The Tree hunt

After Tyse's birthday party, we braved the 6+ inches of snow (and still piling up) and loaded everyone into the car to go find our christmas tree! It took us about 1 1/2 hours to get to this new place we have never tried to go before, and it turned out to be the best place we have cut yet! Even though it was still snowing like crazy, the roads were really well maintained and we didn't even have to go off the highway to find a place to park and hike! The kids did great but after a while of hiking around, it was just getting too dark to see anyomore, so we loaded back up and went home, only to return the next morning to try again.
It was really beautiful and peaceful to be out in the woods when it was snowing so heavily, listening to christmas songs, and just being together as a family! We (I) have been really trying to simplify this season and not get so crazy about everything, and this was such a great chance to do that and just spend some time together without spending money or braving the crowds or anything like this. I am so grateful for a husband that likes to do these kinds of things with me, and is willing to pack up and do whatever I can't. What an amazing husband I have!
The highlight of the trip was when we tied the sled to Red the dog and then let Tyse sit in it and Red pulled him all over the road there. It was so funny! Tyse thought it was about the best ride he could ever try, and Red LOVES to pull and apparently LOVEs the snow, so it was great! The next morning was beautiful and since I hadn't been feeling all that wonderful, I sent Kent out tromping on the hunt and spent the time in the car getting the Kids all bundled up. WHen he thought he found the PERFECT tree, he came back for us and we all headed up to cut it down and haul it back to the car. Tyse's favorite part of the trip was trying to guess which way the tree would fall when Kent got through it, my favorite part was the simplicity of it all, and Kent's was finding the best tree we have ever cut AND watching Red run and play unbothered and unbridled. That was wonderful as well!

Tyse turns 4!

We finally got to the big day- Tyse turned 4! We celebrated with a party for neighborhood friends on the saturday before, and it was so fun! We had a batman party- I think he had that picked out since immediately following his train party last year- and we just did a VERY SIMPLE child's party. We played "Batman, Batman, Joker"...


Followed by "pin the bat on batman" and then went for the cake and presents. I haven't been feeling so great pregnant wise, so my sweet neighbor Kjersten made Tyse's cake for us and it was delicious! My other friend Angie hung out to help control the madness, but miraculously, 9 children under the age of 6 weren't very difficult! In fact, I would say they were all VERY well behaved and we had no problems at all. I wish my 2 kids could act as well every day!
The kids inhaled pizza and chocolate cake and I think had a great time!

It was so fun to see some of you that we don't get to see too often, and we missed seeing a lot of you- too bad (well, really HOORAY!) for crazy winter storms!
We also had a family affair on the actual day. I got a kick out of him because all day he walked around saying, "mom, an I 4 yet?" I would tell him he was, and he would say he wasn't because his body hadn't told him that he was 4 yet. It needed his chocolate cake to turn 4. After all that "you have to listen to your body to tell you when you [insert appropriate comment... need to go to the bathroom, need a nap, need to have more dinner, etc.]" it finally sunk in... just in time!
The new bike was a big hit and I definitely don't stand a chance of keeping up with him anymore!

We are so lucky to have such a sweet, strong willed boy in our family! He adds comedy and witty comments all the time to our lives and we LOVE hearing about his dreams, listening to his knock knock jokes, and enduring the power ranger cartwheel kicks! He loves to learn and has a new love of writing his letters and spelling things out. I can't believe he is old enough for that!
WE love you tyse!