It's Tree Time

It seemed like a long process to get our tree up this year but it is up and looks beautiful. It started Friday night with a dinner out at Noodles a favorite of the boys then off to the hardware store for our tree. Tristan was very excited to take charge this year and pick out the trees for us to inspect. He was also very happy when it was his favorite tree that was chosen to take home. 

Enjoying dinner at Noodles

Grayson, Declan, Liam, Colin, Daddy, and Tristan hunt for the perfect tree.

Grayson not so happy about the cold. (it was colder than I expected)

Tristan displaying the tree 

Big guy Tristan taking the tree to the car

Colin and Tristan setting the tree into place

I don't know what it is about tree lights that from year to year the string of lights quit working.  As we started to decorate our tree Sunday night we found that of five strands of lights two half worked. Not the best time to discover this as you have five excited boys wanting to put lights and decorations on the tree. 

Daddy and Declan testing some lights

Maybe it was getting a little too late for the lights as Tristan is yawning.

Grayson helping to find lights that all worked. 

So we broke down and rather than spending lots of time fixing the ones we have been partially using over the years we got new ones.  Greg picked out lights, some that have flashing bulbs. Most of the boys like them however, Tristan is not so sure yet. It wasn't until the next day that we had all the lights we needed and were finally able to start decorating.

Liam happily glowing in the new lights. 

Liam and Daddy hang the last set of lights. 

 I was shocked at how well Grayson did. He put the ornaments on the tree by himself. Actually everyone did such a nice job working together we were surprised how quickly we got done. After we were all done Liam stated "Now it's officially Christmas" Not a moment too soon I guess as Christmas is quickly approaching! I am looking forward to all the holiday fun. We have a few holiday movies to watch, places to go like the zoo, midtown crossing and Durham Museum and lots of holiday baking and cooking to get done! I love it all and look forward to the fun!

Declan "helping" to put the star/angel on top!

Last Wednesday for my birthday we visited Santa. They all were amazing taking turns to talk to Santa and Santa was great listening and talking to each of the boys. 

Tonight he is little

Grayson might run around and keep up with the big boys like a champ, but he is still my baby boy. Tonight he is curled up next to me in bed holding my finger as he falls asleep and my heart melts. He may be mighty but he is and always will be my baby. 

Fall Break

At the end of October Liam and Colin had a few days off of school which Greg also took those days off of work. We took advantage of such great weather and enjoyed some time out and about. One of the days off after Tristan got out of school we explored a park that the older boys had not been to before. (Greg found it one day with the little boys over the summer) It had a really fun rolling slide, some fun twisting monkey bars and a gaga ball court. All the boys loved it and had a great time. 

Grayson on the spinning monkey bars.

Declan trying the spinning monkey bars 

Grayson loving the rolling slide. 

Daddy, Tristan, Declan, Liam and Colin trying out the gaga ball court. 

The next day we took everyone to the zoo. Tristan was able to join us at the zoo too. His school was having a dance starting at 2:00 and he had opted to go to the zoo rather than the school dance. Perhaps he'll go to the spring dance. The zoo was a great choice, the weather was beautiful and it was not very crowded. 

Colin, Tristan, Liam, Grayson, Daddy and Declan watching the Orangutans.

Grayson growling like the bears.

Colin getting a hug from a penguin.

 Colin, Tristan, Declan, Liam and Grayson 

Of course Saturday was a big Husker game and everyone was showing their spirit in Husker gear and red. 

Before the game the boys got in a little football of their own. 

It was a great four day weekend where we just played and had fun! I cannot wait for the next one. 

Halloween Through the Years

This free digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Halloween 2014

Happy Halloween 2014

Princess Sophia, Daddy Duct Tape Batman, Little Batman, Green Arrow, Death Stroke, Cyborg and iHole.

Tristan as Death Stroke from Green Arrow

Colin as Cyborg from Justice League

Liam as Green Arrow from Arrow

Declan as Princess Sophia 

Grayson as little Batman

Daddy as Duct Tape Batman

Brendan as a cold iHole

Green Arrow, Death Stroke and Cyborg

Princess Sophia, Batman and Little Batman with an appearance from Green Arrow

Our jack-o-lanterns

made by from left to right

Colin, Tristan, Liam, Declan and Grayson

Hello Again

Wow I had not realized how long it has been since my last post. Everyone is doing great here it has just been busy with soccer, swimming, rec club, fit club and my recovery from knee surgery has been longer and more intense than I ever expected. It seems that everything takes twice as long lately and my leg still gets pretty sore after running errands and playing with the little guys.

Grayson

Pretty much every fall since I was little our family would take a trip to Nebraska City we'd tour the orchards, play at the park enjoy a wonderful dinner at Ulbricks. However, many years ago Ulbricks closed and Nebraska City has become quite commercial and crowded so this year we decided to try a new place. We went to Camp Fontanelle pumpkin patch near Nickerson Nebraska. We had a blast!

the best picture of all boys together 

First, we all went into the huge corn maze. The boys were in there for an hour and a half. I was so impressed with Liam's sense of adventure he just ran through most of the maze on his own running into Daddy, or Tristan or Brendan here and there.

Liam in the corn maze

Grayson, Daddy and Declan in the maze

Declan peeking out above the corn

Colin making his way around

Liam and Tristan

After the maze Daddy, Tristan, Colin, Liam and Brendan played corn maze laser tag. They had a separate maze for laser tag. It was supposed to be only ten minutes well they got to play an hour since no one else was waiting. (unfortunately no pictures were taken during the laser tag)

While the big guys played laser tag Gramma, Declan and I enjoyed a caramel apple snack and Grayson took a little nap. Then they enjoyed playing on a play set while we waited.

The best part of the day for Tristan, Colin, Liam and Daddy was the zip line. It has been something the boys have been wanting to do for a long time. It was raining a bit but we were under a canopy of trees so the rain did not seem to interfere with the zip lining. It was absolutely amazing watching them all fly through the air.

Colin

Liam

Tristan

Daddy

Grayson and Declan had an adventure too. They got to do the pony ride with Liam who had been talking about wanting to ride a pony for a long time.  Declan could not contain his excitement as we got closer to the ponies. Grayson did wonderful. He is such a dare devil and is fearless. Which can be both good and bad.

Declan

Grayson

Liam

At the end of the day as the pumpkin patch was closing the boys all picked out a pumpkin. It was a wonderful day everyone had so much fun.  Camp Fontanelle was a great choice where we may go again next year.

Grayson proud of his pumpkin choice