We had a fun weekend filled with Christmas activities. Saturday night we went to a tree farm to cut down our tree. The majority of the time was spent not looking for a tree, but having a snow ball fight.

Isaac looking sneaky...


Kendra figured out the game too.


Our tree. As you can tell, by the time we picked the tree and cut it, it was starting to get dark.



Next...decorating!!




We are not done yet, but the bottom few feet of the tree is full--mom will have to even it out later :)



Tonight was the first EGM children's Christmas program. It was so cute. Everyone did a great job!!


Kendra was up there for the 1st little lamb's song...


...then she walked past us to come back down and spotted us. It was all over for her at that point. She wasn't going to set foot on that stage again.


Isaac did great. He sang and did most of the motions. It was so much fun to watch!

This week we made applesauce. The kids were super excited to help out!


They actually did a really good job of doing it!


Daddy got in on the fun too.


Dancing break - I think this was a ABBA song - can you tell?


Finished product - mmmmm.


apples cooking


cooked


finished!


In all I was able to freeze 20 bags of it (We are loving the chest freezer mom and dad!). It's the best sauce that I've made yet. It was so sweet that I didn't even have to add sugar. For those interested, the apples were an even combination of Jonathan and Macintosh. The trick will be remembering that for the next time that I have to make sauce again!  Stay tuned...Pumpkin Fest pictures to come in the next few days...

For some reason Xanga won't let me upload my photos right now... You can look at my facebook page for pictures of Isaac's first day of preschool. He had a great first week of preschool. On Monday I was able to go along with him. It was a basic introduction to his teachers and the classroom with a scavenger hunt, then his teacher had all of the kids introduce themselves through a song and then she read a book to the kids. We were only there for an hour that day. Wednesday we dropped him off. He didn't seem scared to leave me at all. He told me that they made gingerbread cookies and then they ran away! His words: "We looked all over the school! In the ovens, in the classroom, outside...and then we found them - they were on the picnic table the whole time!" He got to take the gingerbread cookie home with him and eat it after lunch. Today he said that they painted, did sidewalk chalk outside, played more with the stations in the room...that's pretty much all that he would tell me - or could remember - I'm not sure which. He is pretty open to talking about his day, but I have to cue him a little bit. I think that they do so much that he doesn't really know what to tell me if I just generally ask him what he did that day. Mrs. Dielman sends a e-mail each week to tell us some of what they are doing each day, so that makes it easier for me to ask questions.

Kendra and I have been staying busy while Isaac is at school too. I had a bunch of supplies to buy for different things, so yesterday we went shopping. She was a bit confused at first and asked if we were going to wait for Isaac and then she was just plain proud to be shopping all by herself with mommy. There was one store that I didn't make her ride in the cart and she was just strutting along side of me. So cute :) Today we went to our garden and picked some of our produce and then we went to church so that I could do some set up and clean up for the next little lambs class. I'm hoping that next week I'll be able to take one of Isaac's school days to just be home with Kendra.

This Saturday is the big moving day for mom and dad's house. I think that we have a pretty good group of people planning to help us, so I'm hoping that it goes smoothly. The closing for the house happened today and the condo happens tomorrow, so we are going to start moving a few things tomorrow afternoon. Saturday morning/afternoon we are doing all of the big stuff. I'm a little worried about the piano. I rented a dollie for it, but I just don't want anything to happen to it by mistake. I'm praying that the whole move goes smoothly. I'm really glad that it is happening this week. I'm just ready for it to be done so that I don't have to think about or plan for it anymore.

This week has been crazy busy and my house is in shambles because of the busyness. So...if you come over, don't be surprised by the mess :) I should actually clean now, but I'm going to be honest and admit that while the kids are napping I'm probably going to take a break and read or nap for a bit instead.

Isaac and Kendra's birthday party was held at Grandma and Papa Aukeman's house this past Sunday. Here are some pictures from the event:



Kendra and Isaac zipping around on the Gator before the guests arrive



Isaac's tractor cake



Kendra's piggy cupcakes



the cakes



Kendra, Jackson, Evan and Isaac all eating nicely



the birthday girl



Jackson and Kendra looking at the fish



GGrandma Nienhuis, GGrandpa Ippel and GGrandma Ippel



Kendra and Isaac ready to eat cake



Jackson enjoying his cupcake, Kendra peeking



Evan digging in to his cake and ice cream



enjoying desert and company



Kendra's big brown eyes



Jackson and Kendra helping Papa feed the fish



Carter



Jackson and Amy



Isaac opening a John Deere tractor set



Kendra and her picnic set



more John Deere stuff



Kendra's hoping that there are more presents hidden at the bottom of the bag



Who's more excited, Kendra or Mom?

Our camera is officially dead. That is my excuse for not posting lately. Today I decided that a written post was long overdue. We've been doing a lot outdoors. The weather has been so great. The mosquitoes have been striking, but we've just been vigilant about the bug spray. Isaac and Kendra both swell up a ton with bites. It almost gets to a worrisome point and then they start to go away. Isaac's whole ankle was swollen with a couple of bites the other day. Anyway...back to what we are doing outdoors...we did a lot of planting this year. I think that we are to the point now where we can just watch everything grow. Isaac is so into it this year - I'm loving sharing this with him. We are doing a "community garden" with Tim and Brandi. She graciously gave us a large section of her garden to plant whatever we wanted. The idea is that the kids can help us, but when they get bored with it, then they can play together. We planted corn, tomatoes, peppers, peas, green beans, broccoli, and carrots. 2 days ago Liam (with Brandi's help) called and excitedly told us that our corn was coming up and that the strawberries were starting to come. We stopped by on our way home from work to take a look. Since we did the planting, Isaac always thanks God for making things grow, but that night he specifically thanked him for the corn and strawberries. So fun! We also planted lots of herbs in pots at our house, AND we are participating in the CSA with Steenwyks that we did last year. I'm sure that we will have more than we can handle as far as produce. I knew that going into doing all of this, so our plan is to give a lot away to food pantries or just other families.

Jon has been busy lately with making a toy room in the basement for the kids. He is redoing the room that is just at the bottom of the stairs. We got some nice (bleach stained) carpet from Pontiers after they took it out of their house. Jon put up can lights for better lighting. He is going to spray the celling black and paint the walls a lighter tan color and then lay the carpet. Somehow we will block the door that leads to the rest of the basement. I'm excited to put some of their bigger toys down there. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to get used to playing more there.

In other exciting news...Jon ordered new glasses this morning :) So long 16 year old glasses! I was also encouraged to buy some reading glasses. However, my prescription is even less than the ones that you can buy at any store. The doctor suggested purchasing ones that fit my actual prescription ($$!). Do you think that he's just trying to make money on me? Should I buy them?