December in CT

Thanksgiving Fun

So this year we broke tradition and did a repeat of Thanksgiving. We had spent the previous 7 Thanksgivings in a different location, but this year we spent in in Connecticut again. We wanted to take a daytrip down to NYC on the day before, but with a big snow storm coming that day, we ended up heading down to NYC on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It was quite cold but sunny and no snow! We enjoyed the fall leaves for the last time that season.

How Kaylee spent the whole day!

We spent the day in Central Park, the Natural History Museum, Shake Shack, Levain Bakery, Times Square, Rockefeller Square, The ToysRus & Disney & FAO Schwarz stores. Tyler pushed the big kids in our umbrella double stroller and Kaylee stayed asleep in the wrap for most of the day.

We had to get Levain Cookies!

Look closely to see Tyler and the kids on the ToysRus Ferris Wheel

Kaylee said, "seriously, you're going to just nurse me here on the floor in Toys R Us?" - yep, sorry!

Times Square with KayKay

All 5 of us!

In Rockefeller Square

The subway ride back to our car, we park in Queens

When we got back home, there was a heavy snow warning in affect and it was no joke!

Before I showered, and after :)

By Thanksgiving morning there was enough to make a snowman!

We spent Thanksgiving with some of our Avon Ward friends - With the Giffords, Morris', Swensons, and Mumfords - it was a big group! We didn't honestly contribute to much to the meal - just the green beans, fruit, and a pumpkin pie. I guess that's what happens when you coordinate with 5 families haha.

The crazy kids table!

The easy going baby, decided to cry the whole time during the meal haha

Home with grateful kids and full bellies :)

We had a great day and a yummy meal :)

November Events

On November 2nd, Kaylee Lorraine Jennings was given a blessing by her daddy. We had the blessing in our ward in Avon. She wore the same dress Abbie had worn, which was also worn by Paige and Me back in the day :)

The day after daylight savings changes in fall, is always my least favorite day - because the kids wake up way too early. On this day Jackson and Abbie were dressed and ready and Kaylee was already down for a nap at 8 am ...

Too bad they're so cute!

Sisters!

Jackson is loving his map puzzles!

The kids play at the Avon library

While Kaylee naps :)

Jackson was all smiles after his first primary program!

Kaylee is often just ready for her first nap as we're leaving for preschool. She didn't quite make it today!

She does not look amused, but this car seat snuggly sleeping bag keeps her warm as it gets colder here!

Jackson singing songs with his preschool friends before the Thanksgiving Feast

Halloween Fun

 We had a great Halloween this year! Abbie was Snow White, Jackson was Superman and Kaylee was Princess Rapunzel.

The Primary was in charge of a Trunk or Treat the Saturday before Halloween so I spent a lot of time planning and preparing for that, but sadly not a lot of picture taking. But it turned out great I think!

We had a few families over on Halloween night for dinner before trick-or-treating. It's our tradition to order pizza on Halloween but they took it up a notch and we all combined to make homemade pizzas. Our neighborhood is the perfect family friendly place for trick or treating, especially with our younger kids who don't need to do too many houses anyways!

Cute little 2 month old Kaylee in her Halloween onesie

Jackson and "Elsas" at his Field Trip

The school attended a nursing home for games and songs with the elderly.

Tyler holding his Princesses on Halloween

Carving the Pumpkins!

Abbie loved making spooky faces just like our pumpkins

The Family on Halloween

Our candy girl was in heaven!

Checking out their loot

Our Trip to Maine

After our amazing trip to Vermont the previous fall, we set our sights on a new state for 2014 - MAINE! We had initially planned to go with friends but it ended up falling through and at one point we were thinking of cancelling the trip altogether. I'm so glad we went though, because we didn't realize at the time, but this was our last fall in New England! We went the weekend of October 9-12 and so we spent the final day of our trip celebrating Tyler's birthday.

This was Kaylee's first trip and night away from home and on the drive she passed through 4 states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine) and luckily napped through all of them :)

Our first stop was at the lighthouse in York,

Litte did we know this was the last time Abbie wouldn't cry when we asked a stranger to take our picture...

We met up with the Simmons family at Old Orchard Beach - they were staying in a beach house with family that weekend so they actually let us stay in their house in Portland that night!

The sky and ocean looked so cool!

Sarah and I - my first time in boots at the beach :)

J&A Playing at their beach house

After our first night in Maine and some amazing doughnuts for breakfast ... we headed up the coast to continue or journey. The next two nights we stayed at a house in Camden.

On our drive up to Camden

Looking down at Camden

love these two!

The kids posing before our lobster dinner

Tyler and I had lobster, Jackson tried and liked crab and Jackson and Abbie ate fish and chips

 On Saturday we headed up to Acadia - it was a couple hours north and not the best weather but worth the trip!

And abbie won't look ...

Abbie loved this leaf and took it home with her :)

The brightest tree we found!

 
The last day was Sunday, and Tyler's birthday! We celebrated with breakfast at home before packing up and heading to church but not before picking up more donuts :) Then we headed back to Portland where the wonderful Sarah Simmons watched all 3 kids while we went out on a little birthday lunch date!

33 years old!

Oh sure, now you'll smile Abbie! Tyler was just a little bugged

Jackson the adventurer

The potential family christmas card photo ... if only Abbie wouldn't have been screaming!

We had a great trip though and were so glad we visited Maine!