It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

When we brought our tree home, we just put lights on it that day. A couple days later, we finally got around to decorating it. We went for super simple this year - just lights and ornaments.






Each year, I get a new family photo ornament. Here is our 2019 ornament.


Here's our tree in all her glory. We didn't realize how full it was until we brought it into our living room. But I love it and it makes our living room smell so good!


Andy and Graydon put up our star and lights out front.


Curtis baked some cookies using leftover dough from the weekend.


Bella is making some progress on our rice krispie treat!


Mabel likes to play around and behind the tree. I sometimes see the branches rustling around, but thankfully there haven't been any problems.


A lit Christmas tree, a fire in the fireplace, and slippers on our feet. Best seats in the house!

Bella's Fourteenth Birthday

Bella's birthday fell on a Saturday this year, so we had the whole day to celebrate. My parents were in town and we all went out for a birthday breakfast at Cracker Barrel.


She scored this huge rice krispie treat from Grandma.


After breakfast, we walked through an antique shop that Bella and I have fun looking around in.

We spent the afternoon relaxing at home. Bella and the boys played Monopoly.


We did cupcakes and presents in the middle of the day, since we had plans for that evening.




She got so many great gifts this year. Our gift to her was a new polaroid camera.




We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant in downtown Columbus and then walked across the street to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. Here she is at 6:52pm - the exact moment she turned 14. This was right after the staff sang 'Happy Birthday' to her.


She got a free ice cream sundae of her choice.


Afterwards, we drove up to Indianapolis for a lights show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. It lasted for 30 minutes and was amazing!

O Christmas Tree!

We went Christmas Tree hunting the day after Thanksgiving.


The pine scent throughout the whole farm smelled so good. I used to feel ambivalent about that smell, but nowI love it!








There were a few really good contenders this year, but after about fifteen minutes or so, we found the 2019 Kilps Christmas Tree!




Time to take her home!

November

It appears I have a bit of catching up to do here. The past few months have been probably the busiest of my whole life so far, so I guess it makes sense that things have gotten neglected around here. We're now ten days away from Christmas and I'm still posting photos of the kids playing outside in tank tops and short sleeves!

All the trees around us give a healthy amount of leaves each year. Perfect for jumping and playing in.
















Bella had her volleyball banquet. She got the "Sky High" award for being a high jumper.


Graydon had a couple mints in his mouth during church one morning. He's a goof.


Curtis played along as well. They're both goofs.


The boys were on the spell bowl team at school. I *think* their team came in 4th place in their division.




We wore red to school on November 19th in support of #redfored. It was a day when thousands of teachers went to the State House to protest some of the decisions our state government has been making in regards to education. Several school corporations closed for the day. Ours stayed open, but most of our classrooms had subs teaching that day.


Graydon participated in our town's annual Christmas of Yesteryear. He played the part of a young boy  during the Civil War period.


I spent a full day writing a research proposal for one of my classes. I have finally come to the end of this busy semester and I feel so relieved! One more to go until graduation!!!


We celebrated Thanksgiving at home as a family of five. This has become a welcome tradition as we spend the day with nothing on the agenda but eating good food, watching movies, and enjoying time together.






Snap Chat doesn't disappoint with its holiday filters.


I sponsored a Gratitude Challenge at school. As part of it, here was my door decoration for November.