Christopher Pop-In-Kins

My high school friend brought me the neatest book for my grandchildren. It is about an elf who wanted to see real boys and girls. Santa allows him to "pop" in and out of houses beginning the last part of the month of November, and most of December each year to see real children. He has to be back at the North Pole before Christmas Eve. This way he can help Santa know what to bring all the kids on his sleigh ride! (He couldn't ride with Santa on Christmas Eve, because all the children would be sleeping.) Anyway, each time the grandkids come to my house they have to find Christopher Pop-In-Kins, who will be hiding out of reach. If the kids touch him, he has to go back to the North Pole to see Santa. So far Magnus has really enjoyed this cute little game. The book tells all about how this came to be. FUN! Here are some of the pictures of him hiding in the first few days.

Holiday Decorating!

I have never gotten my Christmas decorations out this early! This may become a tradition - and as the grandkids get older they may get to do more and more of the decorating. Magnus loves to help decorate. Oliver loved all the stuff he could get into! We had lots of fun. Aunt Michelle was a huge help and Uncle Erik got to find all the tubs of stuff and help bring it to the living room. Right now I am wondering if it was such a good idea to get everything out all at once! Erik is still putting up the downstairs tree, but all the upstairs trees are up - not decorated, but up! My goal has been to have a tree in every room of my house. I'm pretty close! I buy them when they are at 90% off in January. My kids still miss the traditional cut tree, but this is a lot easier!
Fun, fun day!

November Afternoon

November Afternoon

Today was a beautiful day on Butternut Creek. I took a long walk around the yard and shot some of the interesting plant life that we are so blessed with every day. I just love the way the late afternoon sun makes all the textures of the plants and weeds come to life and look so artistic - to me anyway...

Just Magnus

Just Oliver

Fun at a cross meet

Magnus and Oliver came to watch Uncle Erik run at Baw Beese Lake the other afternoon. Magnus thought it was lots of fun making faces while up in the tree that Grandpa lifted him into, and Oliver was just having fun being outdoors.

Oliver is a year old!

Sweet little Oliver turned a year old in September. He is so much fun to have around, and I must admit that his "sweet" side is sometimes a bit more of a pistol!! He is so cute I can hardly stand it!

Cross Country

Erik has decided to run cross country this year instead of playing football. I don't blame him for not wanting to play football, but I will never understand why people like to run great distances. Good for him! I am definitely a convert, however. There is something special about cross teams and how they interact with each other and support each other. We had a bon fire the other night and the kids had a terrific time just being teenagers - and they were polite! We will plan an end-of-the-year bon fire later this month if we can find a date that works.
Erik is growing slowly as a runner. As soon as he figures out how to use his body once he has it conditioned he will become a great runner, I think. He needs a little of his sister's killer instinct and a lot of his brother's determination. Right now he is just having fun, which is also worth something.
Erik is also in the band and had a great time parking cars at cousin Nick's wedding this fall.

More Summer Fun!

Erik and Magnus square off in the battle of the liquidators!

Lazy Sunday

Christopher and Oliver try out Mason's floatie in the pool, while Magnus and Uncle Erik swim around.