Last Saturday we took advantage of the rather warm sunny temperatures and headed out to get our Christmas tree. We tried a tree farm that we had never been to called Mumma's. It is owned by an old couple who has been running it for 60 years. All 5 of their grown children were there helping to shake, wrap, cashier and carry trees to patron's cars. The farm was really well taken care of with beautiful frazier fir trees and spruce trees. We learned, as I was chatting with one of the sons, this is likely going to be their last season and the farm is probably going to be for sale. Eric and I are actually considering buying it…!! More to come on that at a later date. We are really happy with the tree and the kids had a fun time decorating it with all our ornaments.
Sunday we went to the Family museum and attended their Winterfest. The highlight of the afternoon, after snacks, crafts, and games was meeting Santa. He was a really silly Santa and kept teasing Kennon, as you'll see in the pictures. Maddox asked for a bigger bike and Kennon asked for a bike without training wheels!!!??? Lucky for Maddox we DO have a new big bike for her…as for Kennon well…he has a bike that has training wheels but he has been defiantly refusing to allow us to take them off. I think Eric will just take them off before we go over to his office to ride on Christmas day and poof that will be the end of the training wheels. We KNOW he can ride without the training wheels, his balance is amazing and he has mastered pedaling. It'll be so cool to see them both tearing about The Planning Center basement Christmas day..
Santa had a fan on him….I think it makes Maddox look like a model…blowing her hair!!!
I had to throw this picture in for Grandpa Jim and Uncle Tyler and some of the Kies family. We got some of our Christmas decorations out Friday night before we actually got our tree on Saturday. Kennon quickly grabbed a long piece of garland and started 'fishing' with it over our balcony!! How priceless is that?? He'd yell out as Eric and I were decorating…'Dad I got a big one!!' all enthusiastically. So cute! He eventually talked his sister into fishing with him and found her a nice 'pole' to caste too!! They both do enjoy fishing although KTK a tad more…probably a boy thing. So thankful they've been able to fish with Grandpa Jim as well as Uncle Jim and Uncle Bryan, Eric's brothers down in Keokuk in Uncle Jim and Aunt Lora's pond. A great pastime.
I took Maddox for her 5 year check up a few weeks ago. I forgot to post that she was in the 98th percentile for height!!! Neither of our kiddos have ever been in that high of a percentile!! She does appear tall compared to her classmates. She is in the 48th for weight. She still naps during the afternoon and is our 'sleeper' unlike her little brother. She loves her big girl full sized bed and most mornings we have to wake her about 7:15 to get ready for school. She is starting to read and is getting very proficient at sounding out words. We do need to work further on sight words to make things easier for her. She is really growing up and her behavior is paralleling the aging as well…less tantrums and more understanding of the word NO!! We do have a rather simple sticker chart going for both the kids to encourage following directions the FIRST time and having a kind and loving heart with all activities/interactions. It really seems to be working, although there was a learning curve the first week :). Morning chores and cleaning up are also on the chart. The kids are very interested and soaking up the Bible stories surrounding the birth of Jesus. We have a daily Christmas devotional that is kid driven but reads certain verses from the Bible to help them become more familiar with the details leading up to and after the birth of our Lord and Savior. We are so blessed as a family and are trying to drive home the idea of gratitude although sometimes not an easy task at this time of year. But Eric and I keep persevering. We have picked several 'angels' from trees about the community to buy a present for someone in need. I know Maddox is getting it…we still have some work to do with Kennon…but he is only 3 1/2. Have a great rest of your week!!
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