Getting the Christmas Tree

The first Saturday in December we made our annual trek to Wahmhoff Farms to pick out our Christmas tree.  It has been an annual tradition for years to go with Dan and Nancy.  It seems like it's usually a bitterly cold and snowy day, but we haven't had any of those yet this year.  In fact, it was about 40 degrees! Crazy. Nathan and Natalie both had a ton of fun careening around and checking out the selection.  Picking out a Christmas tree was always a big and exciting event for my brother and I at Christmastime, and I love that we're continuing that tradition with our kids.  Oh, and this year we got a Korean fir, and the advantage of me being several weeks late in writing this post is that I can tell you we have been really pleased with how it has held up!  It still looks great, and it hasn't lost a ton of needles.

We ran into the Lepleys there!!  I love that Kalamazoo is small enough that I frequently see people I know and love when I'm out and about.

Buddies

The day after Thanksgiving was an awesome flashback to maternity leave for me.  I was home with the kiddos (Todd had to work, boo) and my dear friend Maureen came over with her daughter Gretchen.  Gretchen and Nathan are like two peas in a pod.  They love each other, and are both brimming with energy, chattiness, silliness and fun.  When I was on maternity leave last year we would get together for a playdate once a week, and it was so much fun for everyone.  I do love my job, but I do really miss having so much unstructured time with my kids and my friends, so I have to enjoy it when I have the opportunity.  This was an extra special playdate, because exactly one week later, Gretchen became a big sister to sweet baby Anna.

Before Gretchen arrived, Nathan was cracking Natalie up by giving her rides in the laundry basket.  It's so much fun to see these two playing together!

Gretchen and Nathan "camping" in their "tent."

CHEESE!!!!

Wonderfully Lowkey Thanksgiving

This year's Thanksgiving holiday was absolutely wonderful.  It was very, very relaxed and mellow, which are rare characteristics of my life these days!  This year was our "small Thanksgiving" year, where Stu, Erin, Dan's brother Tom and his family are all celebrating with other sides of their families.  My mom and dad were visiting Steve and Joanna in California.  So it was just the four of us Fowles who headed over to Dan and Nancy's for Thanksgiving dinner.  Nathan was so excited to celebrate that he talked Grandma into letting him come over for the whole day. :)

Natalie, Todd and I headed over after Nat's nap, and we settled in for a delicious meal.

Natalie's still working on her spoon technique. :)

It was 60 degrees on Thanksgiving in Michigan! Crazy. Nathan took advantage of the weather by playing outside.

Kiddos

YUM. Yes, I like cranberries. A lot.

The whole gang!

Relaxing Weekend Escape

In mid-November we headed up to Northport for the weekend.  We stayed at Florence and Basil's house, and for a glorious two days we had absolutely no agenda.  On Saturday it rained all day, and we just hung out at the house and played with the kids.  This was the first time that Natalie felt totally and completely comfortable with Grandma and Grandpa, and spent a ton of time plopped on Florence's lap reading books.  We let Nathan pick out a movie to rent on Saturday evening, which is how we got stuck watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipwrecked.  It wasn't good, but Nathan loved it and thought it was hilarious.  I loved listening to his big belly laughs and silly giggles. :)

On Sunday it was beautifully sunny and warm.  We went over to the cottage and wandered around in the woods and on the beach.

Natalie still falls down a lot while she's walking, but it doesn't phase her.  She's so excited to participate in what everyone else is doing!

Such a cutie

Writing his name in the sand

Todd worked with Nathan a bit on riding the bike that Nancy got at a garage sale this summer.  Nay actually got on it and worked on pedaling!  Trust me, that is big progress...this kid has been REFUSING to pedal anything for a long time.

Nathan got frustrated and abandoned the bike.

 Then he took charge of his sister's stroller!

Happy Halloween!

This year Nathan was SO excited about Halloween!  He was giddy going to bed the night before, and this morning he came running out of his room, saying, "Hey Mom, Dad, I was just thinking, it's Halloween today!"  They have a Halloween parade at the kids' daycare, and I made sure to block out time in my calendar to go and join in the fun and of course take photos of the explosion of cuteness that is a bunch of little kids all dressed up.  There were a lot of other parents there who came to join in the fun too, so there were cameras everywhere.  It was pretty awesome chaos.

Preschool!

My super excited dinosaur.

Dinosaur was the most popular costume at the school today, with three just in the preschool room!

Nathan and his teacher, Miss Elaine.

The first sighting of my sweet little lobster!

Seeing her big brother turned dino

Ellie, the dinosaur-riding cowgirl. :)

Maya, Heather and Maelyn

Natalie and Maya are good buddies.

Parading through the infant room

That is one crowded elevator!

Happy chaos

Natalie was not at all concerned that she was the smallest of the Halloween revelers.

Madeline

My cuties!!

Lobster on the loose!

After the parade it was snack time!

For the evening's trick or treating, we headed over to a party hosted by the Lepley family.  Kathleen lives right in the heart of one of the best trick or treating spots in town, and Nathan and Gavin love trick or treating together.  This year in particular, they had a blast together.  I love it because it's rare that our family and Suz and Bryan have social schedules that coordinate.

My loves

Ready to go!!

Bryan in his awesome trucker costume.

Natalie was fascinated by all of the festivities, especially when safely snuggled in Daddy's arms.

Linus and the Dinosaur, on a mission for candy!

Bryan and Suz