Wonderland Christmas Tree Farm Fun

Yesterday we went to "Wonderland Tree Farm" and cut down our Christmas tree. We always get a real tree but we have never actually cut down our tree before. We just always buy them from the store. This was super fun and I can definitely see us coming back next year. 

We found the perfect tree and everyone agreed it was "the tree".

So, presenting the "Herb Family Christmas Tree"

Tuck had a great time pushing the tree cart around

Tanner and Dad worked hard to cut the tree down

And then we all helped load it onto the tree cart. 

 

I chased the kids around for a while taking pictures, because what's more picturesque than a Christmas tree farm? 

Benson was so good as long as he was being held. He is such a sweet baby. 

Oh and check out these handsome boys. 

The kids worked together to push the tree cart back to the shop area so we could get it shaken down and wrapped up. 

While we were there, we snapped our Christmas card picture. Bailey was a gem and posed for me while I got my settings right and got the camera on the tripod. I love this girl of mine. 

And here is our Christmas card picture for 2017. 

We got the tree loaded onto the van and then we left, but we all had such a fun time and I'm excited to continue this tradition next year with my little family. 

Today after church we decorated our tree. Benson was cracking us up. He loved the strands of lights. As Dad was testing with strands of lights worked, Benson was helping by playing with them all. Then we looked over and he had fallen asleep. 

Seriously, we were cracking up. How does that even happen. 

The kids did a great job decorating the bottom half of the tree. 

I definitely had to re-decorate after the kids went to bed. But they were trying to hard and working so well together. We had a great time reminiscing as we pulled our yearly family ornaments out of the boxes and talking about when we got them. So fun! 

This sight makes my heart so happy. I LOVE Christmas time so much!

And Benny just hung out looking super cute in his Santa hat. Why are naked babies the cutest thing ever?

Now our house looks like Christmas and it's beautiful. I love this time of the year!

Thanksgiving Vacation

So school has been our for the last week for Thanksgiving and it's been such a blast.
We kicked off our week with a pie party for all our little friends. We don't get to see most of our friends during the week because everyone is busy and all our kids are in different schools. So this "pie party" was more like a reunion for all the kids. 

So all my Mommy friends brought a pie to share and we had quite the feast. 

And I made this fun little pie banner. I kind of love it!!

But seriously, look at all this goodness. 

But would you look at all these cute kids? There were so many kids over. I need a bigger house so I can host more people. This was a full house!

We had the Quales, Huffords, Lowdens, Boyles,Brockmeyers and us. It was crazy town. 

Tanner really loves the Quale boys. 

Once everyone left we had lots of leftover pie to enjoy. The kids loved it. Even Benson tried to get a taste. It was really entertaining. 

Then Wednesday, Nanny and Papa came over. They got in late and so Thanksgiving morning my kids woke up to find them at our house. It was pretty exciting.
Aunt Sarah and Uncle Johnny came over around 10 am. Uncle Johnny was in charge of the annual turkey bowl and so he helped the kids draw up their game plans. 

Sarah and I were dying as we watched these boys plan our their strategies. 

Here's the whole football crew. 

I just love Tanner's face in this one. Things got real y'all. 

I love these guys!

After our super intense football game, we came back to the house and played Thanksgiving bingo. 

Then we had a thanksgiving treasure hunt. The kids had to follow clues to find the cornucopia of blessings (skittles and m&m's)

Oh and at some point during the day, the oven got turned off with the turkey inside, so when we got back from the football game, we realized the house wasn't smelling like turkey and then we discovered the oven wasn't even on. UGH.
We reheated the oven and got things back on track.
But we ended up eating 1 1/2 hours later than planned. And honestly that was kind of a miracle.

Not a great way to start off my first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner, but we all survived. 

Oh here was the adult table. (Uncle Joseph and Aunt Julieta were home sick, so we only had 6 adults)

Here was the kid table- well part of it. Three of the kids ate at the bar and then the other 4 ate here at the kid table. 

However, before we could eat all my kids passed out around the house and slept right through dinner. It was so funny. We looked up and they had just all fallen asleep on their own. Tuck and Bailey were so snuggled up- it was adorable. 

So they ate later, after we had all finished. 

The kids all enjoyed the coloring sheets and puzzles. 

Oh and I can't forget this cute little turkey. He was a champ during his first Thanksgiving and enjoyed trying lots of new foods when he woke up. 

Benson with a pumpkin- does it get much cuter?

We have a lot to be thankful for this season and these four kids are definitely at the top of my list.
As hard as motherhood is sometimes, these kids bring so much joy into our lives. We are very blessed!

The food all turned out great and dinner was amazing- even if it was later than planned.
After we got all cleaned up, I left with some friends to do some "Black Friday" shopping- on Thursday night. Why is Black Friday so early now??

The next day (Friday), the boys all went to the Razorback game. Papa, Dad and Tanner drove down to Fayetteville to meet up with Uncle Johnny and Max. 

(Uncle Joseph and both his boys were sick on Friday)

How cute is Tanner with his Razorback popcorn and drink?

Tanner had the best time with Papa and Dad, Uncle Johnny and Max. 

I love this shot of Tanner and Papa calling the Hogs. 

I love these boys! We are blessed with such great family. 

Then today we got to celebrate Papa's birthday at Aunt Sarah and Uncle Johnny's house.
Nanny made Papa a big Mexican food dinner and it was delicious.
Then after dinner the grand kids got to give Papa their cards and gifts.
It was so cute!

Nanny got Papa a new razorback blanket and all the kids helped him break it in.
How cute are all these kids with their amazing Papa. 

We LOVE this guy so much!

I really do have the best Dad. 

So that was our Thanksgiving vacation. It was so much fun and I'm not ready for school to start again. Luckily we only have 3 weeks until Christmas break. WE CAN DO IT!!!