We Are Walking!!!!!!!!!

The video speaks for itself.

1st Annual Candy Cane Hunt

We hosted our first Candy Cane Hunt this past Saturday. It was chilly, but sunny so it wasn't too cold. We hid 300 candy canes in our yard and two of the neighbors yards. The kids had a great time hunting for the candy canes and afterward they got to eat a ton of cookies and hot chocolate! Kevin then rounded everyone up for a photo in the back yard and while they were having their photo taken Santa showed up! He had a little something for everyone and also had a bag of reindeer food for every family to take home, too. We all had a great time, kids and adults alike. We will definitely be doing this again next year.

Trimming the Tree

We had the ultimate Griswold moment this year. Kevin and I were talking and trying to decide what size tree to get while we were at the tree lot. It was freezing and the kids were whining, so we quickly decided that with 9 foot ceilings we could get an 8 foot tree. The kids picked out a great looking tree so we bought it and brought it home. Our first clue that this sucker was too big was when we realized it didn't fit neatly between the two front windows as we had wanted. Nope, it took up the entire center of the room. We then realized it did not fit into the tree stand as the trunk was too large. Kevin got a saw from the garage and proceeded to trim the trunk with me holding onto it for dear life! After we got the trunk to the right size, we put it back into the tree stand and, of course, now that it fit the water level went higher and spilled out everywhere. The good news with this, was that the saw dust created from the trimming was now pulp and was easier to clean up. We stood back to admire the tree and realized we'd have to cut the top off too if we wanted to put our star on top. After all was said and done, we were able to decorate the tree and it does look beautiful, even if it's "a little full, lot of sap."

Santa and Snow

We had a wonderful time at my mom and dad's house this past week. We celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents and my siblings. Turkey Day was full of games and awesome food!! (Thanks mom!)
Friday my mom and I got up around 4:30am and hit the big sales. We had such a great time finding some deals and getting exactly what we had gone after. We thought there were going to be some things we couldn't find, but in three separate instances, we found what we had gone for tucked away where it didn't belong. Kevin even scored a new Garmin! We got home around 8am and headed down to the city to see Santa. K. was the first one to walk right up and tell him what she wanted. K. wants "An alive baby, bitty baby, and an ariel dresser" (Translation: Baby Alive, Bitty Baby bedding, and an Ariel Vanity) Santa was a bit surprised by the "alive baby" request, but he will manage to come through I am sure! P. was a bit more subdued, but when Kevin told him it was his big chance, he piped right up and said he wanted, "Legos and Batman, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars for the Wii." Again, I am sure Santa (and grandma) will oblige! After the Santa visit, the boys shopped a bit and we then headed to an awesome English Pub for lunch.
We headed home Saturday night and we drove through rain most of the time until we were about 30 miles from home when it turned into snow. When the kiddos woke up the next morning they were SO excited! K. keeps telling us it is Christmas because there is snow on the ground. They went outside with Daddy right after breakfast and made a snowman! Of course, they had to have hot chocolate when they came in! We are going to put up the tree tonight and I can only imagine that K. will barely be able to contain herself. (She helped my mom decorate their tree and I am surprised it did not fall over as there were about 15 ornaments on each branch!)

We Have Recovered

The past two weeks have knocked the Lynch Clan out! Right after K.'s birthday bash, we all came down with a horrible cold. The kids were the first to recuperate, but it seemed to hang on a bit longer with Mommy (I don't think Kevin ever got sick). During this time, K. ran a fever and got sick to her stomach just one time. We thought nothing of it. We thought the fever was from the flu shot. Then P. came home from school this past Monday complaining that he didn't feel good. Sure enough, he was sick and running a fever, too. He didn't make it back to school until this Thursday. The kids were upset because they each missed their first winter classes. K. is taking Jazz and Tap and P. is taking gymnastics.
They are all healthy now (as are the mom and dad). K. actually made it to dance class this past Thursday and she was sooo cute in her leotard and ballet slippers. She liked it alright, but announced that she like gymnastics better since she likes to move. I am guessing she didn't like standing at the bar and following directions. I am guessing that she prefers the free-for-all trampoline jumping at gymnastics. (What three year old wouldn't?).
The kids are really looking forward to the upcoming holidays. K. is really into Christmas this year, as it is the first year that the concept has totally sunk in. She must ask everyday if it is Christmas yet. She will also tell you that Thanksgiving is going to be "awesome". P. reminded her that she gets to go to Chicago and see Santa and that sealed the deal for her. It will be "awesome".

The Big "3"

K. celebrated her third birthday this past weekend. We had lots of people here to help her celebrate! She awoke bright and early (as mentioned in an earlier blog, not such a good thing for mommy). She got herself dressed in flowered tights and a brown, polka-dotted dress, complete with a necklace and a bracelet. Aunt Kiki then took her to Cracker Barrel for a special breakfast, where K. was given a whipped cream smiley face on her pancake and they sang to her, too. Kristen said K. walked around to each table and told everyone, "I am three". The two of them then went to My Girls and K. got her nails painted and talked Aunt Kiki into buying her a new necklace.

When they got home Mommy was doing better and she and Grandma decorated K.'s Ariel cake. K. had a wonderful time opening her presents (who wouldn't). She and her cousins ran around for awhile and then we had some great Italian food and wine (thanks, John, for the recipes and Kevin for the wine).
She really had a fabulous day and for this we are thankful to all who helped make it just right!

Happy Halloween

It was a gorgeous day on Halloween and a great night, too. The kids had a blast with their "gross lunch". This year we made a brain and dirt for dessert (we branched out from the usual fare and it was a hit!) One of the neighbors hosted a Halloween party for the kids and they had a great time chasing each other around and filling up on mummy hot dogs and pumpkin cookies.
After the party, came the big event...trick-or-treating!! P. was done trick-or-treating after his bag got to heavy to carry, and K. kept saying, "This is awesome." She also proclaimed it to be "the best Halloween ever". We hope to live up to these standards in years to come. My sister was here to share in the trick-or-treating fun and P. and K. loved having her here. The grown-ups had a bonfire later that night with some games of our own (namely, beer pong). This has become a neighborhood tradition after this summer's tournament, and needless to say, Mommy had a bit of a rough start to her Saturday, but Daddy was a champ and bounced right up and out of bed!