Holiday Happenings...

We dove right into the holidays this year with trips to a model train show, the Festival of Trees where we saw Santa, and out to get our tree (post soon to come!).  We've done lots of decorating and shopping!  The house is lit up like the proverbial, yes, Christmas tree, and we are all having lots of fun!!

Exterior illumination day.  The elves lending a hand...

 My own Clark Griswold...just love him.

 

We always spend an evening at the local Festival of Trees.  It is an Antonetti family tradition!  Will spent the entire time, minus the five minutes he spent unsure of sitting on Santa's lap, watching the model trains.  Ella loved watching Santa with the other kids, but wanted no part of him otherwise!  Will told him all about what he wants for Christmas, a robot and train table,  and was really glad that Santa told him to put out cookies and milk.  Will responded, "Since you get hungry and thirsty from all that delivering. I'll put carrots out for the reindeer, too!".  It was hilarious. 

 

 

 

 Trying desperately to get a picture with my grandma.  This is the best. You should see the other attempts...

Hitting the holidays running...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year in Connecticut.  We were able to spend the entire week with Joe's family.  It was so nice to have an extended visit!  The kiddos had a blast!

 

Helping get the bird ready.

 Playing Legos with Aunt Jen.

 With Joe's Grandmom Lucy.

 Will wearing the turkey hat!

 Ella helping herself to green beans straight from the serving dish.

 A trip to the farm to see the donkeys and run through the corn maze.

A funny one...

So ever since Will potty trained about three months ago, Ella has been OBSESSED with his underwear.  I dunno, I guess she just would really like to have some too.  Last week I found her taking them out of the clean laundry basket, putting about 6 pair on her ankles, and shuffling down the hallway cracking herself up. Will thought it was pretty funny too... me three.

Halloween Fun!

We had a wonderful Halloween this year.  We started the festivities with a trip to the pumpkin patch (see last post!).  And then had a wonderful little Halloween party with some of our favorite friends in the world.  It was a beautiful day and we were able to paint pumpkins in the backyard, do a lot of playing, and eat some yummy treats.  

Will, Kathleen and Luna making some pumpkin masterpieces.

 

Reece being a great helper.  Ella just latched onto her and basically adored her all afternoon.  Reece was such a gem. 

 Madeline doing her thing!

 Benjamin, seriously concentrating.

 There was not an un-painted spot on Will's pumpkin.

We also did some family pumpkin carving!  The kids really didn't want to touch the insides, but they were pretty fascinated by the process, and got REALLY excited when we lit them.  Ella ran all over yelling, "Pumpk!  Pumpk!"  Will corrected her of course, by saying "Ella, it has a face now, so it is a jack-o-lantern."  Sheesh.

 Trick-or-treat was quite a "treat" this year for all of us! While we planned to only go to the houses in our cul-de-sac, Will quickly figured out the process and began telling us, "That house has a light on, we should knock on their door."  So it took a bit longer than we anticipated, but they had a blast.  Well, except for a run-in with a 6'2" full gorilla aping around on his feet and knuckles and grunting.  There was a bit of fear, but it was quickly resolved when he took off his mask.
So the costumes.  Ella is obsessed with ducks.  We take out the same library book basically every week about ducks so there was really no question what she should be.  Thanks SO much to Michele for passing along the adorable costume!! Will went back and forth for a number of weeks about his costume.  First he wanted to be spiderman, then a rocket ship, but he latched on to the Elmo costume at Target one day and there was no turning back.  I think they would have slept in their costumes the last week if we would have let them.  Too cute...

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Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Time!

Some fun times at the pumpkin patch! Getting in the Halloween spirit!