A Journey through the Forest

 I love real. I love people who are real, real pie crusts, real ingredients, and real gemstones ;) When it came to acquiring our first Christmas tree, I was sold on getting a real tree and getting it from the source. I did not want grab it at the grocery store and load it into my cart nestled between my pastry flour and butter for my real pie crusts. The means of acquiring the tree was more important to me than the end result of having it in our living room. I had been searching online for a cut-your-own tree farm for awhile when adorable pictures popped up on facebook of The Johnson Farm. That was it! I had found the place. As N was intently working on a paper, I mustered the strength to drive over an hour away into unfamiliar territory to take the girls on an adventure.

 We were welcomed by this sign and the beauty of God's creation in this corner of wooded California.

 A worker lady was kind enough to snap some pictures of us. I had mentioned to her that we just moved to this area, and she asked if we came here for my work. Her question took me aback and then I smilingly replied that it was my husband's work that brought us this way.( Thank you to my new friend Erika for the wonderful bjorn carrier.)

 The beauty of the area was remarkable!

 Excited to get started

 It was darling!

 

 Playing on the bridge

 Looking at the goats

 What this mama will do for a hayride with her kids!

 M grabbed a pumpkin for their pumpkin rolling contest.

 Holding tightly on the pumpkin

 Will one of these be our tree?

 Getting off for the fun pumpkin rolling. Perfect time to be wearing boots!

 She did not successfully roll the pumpkin into the ring at the bottom of the hill and win a free cookie, yet she had a blast.

 We had a wonderful time together bumping up and down along the dirt trail.

 There were many options and a great selection. We had two requirements ~ that it be close to the entrance because it was getting cold and that it fit inside our car.

  

We found it! She is a 5 foot tall Scotch Pine. We were getting cold at this point and ran for the hills.

 As bjorning and sawing do not mix, I asked for some help from one of the nicest strangers this girl has ever met. He was great with the girls. "Timber!" he cried.

 

 This farm christens each tree. When he dubbed our little beauty, I was confused because she did not have any ruddy limbs. I had mistaken his "red bow" for "red bough." With a quick look around, I remembered what adorned my curly headed daughters.

 My beauties with "red bow" all tucked safe and sound in our car.

 I am already looking forward to next year and will make sure N is able to join us on our adventure.

Big Sisters are the Best!

Let me show the ways my big sister shares her love.

She keeps me warm by the fire,

 kisses me all the time,

 runs circles around me,

 helps me apply chapstick,

 teaches me to clap my hands,

 does my hair all pretty,

 teaches me all about fashion,

 makes me smile,

reads books to me, 

 points out the pretty pictures,

 gives me spontaneous kisses,

 and most of all she ADORES me.

Happy 2nd Birthday to Our Little Girl!

It was delightful to spend M's second birthday surrounded by both sets of her grandparents and all her aunts and uncles for the extended Thanksgiving weekend at our home. My has she grown up much in one year! She is a joy to our hearts.

Her birthday dinner was a feast worthy of Thanksgiving, and Grandma made her a delicious coconut cake. As we encircled the dining room table and started to sing to her she broke down in tears. Apparently we don't sing very well. We started over and tried again which ended in the same result. Having kids is so healthy for the heart because they are always making you smile and laugh. You just never know how they will react sometimes.

For birthdays and gifts in general, we prefer to give fewer nicer gifts that are made well and should last many years. This year the "fewer" meant one gift. I spent her birthday eve (our 4th wedding anniversary!) surrounded by our families constructing her present.  Between nursing the baby and eating meals (prepared by our mothers), it took me all day. Can you tell what I'm building?

 A few hours later

 

She thought I was making a chair. 

Our little chef at her kitchen with her Plan Toy veggies. I had been searching for a while to find a solid wood kitchen rather than the "wood" you see in most stores today. So far I have been very pleased with this kitchen set, and I am hoping that it will bring hours and hours of imaginative play for many years and for many kids to come. 

 

As you can see the kitchen is too tall for our little girl. I was pleased that this kitchen was built tall so that she still has room to grown into it.  As I was debating between this set and the smaller version I decided to go with this one because it boasted more counter space. What cook doesn't wish for more counter space! Its oval design is to facilitate play among children. Little baby E are you ready to cook yet?

Sometimes we let her play on a stool.

If you haven't heard me mention it before, I love Plan Toys!