Category Archives: Weekend AdventuresWe’ve been all about baking and decorating Christmas cookies this year. Gosh, its honestly been years since Ive done things like this……I love how our babies bring back the joy and wonder of the Christmas season. This Christmas has been so much fun with Ezra. He’s all about the lights, snow, Polar Express, wrapping presents and of course……COOKIES! I won’t tell you how many cookie + movie nights we’ve had……but I’ll tell you this…..we’re racking up hours [and calories].
    
Its that time of year again were we head over to Stumptown Art Studio, just walking distance from our coffee shop…..and Ezra makes his very own Christmas ornament to hang on our tree! We started this tradition in 2012, Ezra’s first Christmas at 5 months old. Ezra really enjoyed this activity this year. He loved picking out his ornament, which was a TRAIN of course. Our love for the Polar Express runs real deep in our family! He wanted to make one for grandma [Reeds mom] this year….so he was really in a creative mode. I love the way he picks out his own colors, dips the brush and swirls it around in the water and makes wild strokes in every direction. We were all pretty proud of how his ornament turned out this year! Such a fun tradition we’ve started. Between cutting down our own Christmas tree and making ornaments…..December is one of my favorite months of the year.
We gathered once again with friends….and hunted for the perfect Christmas tree. I leave the cutting down the tree part to Reed. It’s a lot of hard work, but he’s certainly the man for the job! This annual Hunt and Cut has looked different for us every year [check out 2013 & 2014]. The locations and the friends who have have gathered and hunted with us have varied as well. I’ve enjoyed every single year for their own reason……all have been special….and this tradition will always hold a special place in our hearts. This years Hunt and Cut was with the couples in our AMAZING life group [plus the Brandeberry family]. One couple had NEVER cut down a tree before- so it was wonderful to see the sparkle in their eyes as we trekked through the forest, looking for the perfect tree. There was a fantastic sledding area for the kids…..so their laughter became the soundtrack of the day. It was perfect. Ezra was a trooper, walking through the snow……but eventually he got tired and momma had to carry him back to the car. Oh MY ARMS!!! He’s almost getting too big to carry, but I still take the chance to hold my baby as much as he’ll let me. He was a really big help this year….he loved adventuring in the wild. He’s good at that! It’s been a while since I’ve brought out my camera- the iPhone has been so much more convenient, but when it comes to special occasions…..I bring out the best. I always enjoy documenting our life….and the annual Hunt and Cut always delivers such beautiful and memorable moments. We found the perfect tree. Its tall and a little more like a Charlie Brown tree, even though every year we seek out to find the fullest tree in the woods. HA. Everything looks bigger and fuller with snow on it. Right? Our day ended at the Red Caboose, where coffee and hot chocolates were passed all around. Im so very thankful for the fiends in our lives here in Montana. Do you cut down your own tree? Do you put up a fake tree? Theres pros and cons to both……what is your tradition?
I’ve never been into Halloween. Like ever. I’m still not a huge fan. However, this year [by the persistent encouragement of a friend- thanks Wanda] we went all out……& laughed all day. We had so much fun. And a funny little story regarding Ezra’s consume….. Not sure where or how he heard about a Jack-O-Lantern, but he had been talking about it since September. He wanted to be a “Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween.” “Just let him be a Jack-O-Lantern. He’ll love it.” said Wanda. And so I did. The only one I could find was a size 1-2, rather than the size 3-4 he should wear. I bought it anyway. Ezra LOVED his costume. And you know what? I did too. These are the days….& the best of memories. ///// A group photo of Ezras friends from church…and some details of some sweet-sweet costumes.
Sweet Pickins has become a yearly, half-day tradition for us. Its so much more than a pumpkin patch….there’s all sorts of fun things to do, including hayrides, a huge sandbox with toy diggers and excavators, tire swings and animals to pet! Ezra can run wild and free….and he does. We all love it! I can’t even explain the beauty that is found in Fall..here in Montana. It’s absolutely stunning and the colors were vibrant and bold over the weekend. I loving living where we experience such stunning seasons. Our friends Bryce and Kelsey joined us this year….we brought a yummy homemade lunch and all ate together on a picnic bench and caught up on life. It was a fun time. *Thanks for taking our family photos, Bryce! Heres more photos from our day…
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