Hold onto Your Hats!

A lot of catching up to do here! :) I started this post on the 14th and I'm just now getting to finish it up!

We've been super busy these past few weeks and I am so far behind on updating its sad. Let's see if I can cover everything without boring you too much:) This will be like speed blogging!

Ready. Set. Go!!

November 30th we celebrated my brother Pete's 29th birthday as well as enjoyed another great Thanksgiving feast at my parent's house. We had to delay Thanksgiving a bit on my side of the family which was fine because it gave us time to spend with each family and not have to stuff ourselves silly! Well...ok...we still did that anyway:)

The first week of December Tom was on vacation and I'm sure you know what that meant! Yup! Hunting:) He got into the woods every chance he could get. Unfortunately, no deer yet but there is still a little more time before the season ends.

December 5th we enjoyed Christmas in downtown Greenfield. We took a carriage ride and Gloria met Santa for the very first time! We never did the Santa thing last year. We figured it just wasn't something we felt we had to do with Gloria since she was so young. This year would be fun though! She wasn't sure what to think. She wouldn't sit on his lap but she didn't cry, so that was good! haha We actually went to Yankee Candle on Tuesday and saw Santa there too. She did much better with that Santa. I think because it was a bit more laid back seeing he was in his "workshop" :) She was so cute with him!

For the Sund family, the Christmas season started the evening of December 5th. We had a Christmas get together for my Grandma at the nursing home she is staying at. It was nice to see everyone and spend the evening together. My uncle Greg came up to visit from Florida which was nice too. We miss seeing him!

We celebrated Irene's birthday on December 6th (her actual birthday was the 7th)! We got together at the McDonald house and enjoyed yummy Chinese food for dinner and a cake I made for dessert. It was a fun evening with the family! :)

This past Saturday, Gloria and I went to a Christmas party at Phil and Jan's house (my father-in-law's cousins) for a holiday get together. It was a fun afternoon and it was so great to see everyone! I was just so bummed that we had to leave early. It was nice to get the little bit of visiting in that we could though. Gloria loved playing with the kids. I wish I could have brought them home with me...they were so good with Gloria! Very sweet:)

Later that night, we hosted our annual Christmas party at our house. This was our 7th year! I can't believe it! It was super fun!! We did a few things differently this year. First, it was an adult only party. We love having the kiddos but felt this year might be a good year for just the adults. When the kids are older, it might be a little easier. Second, we set up a photo booth. I had a wireless remote control for my digital camera so people could take their own photos. No photographer necessary:) This freed me up to enjoy the party and made for some really really fun photos! haha

Last night, we celebrated my mom's 60th birthday! We had a very small group of friends and family get together at my parent's house for cake and ice cream. I think my mom enjoyed having such a small and intimate celebration. We had a pink cowboy hat cake...perfect for my mom! :) It was a fun evening together. My mom's actual birthday is on Monday, which happens to be my birthday as well:) I love that we share a birthday! It makes the day so special!

Now, we are in full Christmas mode. We are behind this year...not sure how that happened?! I'm sure we are only a few of many who have a lot of shopping and prepping to do:) It will get done...as it always does. The important thing to remember is that the day is about celebrating something much more important...the birth of Christ!

There is still so much to enjoy this month! Many more fun times will be had:)

I have lots of photos to share but I'm in editing mode at the moment. I'll have to post them separately. I can't believe I've gotten so far behind! Eek!

If you haven't checked them out already, I have posted new pics in our November and December albums. I'll get more in there before the New Year, I promise! haha