Tree Lighting on the Square

We went to a tree lighting ceremony in downtown FD last night with Tabitha and Lilly. It was chilly- but fun! We saw them light the tree and sing carols and then went on a hayrack ride down Central Ave to pick our favorite window decoration!

Santa arrived on a fire truck :)

Claire and Mommy on a chilly hay rack ride! Claire LOVED it-
said it was her best one EVER! LOL

Brett and Claire with their cookies and hot chocolate

Lilly- 4 1/2, Claire 3 1/2, and Brett 6 1/1

Thankgiving fun!

Claire at Thanksgiving dinner!

Brett at Thanksgiving dinner!

*So I'm super excited that I got a new camera- but I'm having a few issues with uploading so I apologize for the small photos here and lack of photos...
I will be better once I get this all figured out and I think the photos will be fab :)

Brett's fall program

We are sitting getting ready for Brett's Fall Program and talking to Rachel and she's lamenting that she forgot to put Lainey in dress clothes and that she's wearing jeans. She asks me if Brett is dressed up and I say yes that I put him in a button down and khaki's. THEN Dan is teasing Rachel (like he does so well- she is his baby sister after all!) and out struts Brett- looking like a hobo! He had pants on that the bottoms zipped off- so he decided to zip the bottoms off of his pants and show off his legs and tans socks! He looks like he's got on "man-pris" (like capris for men!). Dan and I were at first mortified and then we just couldn't stop laughing! Of course Rachel now gets to give Dan a hard time about whom should take fashion advice from whom?! Too funny- so I had to take some full body shots so you could see how rediculous Brett's outfit looked! Ah...the best laid plans!! Foiled by a 6 year old yet again!

Brett is a real show man...singing his little heart out!

Brett- 6 1/2 1st grade

On this pumpkin song, they used pumpkins that they had painted. Brett didn't want to reveal his until it was time- so he left it flipped to the back!

I apologize for the quality of this video- Claire was on my lap wiggling around and I did it sideways...but this song was so cute and Brett was so funny- looking right at me with his toothless grin :)

Pumpkin carving

We didn't get around to carving pumpkins until the day after Halloween...better late than never!

Brett and Claire each drew their face and I cut them out for them after they got the yuck out!!

Look, Mom, seeds!

Brett takes the top off!

Brett loves putting his hands in the goo!! Claire didn't mind,
but wanted to clean them off quickly!

Nice pumpkin, kiddos! (It's a 2 sided Jack O'Lantern!)

Family Fun!

Ron (Mark's brother- Dan's uncle), Jane, Rebecca, and Teddy came to Iowa for a visit. Brett and Claire had a ball with the kids. They slept over one night-
this is Rebecca, Teddy, and Claire on sleepover night!

Rebecca, Claire, Brett, and Teddy at the apple orchard

Crazy static hair Claire...we were getting silly on sleepover night! :)

Rebecca and Claire at the orchard

As you can see....Claire LOVES spending time with Rebecca :)

Trick or Treat and Halloween Party

Trick or Treating at Gma and Gpa's house

at Nan and Papa's house

Claire was the little mermaid....and a stunning mermaid she was :)

Crazy teeth candy from a friend

Brett was a police officer...clearly takes himself very seriously!

LJ's 3rd birthday party- Ron, Jane, Teddy, and Rebecca

Our fam (Dan was a harried JD mechanic and I was Brett's prisoner and Claire was Belle from Beauty and the Beast- she has 12 costumes in her closet so we could dress her
up everyday for 2 weeks!)

The Princesses and the frog (Lainey, Lyndey, and Brody Maehl)

Mark and Pat were the Marx Brothers, Cheri was Little Red Riding Hood
and Rick was fisherman.

Zach, Liz, Ben, and Ramona

CRAZY Aunt Rachel (aka Kelly from Regis and Kelly) Brett took this photo :)

All the kids at the costume party!

Apple orchard and family fun

Aaron, Maggie, Brett, and Claire enjoy some time at the apple orchard over the weekend!

Maggie loved the apple cider- the face was b/c the sun was in her eyes!!

Notice- Brett only has one (loose) top tooth- so he had to eat the apple off to the side!!

We took some family pics for mom and dad's christmas card....
they turned out well considering all the kids!!

Amy Lynn and Maggie Lynn :)