Juggling Our Way Through Life

This year we did a thankful tree during the month of November.  The kiddos and I went out one day and found a few small fallen branches and then put them in a vase.  Then every night (well not every night, but the nights that we remembered too-the kiddos were better than us at remembering), the kids would say one thing they were thankful for and then Jeff or I would write it on a little piece of paper and they would hang them on the tree.  It was super cute and they would get excited about it.  Here are some things they said and a few Jeff and I said.  Lots of things were repeated.  I think family was said like 5 times! I hope to do it again next year. 

House
Food
Sun
Snow
Christmas
Family
Friends
Apples
Trees
Momma
Daddy
Playing outside with my kiddos
Santa
Healthy family
Pumpkins
Toys
Cheese
Gaga and Paa Paa
Flowers grwoing
Uncles
Moon
Birthday and presents
Playing outside
Gymboree
for all God gave us
Grandma and grandpa Cauble
Aiden
The trees changing colors
God
Squirrels
Aunt Mal, Stef, Kristi
Judah and Ruby
Cale

Tonight I was able to get together with some of my dear friends, Erin and Kara.  Erin and I have been best friends since we were young girls growing up in the same neighborhood.  We met Kara in high school and the 3 of us hung out and became super close.  These girls are amazing and I am blessed and honored to call them friend.  Kara lives in Michigan now, but when she comes home we always get together and pick up right where we left off.  And the kiddos-they love hanging with each other and giggle and have a great time every time we are together.  Tonight we were able to get all 3 of our family's together for dinner and hanging out and it was beyond awesome.  I wish we could have more times like this.  I truly treasure time with these girls and their family's and am thankful we could find time tonight to hang out.  No matter where we live, this I know for sure, we will be life long friends!

Abigail, Emma, Timmy, Hannah, Cale and Aiden-notice Cale and Aiden are the only one's being goofy!

We put the Christmas tree up last weekend.  Aiden was into it last year, but now that he is 2 he was totally into helping his brother put the ornaments on the tree.  Now of course most of the ornaments ended up clumped together on the bottom of the tree, but they had a blast!  Jeff puts the lights on the tree every year-I think next year we will get a pre-lit tree!!!  It's too much work putting the lights on the tree!  Whew!

Yes, we did it again!  It's that time of year for the Polar Express.  We went down to Branson last week and stayed at Big Cedar Lodge and rode the Polar Express on Thursday, 11/21.  The kiddos had a great time, the weather was pretty good, and they got their bell and even took a picture with Santa.  Friday was cold, but we braved the weather anyway and walked around Big Cedar Lodge.  Saw and pet the horses, went down to the main check in area and played and built with Lincoln Logs for a long time and went to a coffee house on site and had a nice breakfast.  We headed back on Saturday.  It was a short trip, but totally fun.  I just love this time of year-the joy in the kiddos eyes when seeing Christmas lights, the joy in riding the Polar Express and just the wonder of it all. 

In October we headed to the Botanical Gardens one morning and got some family photos.  Jeff of course was the photographer :)  He set up his tripod and would get the image just right, turn on the timer, and then run to get in the photo.  I think he took s

Here they are pretending to be Godzilla!  Love it!

Love, love, love this shot!

ome awesome shots of us!

I call Aiden my little snuggle bunny-not sure why, he just can be so cute and snuggly and I just adore it.  Well, I guess I should say used to be.  My little man is growing up.  In the past month or so he has stopped wanting to rock and snuggle when he goes down for a nap or goes to bed at night.  He has a little kid rocker in his room and now it is scooted over to the glider and he sits in it and me or Jeff sit in the glider and we rock separately.  I have to say, it's been hard to do this.  Aren't they supposed to snuggle forever?  Ok-so they grow up.  I guess I just wasn't ready for it.  It is cute though to see him rocking in his own little chair.  He is adorable.  He is getting so big.  He talks up a storm, loves to wrestle with his brother and/or daddy, loves to play, loves to eat, and is all around a happy kid.  But I also believe we are reaching the terrible 2 stage!  Wow can this kid get an attitude fast.  Lots of mad faces, and no's and I don't want to's!  It's crazy.  Thank goodness he is cute! :) 

We have signed Cale and Aiden up for soccer class.  They started last week and are really liking it.  We go to Vetta sports and they each have their own class.  It's fun to watch them learn new things.  Aiden is still doing gymboree also and is loving this class.  It's so amazing to watch him there-it's pretty structured, however the kids can do and play with what they want.  But Aiden knows the routine by now and just follows along with whatever the teacher is doing.  Pretty cool to watch. 

Cale continues to do great in school.  He's a sweet kid all around and at school we have been told on multiple occasions that he makes good choices and his teachers are proud of him for that!  He too though can get an attitude quickly and be super whiny-whew!  Watch out when both of the kiddos are acting up.  Lot's of time outs and consequences ensue which we don't like giving out consequences, but know it's necessary. 

We are looking forward to the holiday season-with being with family and making doing some of our traditions like the Advent calendar and the Polar Express ride in Branson.  Got the kids matching holiday PJs ready to go for this! 

I almost forgot about halloween- Cale was Ironman and Aiden was Batman.  We ended up trick or treating at West County Mall because it was sort of rainy.  The kids had a great time!

Here's some pictures:

Cale and Aiden love playing in any leaf pile they can find.

Cale at soccer practice

Daddy and Aiden talking during soccer practice

Love playing with Ty and Ella!

We got to go to the Balloon Glow with Stef and Chris and had a great time.  We packed a picnic dinner and headed down early and stayed and waited for the sun to go down and the balloons to light up.  The kids loved it.  It's always so fun when they let you walk by the balloons and then they blow the horn and all the balloons light up at the same time!  Super cool.

There was also the Greentree Festival a few weeks ago too and that means the Greentree Parade.  We met up and watched it with the Woods family and had a great time hanging out.  The kiddos got lots of candy and had fun watching all the cool stuff in the parade.