The weather outside is frightful...

We wanted snow this weekend, and we got it.  A lot of it.  We found out that we were lucky to make it to the high country when we did.  With lots of stories, beautiful pictures and only a few bumps and bruises, we are back home again and gearing up for the countdown to Christmas!

Gilbert Night of Lights

Country Club Plaza @ Christmas time in Kansas City

So it wasn't the Plaza Lights, but it did get us in the Christmas Spirit.  And the highlight was the hot air balloon that was there!

Night of Lights in Gilbert

5 Months

 Asher is five months old today!

Month 1-4

He's hit lots of milestones this month, including rolling from his back to his belly and sitting up (with a lot of help from his hands).  

Sleep is hit or miss.  Some nights he wakes once (@ 2am usually) to eat.  And other nights (like last night) he was up at 10, 12, 2, 4 and 7.  I think sleep training is in our future, because we're tired!

He is quite aware of all his surroundings now, and really enjoys our cat, OC.  And she actually loves him as well (probably much to Tessa's dismay!)  We will see if her fondness of Asher continues once he is really mobile!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2012:  Similar to years past, we spent thanksgiving morning on the trails.  But different from years past, we had company this time!  My parents spent Thanksgiving here, and we're happy they did!  We also spotted our first wild tarantula on the side of the trail.  And no, no one picked it up.

Tessa and I set the table and made butter (with a lot of help from Scott).

Speaking of the table - Scott and my Dad did an AWESOME job building a farmhouse table for me!  The plans were from the Ana White website.  It wasn't stained for thanksgiving, but it since has gotten some dark stain and poly and looks amazing!  (And our oranges are ready to pick, which looks pretty amazing, too).

Shiny Happy People Holding Hands!

AEs first Thanksgiving!

Shiny happy people holding chickens (didn't REM sing that, too?)

And talking with Aunt Katie.

Thanksgiving 2012 = Success!

Sitting?

Okay, with much positioning, Asher can sit up... for like 10 seconds.  Long enough to get a few photos at least!  And he's having a bad hair day, so a hat was necessary!

random photo wednesday

1.  playtime with our growing boy.  2.  Tessa's class pet (piper the rabbit) came home with us for the past 2 weeks, and was dressed up an infinite number of times.

1. wagon rides with my two lovies.  2.  oranges getting ready to pick.  3.  Tessa looks really cute in glasses, although I hope she never has to wear them!  On the other hand, my new glasses are ready for pickup today!  

1.  And speaking of today - THIS GUY TURNS 5!

Happy Birthday James!

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a holiday called Halloween.  And during the Halloween season, there are lots of fun activities to do.  And I took a bunch of pictures, but then got lazy and did not want to edit them all for the blog.  Until now.  Happy Halloween (a few weeks late).

Cute little monster

Having fun with the Grandma and Grandpa McMillan

I was chosen to be a sponsor of a pig goat race and our goat won.  My prize was a pig nose.

Tessa really wasn't happy, she wanted candy instead (which the losers of the race received)

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Before her first roller coaster ride.

She loved it!

And then we went back to Schnepf Farms with our friends (and nanny) Taylor, Jerry, Talon and Venice.

We worked hard the night before to get her costume done because Taylor said her kids would be in theirs, too.  Well, she called that morning saying it was too hot to wear them - BUT WE STAYED UP LATE so Tessa and Asher wore theirs!

Wonder Woman flying! 

More roller coaster fun.  Talon and Tessa held hands the whole way!  The picture of Talon's face is priceless on his first roller coaster drop.

We wore Superman out!

Carving the pumpkin she drew.

Tessa's pumpkins - The spotted one was made with a drill bit.

Asher in Tessa's first Halloween Costume.  The photo of Asher and me was taken by Tessa!

We trick or treated in our old neighborhood where my parents still live and visited our good friends over there.  Tessa had to show us all her goods when we got back to the house!