National Harbor Tree Lighting

On Saturday we loaded up to go to the tree lighting at National Harbor. I feel like I could have also called this post, "the night Ella cried nonstop for no reason." I don't know what was going on with her but she was either way up or WAY down. Aside from her, the rest of us had a great time!





I curled E's hair before hand and it looked so pretty!























We walked over the the Gaylord after the fireworks. We love to walk around the hotel during Christmas but this time it was really crowded and Ella was crying nonstop so it wasn't as enjoyable as other years. :)




The kids were dying to ride this train.. We stood in a long line and once it was finally their turn Ella lost it that the caboose was full and she couldn't ride in there. I tried putting her in with Kade and we was having the worst kind of meltdown so she didn't get to ride and had to stand in time out. Sheesh!








We have tickets to see ICE in a few weeks so hopefully our next trip goes a lite better. :)

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Piscataway Park

Kade didn't have school on Veterans Day and it was gorgeous outside so we loaded up to go discover a new park. Piscataway is on the Potomac and directly across from Mount Vernon. There are a lot of hiking trails and an old colonial farm. We had a fun morning hiking around and exploring different parts of the park!





























































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Our week

It's Friday!!!!! I'm so ready for the weekend!




Last Friday the kids went to school and we had 8 straight hours to ourselves. We went to Annapolis and spent the day Christmas shopping. It is so refreshing to spend alone time with my man!




Our garage is insulated and had AC and heat. We've never used it as an extra room but with winter coming up we decided to make a "winter playroom" out there. Just an extra place for the kids to place when it's too cold to go outside.




Some of our Target shenanigans.. These headbands were $12 a piece, do people actually buy these things?!?




EC had her first sport "injury" at gymnastics. She ran into someone and busted her nose.




The polar vortex is back and it is cold!!










Kade picked out his Christmas gift for Ella yesterday. Let's just say he took his sweet time looking at every option very carefully. I wasn't feeling well so I finally had to tell him to wrap it up and just pick something!


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Ice hockey

I am all about the kids trying different sports and activities while they are young to see what they really like. I think it is really good for them. Up until this point Kade has tried soccer, gymnastics, karate, tball, and swimming. I saw an ad for a free ice hockey clinic on Saturday and I thought it would be fun and Kade said he wanted to try it. I figured if he liked it then I would sign him up for the class after the first of the year. Up until this point Kade has always done really well at most sports and he just loves to be active so anything that keeps him moving he loves. 

He has only been ice skating once before and while he had trouble figuring it out, if he took his time then he was able to do a basic skate. I asked someone in charge of the clinic and she said he sounded perfect for Saturday. So we woke up really early and were at the rink by 7am. They had equipment to wear and it took a good 30 minutes to get him all dressed and ready to head out. 

Once he got out on the ice we realized that it was going to he really tough for him. He couldn't stay on his feet if his life depended on it. The coaches were so sweet in helping him learn how to stay up and how to easily get up if he does fall. But most of the boys in his group were literally skating circles around him. We think in 45 min he had at least 50 hard falls. It was pretty painful to watch. About 30 minutes in we could tell he had already improved but not long after that his body was done. He couldn't even stand up and he was exhausted. We normally wouldn't ever let him quit in the middle but with this we did. He gave it his all but was so mad and frustrated so with 15 minutes to spare he had enough. He stuck it out long enough and we didn't want him to hurt himself. 

Afterwards we took him out to breakfast and he told me he never ever wanted to do that again. Atleast he tried his hardest! We can't ask for anything else! 

Just a tiny example of how painful it was to watch. 

Last days of Fall

Fall is nearly over and winter is going to be here before we know it. I know winter doesnt technically start until December but the leaves are falling fast, the air is cold, and the evening are getting darker earlier and earlier. 

Bryan was driving us to church on Sunday so I snapped a few pictures as we were driving. Our house is three miles from the 'highway' down curvy roads. When we first found the house I just didn't know if I could do the drive daily, it seemed so long and to "country" for me. Now, it is my favorite part of my drive to and from anywhere each day. During the fall the leaves are all colors under the sun and falling and flying all over the road. It seriously looks like it a painting as we drive. 

We had family pictures taken on Sunday at a Christmas Tree farm. I'm dying to see all of them! 

I did a comparison from last year and I can't believe how much the kids have grown! 

The farm was so pretty. :)

I know I should be used to this by now but everytime we get stuck behind an Amish horse buggy I think it's so funny. 

The trampoline was filled with leaves. I asked if they wanted me to sweep them out and they said no way, they piled them up and jumped in them.

They were playing "tackle football". Ella can definitely hold her own thanks to having a big brother!