It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

A.k.a. my favorite time of the year.

We took advantage of some "good weather" before it got cold and windy and got most of our outside lights up mid-November.  I promised Jed we wouldn't turn them on until Thanksgiving night....

The kids were pretty good help...Jace tried to help and Connor didn't complain, so everyone wins!

Mission accomplished!  On a sad note, "Kitty" aka "Meow" aka "Peaches" went missing after Thanksgiving and we haven't found her.  For a cat we picked up off the street she was awesome, and Connor loved her.  She wins the award for lasting the longest out of the three cats we have tried to adopt...so we were sad to see her go.  Luckily it's been cold, so Connor hasn't been outside and asked about her much...but she is still telling everyone she sees that "my kitty run away."  **MONTHS later...still telling everyone that.**  Jed thinks we should get another cat when it warms up...Jace and I are pulling for a dog....

Also in November we took Jace to Children's Mercy to see a GI doctor.  This involved getting blood drawn...he bounces into the room, puts his arm out, and wham.  Decides against it.  Anticipating this, I had sat down by him, while Jed stood in the corner, trying to be helpful.  Jed offered to do this part, since I hate needles, but I didn't watch.  Mostly because I was busy holding Jace down.  Along with a second nurse they had pulled out of the hallway.  It was SUPER fun.  NOT.  Hoping we don't have to do that again for a long time...

On a positive note though, we stopped by Cabela's on the way home, and after that, of course we went to the shooting range.  I am not kidding when I say Jace was shooting LIGHTS OUT.  Even Jed was impressed...

We tried out Mr. Goodcents in November!  Since Subway has decided to go all organic, natural, aka against farmers...we are looking for a new sandwich shop.  Jace approved of this one!

Connor, trying on one of her choices for Christmas dress.  I LOVED this one...but we didn't use it.  It was a lot of dress...

Some school artwork...

Hanging out...not sure how Connor ended up in the living room, but I think I was trying to put up the Christmas tree, and Jed was hanging out in the living room, so we adapted...

A few days later...Christmas tree!  And some Luedke kids hanging out at our house!

And Dad and the kids hanging out watching a movie...we love Christmas movies. 

That's all folks!

Cassidy is T-W-O!!!

And we missed it.  Jed and I were taking money at the Troy Sub-State Football game, and decided to stay and watch the game.  Which they won.  And we had Mel and Aaron bring Jace up to the game to watch this happen...and it was SUPER exciting.  **Update: Unfortunately they lost the state game...in the last minute of the game.  Darn it!**

Anyway, we missed Cassidy's birthday party, and I felt terrible.  Awful.  But someone else took some pictures...so here they are!

Our gifts, the Cinderella night gown on the left, and the "puter" on the right.  Connor had gotten a computer like this for her birthday and they have fought and fought over it.....

And in the middle is Cassidy, in her tutu, hairbow, and her Paw Patrol shirt, holding "Sky" one of the Paw Patrol Pups.

Deep in conversation here....

The family photo attempt.  This cracks me up.  The birthday girl isn't even wanting to be in the picture (look at those gold boots!!!)...for once Kyler is doing a great job, looks like Colton is smiling big, and then I realize he is smiling big because he put bunny ears on his mom.  Fun times!

Happy Birthday Cassidy...hope all your wishes come true!!

Big Buck Down.

It's deer season.

Translation: Jed's doing his part to keep the corn crop in the fields.  :) 

And then there is this guy: the sheep that keeps showing up in the field at Great-Grandpa Johnson's.  Jace (and Uncle Jay....) would love to catch him and bring him home......no thanks.

Fall FUN!!!

Took the kids for a stroll to find a spot for family pictures.  Connor needed a snack, and Jace took his own camera for some picture taking....

This girl.  This dog.  LOVE.

Just a little picture posing.....

I love this big, genuine smile....

I LOVE THIS SHOT.  From the sunlight, to the skirt, to the boots....wish I wouldn't have cut off her head!

Looks like we had some friends over to play...aka the Luedkes...

Harvest Time...

Johnson family annual Harvest pictures!

Takes a little more coordinating and a lot more work to get everyone there and looking at the camera...

But SO worth it.

Grandma and Grandpa.  Or Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa.  Or "The grandma that lives across from the new shop and gives me cookies."  It all depends on who you ask.

Smile Grandpa!

It should be noted that Grandma rode in Jace's carseat on the way to the field.  She fit just right....

And here is just the guys...

And here is my little family.  Looks picture perfect if you ask me.  Even with Connor's cheesy face.

A little more Pumpkin Patch....

It's hard work to stick your head in the picture prop!

Jace was a great helper getting Connor onto the bounce pit.  Even if she did only like it for approximately 32 seconds...

It's also hard work coordinating a jump...1, 2, 3!!!

These girls kept busy doing their "work"!

More pictures!  Looks like a good load of pumpkins!

Another guy being a good big brother.  Colton took Cassidy up there to bounce...but I don't think she lasted long either!

A shot of me and Connor.  We were probably on the way to see the animals.  We don't have these animals at our house!

Yippeeeeeeee!!!

And Kyler kept busy too...just a swingin' with baby Brook!