How we do it...

It's also the time that we need to start picking names for Christmas between all the cousins.  We have a pretty complicated system as you can see.  The girls are so excited to spend time with all their cousins over the holidays.

Buzzy Time!

We got our Christmas tree and decorations up this last week and the girls were great, little helpers.  We also got the Elf on the Shelf and the girls named him Buzzy.  They love looking for Buzzy each morning and he's a great addition to our family.

The girls were posing with Buzzy who was sitting in Lance's stockiing.  He has made his way all over the house over the last few days.

Time with Friends

We visited the Christopherson's last night because the Stevens were in town (unfortunately Lori's Grandma Pearl passed away).  The girls got to see Gretta and Caroline and I won't forget Mojo since they love him so much too.  We attemped another group shot and it was better than the previous ones I would say.  You can check it out here.

Winter Time!

Winter has arrived in Wisconsin and the girls got a chance to try out their new snowpants but not new snow boots since I waited to long to buy them and every store was already out.  Luckily they are on order and should be shipped this week.  We are also looking at new sleds since Aftin was nearly falling out the entire time.  She eventually just gave up and grabbed the baby sled and ran around the yard saying that Daddy was going to get her.  She's my silly one for sure!

The duo in their sled.

Lance running around with the girls and some progress on the shed, it has the roof done now.

Aftin running around because Daddy was chasing her, though he's no where to be found at this point.

One last shot before heading in to warm up.

Princess Time!

The McNamara family came over the day after Thanksgiving and I got a picture of the girls dressed up as princesses.  The first thing that the girls do when they get together is scream and run around the house and then get dressed up as princesses.  It is one of my favorite things.  One of my other favorite things is holding baby Tommy, which I don't know how I missed getting a picture of this last visit.  He's such an adorable baby and he was MVP that night as he slept like a rock for most of it.

Cinderella - Bailee, Rapunzel - Maggie, Dora - Aftin

Thanksgiving Time!

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house last Thursday and although the weather turned to winter it was a wonderful time with family and friends.  We are so lucky to have so many special people in our lives.  Terri, Roger and the boys showed up as well but I must have been busy getting the food ready because I missed getting their picture.

Lance, Rusty, Grammie and Grampie

Grammie and Grampie

Tamara, me, Alix and Bailee

Nana and Papa

Unclue Rusty and Bailee

Alix and Aftin

Lance and I

Alix and Nana

Had to post this one of Alix because it showed what we did most of the time, which was laugh.

Fall in November

Here is some more progress on the shed that Lance is re-building in our back yard.  We have had some great weather this November making it a lot easier for Lance to get some long days in to finish it.  He has had some great help from Jason, Grampie, and Papa.  Thanks to all those that helped out!

More progress made.

The girls showing off how warm it is with some fall jackets on.

Grandpa Lenny visited to celebrate his birthday and mine that day.  Can you tell it's hunting season with the blaze orange?

My Turn - 37!

My birthday was a few weeks ago and Lance got me cupcakes to celebrate.  The girls were very excited to sing and blow out the candle.  Unfortunately they had a hard time keeping their eyes open when the flash went off.  It was a wonderful day with my family. 

The girls enjoying the cupcakes.

Cody turns 4!

Our friend Cody Hatch turned 4 recently and had a fun bowling birthday party.  It was the girls first time bowling and they loved it.  At one point Aftin got a strike and then right after Bailee got a strike too.  Must be a twin thing.  After bowling we got pizza and cake which wrapped up a sweet birthday party.  Thanks to Jenny and Chad for such a great time!  Can't wait to go bowling with them again.



Bailee's first time bowling.



Her pose after.

The girls with the birthday boy.

All the kids from the party, minus Haley who was on the go and couldn't be stopped.

Lunch Time

We spent an afternoon with Janet and Addison recently.  The girls got lunch at McDonald's before heading to Toyland at Fleet Farm.

Team McNelson

We got together at the McNamara's house a few weeks ago and the kids had a blast as usual.  Lance and I got to spend some time holding sweet, little Tommy.  We love getting the gang together, more to come. 

Maggie and Bailee

Sweet little peanut!

Tommy's biggest fan, Lance

Little angels all cozied up with a movie.

More of Lance and Tommy - do you see a trend?

The girls love dressing up and dancing so I had to add a video of it.  Adorable!

Happy Halloween!

We went trick or treating in Nana and Papa's neighborhood again this year with the cousins and Grammie was able to join us again which was a bonus.  Here are some pics of the night.

Dillan and Aidan

The girls

Terri - Making all Packer fans proud.

Alexis

Maddyx

Cole

Kennedy and her friend Megan

Megan and her friend.

Addison, Mason and Brayden

Project Time!

We decided that the old shed needed to be upgraded to store all of Lance's toys so he got started a few weeks ago and I just got to blogging the start of it now.  We were lucky to have our nephew Blake come over to help as well.  Lance liked having an assistant while he, Bob and Jason worked on the larger jobs. 

Lance and Blake

Lance, Bob and Jason

Goodbye Time

Last night, on election day, we lost our beloved Rookie.  He has been with us for 5 years and just turned 10 on Halloween.  I hadn't even gotten a chance to put the adorable pictures of Rookie in his bucking bronco costume on the blog before writing this.  He was the first dog that Lance and I had and this is one of the hardest times in our lives as we had to say goodbye.  Rookie hadn't been feeling the best for a couple of days and it seemed to be arthritis and possible issues stomach issues so we had a vet appointment for today but when I let him out yesterday morning we couldn't find him when it was time to go to work.  This has happened in the past and he is really good about staying outside and not leaving our yard.  So when we got home last night and he wasn't in the front yard Lance knew something was wrong and went to find him.  We found him just in the back yard but he wouldn't move so Lance took him to the vet right away.  I stayed home with the girls and waited for them to come home with meds for Rookie.  Unfortunately Lance ended up calling me from the vet saying that Rookie had a very large tumor and several other tumors all over his abdomen and would need to be put down.  I was in shock and couldn't believe it.  So as I cried, I got the girls ready and we headed to the vet office to say goodbye.  It was one of the worst things I have had to do and continues to be hard today as I think he won't be there to greet me when I get home tonight.  I know it's a good thing that he's no longer in pain, but it's so sad that we had to say goodbye to one of our best friends.  With that I will leave this post with Rookie's Halloween picture.  We will forever miss and love him!

Our special little Bucking Bronco, Rookie!