Traditional Tree Hunt!

Every year we bundle up the kids, pick the Reisetter's up, and drive a little north to Kris Kringle's Tree Farm the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I think this is our 4th year of doing this. It's become one of my most favorite traditions during the holiday season.  We always have a fun time... snow, cold, sun, warmth, or clouds...and leave filled with the tingle of Christmas under our skin. As the song goes... it's the most wonderful time of the year :)  Now this may seem like a petty Christmas tradition, but through just a few short years it has become a day where friends find some joy simply from the atmosphere we are in and see the blessings in the little feet that patter along the grass hunting for that perfect tree. If you've been reading my blog you know I LOVE traditions.  I actually looked up the definition for "tradition" today and found this.."handing over, passing on". I hope as we raise our kids that we pass on many traditions.... practices so to say.  I love giving my kids something to look forward to, to depend on, to build on.  Our friendship with the Reisetters started years ago... over 10 actually! Part of the "tree hunt" day that I love is simply the continuation of that friendship and how it is passing on to our children.  It is my hope as we build a life with our kids that we offer many traditions and once they leave our little nest they will always have something to come back for... whether it be a yearly tree hunt, attending the Christmas Eve service together, Friday night homemade pizza, Sunday afternoon football, summer days by the pool, prayer together, Bible reading together, dinner conversations, and so on... you get the idea! Whatever it is, big or small, there is comfort and peace in traditions.  What a wonderful time of year to start some for yourself if you haven't already!!!  Have a great holiday season!

2009

Girls Just Wanna Have fun!

Now these shoes have seen a lot of miles!!  This past weekend 6 of us gals that trained for and ran the Chicago Marathon together had a little fun!  We thought it would be fun to experience the Living History Farms race in Des Moines and say a final goodbye to our very first pair of training shoes.  This race is known for attracting a fun crowd... people dress up (or down!), runners & non-runners show up, all ages come from all over, and of course the route itself is not your typical race route!  We just wanted to have a fun race day and we went with the whole race atmosphere of dressing in costume and getting dirty!! It was a 7 mile course, but honestly felt like 4.  There were some points you just had to walk. It was either too slippery, too muddy, too steep, too rough, or too deep of water to not walk through it! I laughed so hard a majority of the race and am pretty sure my abs got a work out just from the laughter I couldn't hold back.  I must say this was a little out of my comfort zone at first, but once I jumped in that first creek I had a blast after that and never thought twice about getting dirty and having fun!  If you're looking for a fun group experience, with a little bit of team building thrown in, sign up for this race next year! It's held every year at the Living History Farms on the weekend before Thanksgiving! Too fun!(side note- be prepared to pitch anything you run in... anythng is possible on this course and you may not want to keep your muddy ruined shoes or clothes!)

Oh and yeah... to explain the pictures! Our theme was 80's! Can you tell? Every so often I would look at one of the girls and try to listen to what they were saying while dressed this way. I could not take them seriously half the time, their hair and their clothes made me laugh alone, not to mention the bizarre situations we found ourselves in along the race route :)  what can I say??? Girls just wanna have fun!

Welcome, Lane Matthew!

My brother Lyle and his wife Sara had their second child this last week!  Lane Matthew was born on November 5th. He was 7.5 lbs and 20 in long. A head full of dark hair too! He's a cutie! Welcome to the family, Lane!  

some real characters :)

As you can see we had the cutest little characters stop by our home last weekend!!!  I think my most favorite and most clever costumes were.... the Chipmunks (AKA Rickett's children :)

They used to call me lightening...

... now they call me Dave... or Flash....    or crazy dad in a too tight, too red, too small costume :)

Have you laughed today yet? Now you have!