Christmas Tree Hunt

This past weekend we headed to Silveyville Christmas Tree Farm in Dixon to hunt for the perfect tree.  This was our first time at Silveyville, typically we head to the ever-popular Apple Hill for a tree.  But this year we wanted to check out somewhere less crowded and closer to home. We stumbled upon Silveyville online and couldn't be happier with the experience.

It was an easy drive and once there we didn't have to fight for parking - always nice!  The farm had various activities for the kids including a room full of hay bales and slides to play on, a table full of magnetic blocks, rocking horses, and makeshift musical instruments.  All activities with the exception of the Santa sleigh ride and the wagon ride were free (though even those were very reasonably priced).  There is even a fire pit with chairs around it to sit and drink complimentary coffee, apple cider, or apple juice or munch on the complimentary popcorn. 

The Christmas tree lot is one where you cut down the tree yourself.  Once cut, you just drag it to the nearest road and a staffer comes by with a flatbed for it.  They tag it for you and take it to the front to shake it ($3 extra) and net it ($3 extra).  They have tons of trees and some varieties are a flat rate regardless of size.  We went for that option since we were in the market for a 12' tree! The trees were nicely spread out so it was easy to walk through and even if you have a toddler like Emmie who runs all over the place, you can still see her. 

I heard they also have a duck pond, but after Joey got a splinter it was pretty much downhill for us and we headed home.  All in all I definitely recommend this location for a wonderful Christmas tree hunting experience

The kids creating magnetic towers.

Joey and Logan riding the rocking horses.

Logan was SOOOO excited that Santa was driving the sleigh for our sleigh ride!

They loved the slides in the room full of hay bales. 
Just expect for them to be covered in hay when you finally convince them to leave this room!

Emmie running around the tree lot.

 

 

The TREE!!!

Back at home, after baths to clean off the hay, it was time to decorate our HUGE tree.

Joey got to put on the angel this year!

The final product!

Soccer is Over and Turkey Day is Around the Corner

Soccer season has officially ended!  I love that soccer starts in the heat of summer and ends in the pouring rain.  It makes me feel like we have really accomplished something to have played through such dramatic shifts in weather.  I realize that it has only been four months, but that is still pretty impressive.

The last games of the season were this past weekend and it was right in the middle of a rainstorm.  Logan's game was cancelled but Joey's game was held on schedule.  Really only the parents were complaining about standing in the rain for over an hour, the kids thought it was great to play in the rain and mud!  I wish I had pictures but I stayed near the car and was too far away to get a shot with the iPhone.  I do have pics of Logan and Emmie with their umbrellas.  This didn't really last long since they both got cold and wanted to sit in the car instead.   

 

After the game we had the obligatory end-of-season soccer pizza parties to attend.  Logan had a blast playing in the arcade and was very proud of his first-ever trophy! 

And today, on this final day of school before Thanksgiving Break, Joey's class had a Friendship Feast.  A full Thanksgiving meal was prepared by all the parents (we were in charge of brownies) and all the kids had Thanksgiving hats to wear.  It was adorable! We are so thankful to have found such an amazing school that still believes in a well rounded education.  

Joey literally stuffing his face!

The first grade class of pilgrims and Indians!

It always cracks me up that all the parents whip out their phones.
Obviously I do that too, but I like to turn and get the "proud parents" pic!
This is only half the room - proud parents everywhere!

The "silly faces" shot!

Snow Trip 2012

Last weekend we were holed up in Lake Tahoe enjoying a much needed vacation with the little crew.  We drove in Thursday night amid a winter storm warning and arrived at midnight, bound and determined to wake up in Tahoe Friday morning.  We were greeted Friday morning by a gorgeous view of the lake and just enough snow for the kids to be amazed.  It snowed most of Friday and the rest of the weekend was cold but sunny.  Overall it was a wonderful trip full of good food, tons of sledding fun, snuggling by the fire, and uninterrupted family time.

Emmie watching snow fall Friday morning.

View from the back deck.

Logan ready for the snow!

Playing in the backyard...

View of the Viking Castle

Sledding by the lake

Playing Sequence at the house.

Halloween 2012

Whoo hoo!! Halloween is finally over! 

Yes, I am a fan of all things fall and yes, I do love to see my kids all dressed up and begging strangers for candy, but I am so glad Halloween is over.  I seriously woke up this morning and my first thought was, thank goodness that is done.  I am looking forward to packing up all the Halloween stuff tonight and to celebrating Emmie's 3rd birthday tomorrow.  Because that is how my life works - no rest for the weary! And you know what?  That is exactly how I like it!


Yesterday morning was complete chaos trying to get all three into costumes and into the car in time for their respective schools.  Jeff leaves before they get up most mornings so he missed out on the joy that is Halloween morning.   Between Emmie not wanting to wear a costume, Logan changing his costume twice, costumes put on backwards (that happened to Logan and Joey in a 10 minute span), Emmie crying because I was rushing her, and Joey's hat not fitting correctly, it is a wonder we even made it into the car at all.  I will admit to forgetting to even feed Joey breakfast (yes, Mom of the Year, I know) and to bribing Emmie with candy corn to get her in the car (not my finest parenting moment). 

Logan finally decided on the astronaut costume for school - adorable right?!

 

Joey was a pirate for school - also adorable! 

 

And Emmie decided to be a butterfly for school - precious! 

 Trick-or-treating warranted a costume change for all three.  So Joey was an alien/monster/spider monkey thing, Logan was a Transformer, and Emmie was a princess. 

 

The princess insisted on being carried from house to house - which of course she got! 

All in all it was a successful holiday.  The kids had a great day, they filled their plastic pumpkins with candy, and they looked super cute doing it! What more can you ask for?