Christmas

Christmas was so fun this year since this is really the first year that Ashton ‘got it’.  He was just giddy!  Plus, it was Elise's first Christmas, which was special.  We stayed at home in Cleveland and just spent a nice, cozy day as a family.  Both kids were spoiled by Santa and all of our amazing family.  We literally took present opening breaks so that they could actually absorb some of the toys.  It was a great day!

Getting ready for Santa and the reindeer

Making our lists!

These two!

Elise loved her piano!

Someone was happy!

Love this!

Love,
K & J

Santa Pics

We took the kids to get their annual pics with Santa while we were back in DE.  Ashton was all smiles but Elise wasn’t impressed by Mr. Claus.  The girl wouldn’t crack a smile.  She didn’t cry either….she just simply wasn’t impressed.  Ashton asked for a dump truck from Santa…oh and I think sunshine (which should tell you about Cleveland in the winter). :)

Love,
K & J

Thanksgiving

We headed back to DE for Thanksgiving.  We had a delicious meal and were surrounded by family – even Jeff’s parents and brother made the trip up.  It was wonderful to have everyone there.  While we were in town, we went to go see the train exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum, which Ashton loved.  We also got to see college and high school friends and their children, which was also fun.  And I can’t forget about my furry nephew, Kupper….Ashton was in love with him!


Elise & Granddaddy Chuck





Pre-dinner fun!


 


Elise's first turkey dinner. :)

 


Some of the crew!

 


Aunt Ern, Ashton and Kupper



 
 

 


Trains!

 

 

 

Uncle Chris & Ashton

Lehigh girls and babes



 
Love,
K & J

Halloween

Halloween was simply wonderful since it was the first weekend we moved back into the house (I was have nightmares about having to trick or treat the hotel halls!).  Elise dressed up during the day as a candy corn and in the evening was the sweetest little owl.  Ashton told me months before that he wanted to be a ghost.  Well, they don’t sell ghost costumes.   Fortunately, my mom is very crafty and a great seamstress so she came to the rescue.  It was mostly done and then I asked Ashton whether he wanted to be a friendly ghost or a scary ghost…of course he chose scary.  So, I made a quick trip out to get some spiders, sewed those onto his costume and voila….Scary Ghost!  He loved it.  And he loved answering the door for all of the trick or treaters...It was so fun! 

Love,

K & J

Fall Fun

In the spirit of catching up, I’ve compiled all of our fun pics from the fall. We had a couple of kind visitors (my mom and sis!) who flew out to help us get ready to move back in during this time, and we took a break with each of them to do some fall festivals with the kids. Apple picking and hay rides with Aunt Erin and Superhero fall festival with my mom.

 

 

 

 

 

Love,

K & J

A Trip We'll Never Forget

In late June 2014, we traveled to SW Michigan to explore a few new towns - Grand Rapids and Saugatuck.  We love Michigan and had heard great things about both places.  We started in Grand Rapids and had lots of fun exploring the town, eating at some great places, drinking some tasty beers at Founders and Brewery Vivant and playing at the Children's Museum and Public Museum.  We headed to Saugatuck next, which is a cute little town full of charming shops and local eateries.  Plus, it's on Lake Michigan and has beautiful beachings including, Oval Beach (voted as one of the best beaches in the country - who'd have thunk, right?).  We had a great time and would defintiely recommend trips to both areas.

Unfortunately, on the day we were planning to head home, we received a call that there was fire at our home in Ohio and that our poor kitty, Alyo, didn't survive.  It was a very sad (and surreal) day. 

At Founders



These were made entirely of legos!

So focused!

This was the public restroom in Saugatuck. :)

Love,

K & J