Oh Christmas Tree 2013

This was our 2nd year of touring Southwest Michigan in search of a Christmas tree.  At the 2nd tree farm (practically in Indiana) we trudged through the mud and finally found a tree.  The kids are really starting to get into it even though it might just be because of the hot chocolate they know they get in the shop when we are done.  :)  They couldn't wait to get it home and start decorating.

Grandma Jean's Christmas

MSU Football

Ben won tickets to the MSU vs. Minnesota football game and decided to take Wes with him.  This was Wesley's first official MSU football game.  He loved it!  They toured the campus and made a stop at the bookstore.  Ben was really happy about spilling the $8 hot chocolate.  Wes wasn't as happy about it so they had to buy a 2nd one.  :)

2013 School Thanksgiving Program

"Gobble, gobble, gobble is what I say."

Addie's 3 Year Stats

Here is our little lady who is FULL of personality.  She loves playing dress up on a daily basis with her tutu's and princess dresses.  She often pushes her baby dolls around in strollers or shopping carts.  She can still tear a room apart in seconds.  She has Wes beat 100% in this aspect.  You can't help but smile and laugh at her cute ways when you are around her.  However, she will totally call you out for laughing.  "Don't laugh!" with a stern face is a common phrase of hers.  I'm trying to get her to not be so self conscious.  She can hold her own against a good beat up with her brother.

At three years old she measured at 37.5 inches tall (52nd percentile) and 31 lbs. (54th percentile).

Happy 3rd birthday to our sweet, spunky beautiful baby girl!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Addie!

 The day after her party was her actual birthday and then she opened up the presents from us.  One of her presents was a big girl bed.  I also made her a quilt for for her new bed.  :)

St. Joseph Lighthouse Pier

Addie went with me to quick check out the St. Joseph Lighthouse Pier to get ready for a photo shoot I was doing later on that day.  She let me get this test shot.  She makes me smile.  I think this is my new favorite pic.

Grand Mere Dunes

For the first time in the 10+ years we have lived here we decided to hike some local dune trails.  It was a lot of fun and we'll definitely be going more.

This is the first really big dune that they decided to climb.  The funniest part was that they then decided to all come down.  Addie ran the whole way down and I have no idea how she didn't wind up eating sand.

Then we found the trail that led us to Lake Michigan.  It was awesome to climb up the dune and see this view from the top.

We found a log and put the camera on it.  We are getting to be pros with this self family portrait thing.

Then we watched the sun set.  We really need to watch a lot more sunsets.

The kids absolutely loved the adventure hike.  On the way to the truck Ben asked why we hadn't hiked the dunes before with the kids.  I replied, "Because we would have had to carry them the whole way."  He agreed.  We now have kids big enough to not carry everywhere.  That is both exciting and sad all at the same time.  But here's to new future family adventures.