Happy Birthday Jesus!

Another one of our favorite Christmas events is the birthday party for Jesus our church puts on every year. This year wasn't any different, we enjoyed a live Christmas story told by a shepherd, birthday cake and lots and lots of crafts....which we love!Let's hear it for crafts!
And balloon animals...
and more crafts!

Little Turkeys

We tried to keep kids entertained on Thanksgiving with crafts and games, but sometimes you just have to create your own fun. Don't worry they took turns.

JWU tree lighting

This year, just like the past few years, we were able to make it to the annual JWU tree lighting. This year the actual tree lighting was in Gateway village, so the actual tree was triple in size. We might as well have been in Rockefeller Center. It was beautiful and the kids loved it, especially all the fun leading up to the main event. There were crafts, snacks and about four different holiday figures walking around such as Santa and the grinch.
Neither kid really wanted to talk to Santa, but we did manage a photo. Henry especially was afraid. He had just had a rough encounter with the Grinch and was just about fed up with these holiday figures.
But not Maggie, I think she prefers these make believe friends to real people.
My favorite part of the evening is hanging out with our RUF kids and spreading the Christmas cheer.
And being with these guys is pretty awesome too.

Thanksgiving before Christmas!

Before Christmas arrives, I thought it would be best to blog about Thanksgiving first. Sorry, the time has gotten away from me. I know there are some very antsy folks in Kansas waiting to see some updated pics, so I hope not to disappoint in these next few blog posts. We started our Thanksgiving festivities with a much anticipated visit from Dog and Grams. And, what's a visit from Dog without a trip to the piggy bank?

Grams was invaluable during her time with us here in the Carolinas. She taught me how to perfect the Thanksgiving turkey. It was fabulous.
She played countless games with the grandkids from ponies to cars to tea. She was the perfect playmate.
Henry received a new digger for his b-day and enjoyed driving it through the fallen leave piles in the back yard.
Maggie wanted to join in on the fun Henry was having in the back yard and so she wore this little get up to the fun.
Of course Grams wasn't the only fun playmate, Dog (not Bella...but Grandpa "Dog") was also up for some exciting games with the grands.
We couldn't have Grams and Dog come all that way to NC without enjoying some smores by the fire, a Dirks jr. favorite.
On the actual day of Thanksgiving we started off by heading to Uptown for a slightly damp Thanksgiving day parade.
Cousins Brody and Evan even joined us for the fun, and also helped us complete our color scheme.
And, of course what's more fun than one Grandma? TWO grandmas!!!
Sampling some turkey before the big event.
Cousin Trooper is almost as big as Henry, but Henry still wanted to make sure he knew who was older.
The Saturday after Thanksgiving we put up our Christmas tree and Maggie and Henry were very helpful in decorating it this year.
Sunday after church we looked so darn good we had to take some shots in front of the tree.
Before Grams and Dog headed back to KS we got some final fun in with a little reading.
And, a little legos. Thanks for coming Grams and Dog we had a great time. Love you!!!

Musical Sesame Street Book

Aunt Roomie & Uncle Abe sent a musical Sesame Street book to Maggie last week, and let's just say that the book and Maggie have been inseparable since they first laid eyes on each other!

Thanks Aunt Roomie & Uncle Abe!

REWE

There are only a few of you out there who will have any idea what this is about ...so if you're one of those people - ENJOY!

Daddy Daughter Date Night

Chick-Fil-A put on a Daddy Daughter Date night! Here is Maggie with her favorite fast food chain celebrity - - - > The Chick-Fil-A Cow. Maggie asked the cow to join us on a horse-drawn carriage ride.
The horse-drawn carriage!
Chick-Fil-A went all out for Daddy Daughter Date Night. When we arrived we were greeted by a host who sat us at a fancy table with fancy place mates and a table cloth. As they were seating us they gave Maggie a rose and a miniature Chick-Fil-A cow. Within just a few moments a man named Sean came by to take our order, and he informed us that when it came time to for dessert that we could have anything from the dessert menu for free! And that's not all ...throughout our meal we enjoyed beautiful harp music because Chick-Fil-A had hired a harpist to play in the restaurant that evening!
Daddy & Daughter in the horse drawn carriage.
I love you Magz! You're priceless!!! Let's do it again sometime.