How do you know when it's Christmastime?  Is it the music on the radio?  The lights on the houses as you drive by?  The giant inflatable snowmen?  Or is it when you find these gems at target?  Now, I'm way to cheap to spend $30 on two hats that will only be worn once.  However, I am nice enough to let my kids wear them while doing my shopping.  (I'm trying not to think of all the other kids whose parents were just as kind as I was and who may or may not have lice. AND... Since this was three weeks ago, I'm pretty sure the lice is a non-issue.)  

Aren't they cute?  Emmett, with his small features actually does look like a little elf to me.  

When I told them we'll have to put them back....

We also had a chance to go and see Santa.  He was a wee jolly fellow.  Shorter than me by a few inches at least.  When the little boys sat on his lap, he still looked the part.  The boys were ecstatic to see him in person.

Ahh, the Christmas season is upon us.

December came before we were ready for it.  Rob's birthday was on a Saturday but that weekend was insanely busy.  I knew that Robert was leaving on a trip on Sunday however, I thought he was leaving at 8 p.m. and not 8 a.m.  In my mind, I thought we'd be able to have his birthday dinner Sunday night, early, before he left.  I only found out that I was wrong at about 5 p.m. that day.  What made it all worse was that on Rob's actual birthday we were going to a friends house for an ugly sweater party.  So, while I was rushing around trying to get both us and the kids ready, Robert decided that he needed to cook his Birthday dinner by himself.  It was good.  But really sad.  Not only did he have to cook it all, but we had to eat it in a rush.  Sad little birthday.

To make up for it, when Robert came home, we had a proper birthday dinner made for him.

Emmett has a hard time when Rob travels.  When he gets him back, he really never wants to let go again.  I do believe that Robert spent most of his dinner in this position.

Austin had spent the whole afternoon making this ice-cream cake for Robert.  He had planned it out earlier that week, sent me to the store with a very specific shopping list and executed it jus the way he planned.  He is a mini-engineer.  I didn't realize until I looked that the picture, just how much that looked like 91 and not 41.  I think Robert feels like he is 91 some days with his poor knee/hip/shoulder problems.  However, we are happy that he is 41, with lots of years ahead of him, Old Man body or not.

Happy Birthday Robert!  

Back at Mom and Dad's we joined up with Jonathan and his family and Arianne and the kids.  We had a wonderful After-Thanksgiving meal and spent the next day playing .

On one of our walks to the creek, Austin checked up on a geocashe that he made last summer.

We spent an afternoon at the cultural hall at church.  It was a great choice because it was freezing outside (especially to us Nevadans) and there were so many kids that needed to get some energy out!

They did fun races...

played basketball and just hung out.

This picture was especially important to Ethan.  This was the first time that he was taller than Makenna.  He takes these things very seriously.  :)

Jennifer and the kids playing games.

 Unfortunately the kids had homework over Thanksgiving break.  Since Alaina has an extra class at home, she had the most to get done.  This is how happy she was to be doing it (grandpa was helping her with the math.)

This is her fake smile.   Plus...she was happy to be with all the family.

After that whirlwind of a trip, we packed up and headed back home.  I guess everyone else had the same idea since a 9 hour trip turned into a 13 hour trip.  Still.  Totally worth it.  We sure do love being with our family.