aren't they so cute

they loved having them in their bedrooms

i was busy making grinch shirts and pajamas

don't they look cute in their christmas jammies?

she likes the christmas tree too!

some crafts I made for Christmas gifts

our new home ornament

Chad bought this grabber for the boys (and lets me honest, me too, that washer is deep) to help move over the laundry.  They just stand on a stool and reach in with the grabber

works like a charm

the joys of snap chat

I caught a video of callan singing Christmas songs while folding his laundry

Callan doing his whip kick at swim

Callan swimming on his back and camden doing a survivors float

Video of Camden doing side glide with shark fin

Nebraska All State Choir

Carter was chosen to sing in the Nebraska Music Education Association  All-State Choir. Carter and two other boys from choir were chosen to go as well and represent Wysong Elementary and Lincoln.  Kids from all over the state come together for a full day of music.  The kids all head down to the Lied center in Lincoln bright and early in the morning.  They spend all day practicing the songs together as a big group.  He had put in hours of practice outside of school with his teacher to prepare for this day.  They learned quite a few songs and some in different languages.  They ate lunch on site and got ready for the performance at 4:00.  The choir did a great job and the director was so good with the kids.  He made it so much fun for them.  It was the first time we have really seen Carter animated and having a good time while singing.  Carter said the day was really fun and all the boys had a great time.  

Wysong group selfie

taking a break and eating lunch

taking another break from practicing

small group practicing

wysong boys on stage

wysong boys in front of the grand piano

one more selfie

a small sampling of kids across Nebraska

after the performance

with their music teacher

A video of carter walking on stage

Professional Photo Shoot

I needed to get the boys pictures taken since it has been over a year.  I love having their annual shoot with Curt.  We always seem to find some new place and I love watching them grow in their pictures.  I needed to get them done early so I could get my Christmas cards done.  I needed them to be sent out early since we moved and had a new address.  I was super nervous about the weather cooperating.  It was misting when we got to the site and didn't have much day light to work with.  But like always they turned out amazing!