happy belated thanksgiving!

On Thanksgiving Day we went to Marion to visit some Sietstra extended family.  We don't get to see many of the Sietstra's as often as we'd like, so to be able to spend Thanksgiving together was a great treat!  Keith's cousin has a son (Isaac) who is 6 days older than Kase, and we had a blast watching these two boys together!

They watched Elmo

Wrestled (like most boys do)

 And played with the blow-up turkey outside!

Then, in typical family reunion fashion, we attempted to get a picture with the boys & extended family members!  I didn't get a picture of either of the boys smiling, but I now consider it a "good" picture if the kids are at least looking in the general direction of the camera!

 Happy Turkey Day from our little turkey!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

It's that time of year again, folks!  You know what I'm talking about...that time of year when you become giddy when it snows for the first time, the radio plays non-stop Christmas music, you bundle up your kids to go look at Christmas lights (we always got ice cream during these rides when I was little), and your house looks like Christmas threw up inside (well, at least my house does!). 

 

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!! 

One of our childhood Christmas traditions that I've carried over to my married life is going to the Christmas tree farm.  A few days ago we bundled up and went to the BEST Christmas tree farm I've ever been to.  There were so many beautiful trees that we only made it down a few rows before we had found the perfect tree!  I suppose it helps that we were the first customers of the season :) Another reason this farm was great was because of the live reindeer!  Kase wasn't a huge fan...he thought they were OK when they were across the pen, but once they started walking towards him he bolted straight for Mommy!

Kase will appreciate the Christmas tree farm someday.  This year, however, he was more interested in poking at the flags in the ground and touching the smaller trees.

He also had quite a difficult time maneuvering the rough terrain, and had quite a few tumbles.  We giggle everytime we see this picture :) hehe

I thought this picture was quite funny, but only because I could tell this was his CONCERNED face.  I looked in the direction he was looking, and saw the reindeer running around their pen.  Kase was quite unsure of them!

And this is the one shot I have of him smiling!

Once we got the tree home, Kase took a super important nap while Keith and I put the tree in the stand and got the lights on it.  I started decorating, but Kase woke up before I was finished, so I attempted to have him "help" me.  He helped for awhile

but then found the beads and was more interested in these than the tree.

Here's our finished product:

 This is another tradition we're starting with Kase...Christmas jammies!

uh oh...we're in trouble!

Mom: "Kase, what are you looking for?"

Kase: "CANDY!!!"

he was quiet...

too quiet...


which could mean one of two things:

1. he was pooping

or

2. he was making a mess



looks like someone found a new fun drawer to play in!

visitors

This afternoon we had some visitors come to our house! Uncle Jeff, Aunt Cara, and Cousin Callie came for a few hours for lunch and to play. It's been awhile since we've seen Cara & Callie, so it was fun to get together again!

This is the best picture I could get of Kase & Callie together:
My definition of a "good" picture has drastically changed since having Kase. I now consider it a good picture if he is 1. looking at the camera, 2. eyes are open. Any smile we get is just an added bonus. :)

This little lady is just too cute, makes me miss the baby days!
Thanks Jeff, Cara & Callie for coming to visit!

faves/not faves

These things are my new favorites and not so favorites:

1. The Couch
I LOVE climbing on the couch. I can't climb up by myself, but if I go to Mom and say "help" she'll put me up here. Then I like to try and climb on the end tables when Mom's not looking. I also like to read books and drink my juice on the couch. I'm a pretty big stud!2. The Winter Coat
I'm NOT a big fan of this new coat...see how fake this smile is? Mom's just lucky I wasn't screaming for this picture!3. Cell Phones
I've been a big fan of cell phones for a long time, Mom just thought this picture was cute.4. The Moon
One of my favorite books at my babysitter's house is about Pooh counting the moon & stars. And now, I like to see the real moon! Randomly during the night I walk to Mommy and say "come," take her hand and we walk to the window. Sometimes if I'm lucky, Mommy takes me outside and we can get a really good look at the moon. This happens multiple times a night. Then before bed we say "nigh-nigh," blow kisses, and "see yater (see you later)" to the moon. Chances are good that I'll wake up tomorrow morning asking to see the moon. 5. Mom's New Cabinets
Mom and Dad brought these new cabinets from our house in Pella, and they're just the perfect size for me to climb in! This weekend Nana & Papa were here with their puppy Mia. Mia's another of my favorite things, so I wanted to share my fun with the puppies. I made Daddy put the puppies in the cabinet with me. I said, "Mia Molly too?" And look what happened! Don't they look excited?

thankful thursdays