Grapevine Christmas Parade

Buddy Snowflake, our elf on the shelf, has come back this year and he has been teaching us and having us do all kinds of fun Christmas things this December. 

 

One tradition that is a favorite is the Grapevine Parade of Lights. 

This is our 4th year to meet on Main Street at my work and enjoy the parade.

 The group grows every year and I love it. The more the merrier, everyone is welcome. 

Having a building to park at, warm up in, go potty when needed, etc is the best way to watch the parade. We always get there early to park before they block off Main Street and we eat dinner and play a little.

  

Ty climbing the tree out front

  

Stacee brought a warm container of hot chocolate for all the kids and they loved it 

 

Both my boys watched most of the parade in my lap and I am not complaining. Loved every second of those snuggles. Got one pic with all my kids. 

 

The whole fam - not a great pic but we were all there 

 

At some point the kids decided to lay down and watch on their tummies. 

 

Love these three

  

Kid group pic 

Letters to Aunts & Uncles

Kinley has had a couple of very cute letters come home from school in the last couple months specifically to her aunts and uncles. 

The first one was to Bart and Olivia. 

It was a story she wrote about what she was going to do that weekend and we were headed over to their house to babysit Anson with Honey. 

Here are the pics of the story:  

Translation: "Tonight me and my mom and my two brothers get to go to my baby cousins house. We get to see their dog. The dog is nice. It loves to do tricks. I teach him. My aunt and uncles name is Olivia and Bart. I love my aunt and uncles house." 

And even though we had the BEST time with Anson that night and loved just hanging at Bart and Olivia's house. We played with toys, took baths together, ate pizza and all three of my kids fell asleep on the couch with Honey and I (dream come true!) the only pic I got of the entire night does not represent well. 

We waited too long! 

It was bedtime and all my kids got in Anson's crib with him to cheese it up and he was like "Get out of my bed! I am tired!" Poor guy. 

He just needs a little more time around us to get used to the chaos :) 

 

The second one was a letter to Alex and Mendy right before Thanksgiving. 

I think she meant to take it to them for our Thanksgiving week at the lake but, I never checked her folder the whole break until she went back to school (Mom of the year) 

 Here is a pic: 

   

Translation: "Alex, Thank you for being silly. Minnie thank you for the baby cousin of mine."

Moral of the story: If you give her cousins or have a dog that does tricks, you will get a sweet letter or story written about you at school.

More November

Maddi had a My Little Pony birthday party and it was so fun.
 
Even Dylan got in on the pony riding action!


We had a cousin get together at David and Kristi's and for some crazy reason, this is my only picture. Kid dinner table. Can't wait for Christmas with the Howe side. I will be better about pics!
 

 We could not wait to put on Christmas pj's from Aunt Minnie. We even made Anson match us (twice!)one night at Honey's house for a pre-thanksgiving Howe get together.

Dylan's new cheese face :)

No success with pjs this time...good thing we still have a few Christmas get-togethers to get it right!

Shout out to cheese face on the fireplace.
 

Dylan had his ear re-check with the ENT for his tubes and he is still looking good! Another follow up in six months to see if they have fallen out by then. She thinks probably so.
 
He's just telling himself he is one year old.

If picking your nose or sticking your hands down your diaper makes your tubes fall out faster then we may be in trouble. But for now, we will wait for the follow up appointment.

 Dylan has also had an intense love for Haley. He crawls over her, pets her, chases her. Just like Kinley and Ty did at his age.
 She is the BEST, most patient dog.
 
 Ben and I went to see Kinky Boots at Bass Hall. The music was all by Cindi Lauper and was fantastic.
 I love date nights with my man.

Had to take a pic with the boots.


 We went to the Nordells one night to visit their Thanksgiving break guests. Nibbles and Fluffy are the Guinea pig class pets in Ella's class. I think every kid wanted their own guinea pig after cuddling with these two.


The Fogles came in town for Thanksgiving!!!!
Hallelujah.
 It feels like old times and I LOVE it! All our kids love each other and play perfectly (and so do the parents). We all went to La Hacienda after church on Sunday and they came over Monday afternoon/evening.
 I would force them to never leave my house while they are in town if I could.


We went to Grapevine Mills mall one day with Honey to do some Christmas shopping, food court eating and carousel riding.

We also randomly decided to visit Santa because there was no line. I know we will see him at least one other time but, it was fun to have this picture. I can't believe how big Dylan was smiling!!


We went to look at the Christmas lights on Grapevine Main Street one night and drove thru to get some Starbucks hot chocolate on our way.

Santa!
 
Mistletoe Booth!

It wasn't even planned but we ran into the Bartels up there!
 So much fun.
 Last outing with them before John Wyatt!


 John Wyatt finally made his debut! 5 days late, after all Leslie's Thanksgiving visitors who were supposed to help her had come and gone. But, we were thrilled he waited until we were back from the lake so we could see him in the hospital!
 Loved the mumm from her shower on the hospital door.

We got into the Christmas spirit with a litle holiday decorating.

And THIS really speaks life into my heart. We tell Kinley all the time we want her to know how to read really well so she can read the Bible.
 Here she is reading her Bible to Ty.
 
 So excited for December festivities!