The Mellenthins: December 2012

The tradition continues

Each year we make the small drive to Pulaski to visit Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Dawn a few weeks before Christmas to pick out a Christmas tree. 12 years ago Grandpa Dennis decided to plant several hundred baby Christmas trees, who knew that it would turn into one of our favorite Christmas time adventures. Those babies trees are anywhere from 6 feet to 20+ feet tall now. They have their very own Frasier Fir Forest. Parker, Crosby and Brody ran around hiding in the trees and the parents work on picking out the perfect ones. The goal was a 10' tree for us, a 10' tree for Brody and 18'.5 tree for Grandpa Dennis & Grandma Dawn. After racing around trying to catch the little tree Ninjas for a while, we got to work and found trees for all 3 families.

Success.

Grandma Dawn stealing hugs from Crosby

Those are big trees Grandpa,
we're going to need a bigger house

Ninja pile

We'd rather be hiding in the trees

And there they go

Attacking Grandpa before the trees come down

BOOM

Found 2 ninjas

And the 3rd one too

Are we sure that one is 19'?

Ready for hot chocolate

Warming up

This one stays in Pulaski...
in Grandpas house!

Brody found the one he wanted

Our tree is in.

My helper with lights

Be careful Daddy

I'm careful too

Love that smile

The final product

Grandpa's tree pre-decorations!

So many things to be thankful for (always) but what a fun weekend we had with my little brother Jeffrey & his wife Talaine to celebrate Thanksgiving Day weekend. It's been a while since they were able to come to Green Bay so it was extra special this time. We started the morning off with a walk to the park down the road... it was colder than it looked so we didn't stay too long.

Crosby got on the BIG slide right away and Talaine was ready to catch him.

Little Crosbean getting so much love from Aunt Talaine.

It is a wonderful thing we did this so early in the day because I don't think Jeffrey or Talaine would have been able to do this in the afternoon

Crosby has been working on his balance to walk across the "plank".
It won't be too long and he will find other ways to test his balance at the park (such a brave little guy)

Crosby was so excited to get Uncle Jeffrey up in the toys at the park

He fits! Parker was up high to make sure he could talk Jeffrey through it (pun intended).

Keith stopped by with beautiful Bella and lovely Liv so they could play with the kids and visit with Jeffrey & Talaine too
(while mama Laura was at work).

Because once is never enough!

More slide time Talaine!

I spy some chocolate on that kid's face!

The guys (Keith, Dave & Jeffrey)

Crosby photo bombing the ladies (Talaine & Penny)

Cuddles with mama at the park

Aren't they adorable?

These two bonded with Ninjagos over the long weekend. Parker will alway remember the special times and how much fun Jeffrey is.

Crosby looking cold and oddly innocent.

Not sure how he got in there but pretty sure he dropped 5 pounds during the park visit... don't worry we filled him up the minute we got home.

Bella tight rope walking... I gave her my coat because the wind was relentless.

This one captures the fun these two had..

Ready to hit the road!

I think it is safe to assume the boys (including Jeffrey) had fun at the park.

Not always a cuddle bug so we take advantage whenever the opportunity arises with Crosby.

Parker Ethan

Yes, I carried him all of the way home but he was keeping me warm too.

Crosby made a hand print turkey on a pot holder for us at daycare as a Thanksgiving presente (so sweet... look how proud he is).

You have the right to remain silent... too bad this gun doesn't.

Thanks again Talaine for the awesome gun. Mom & dad said they would return the favor some day.

Crosby trying so hard to open his gift... he was pulling much we had to snap a few pictures.

The madness begins with Ninjago

Thank you Uncle Jeffrey & Talaine

But do we get to play with the stickers?

This is a serious job Jeffrey...

Crosby will do anything for stickers
and needed an intervention from the stickers several times throughout the weekend.

Still playing stickers. Jeffrey is looking tired.

Re-building the Ninjagos we already have. This is harder than it looks... Parker likes to take the jets/automobiles apart and make other Ninjago toys even though he doesn't have all of the "right" pieces, he will find something similar in his lego bucket and experiment until he it works... he is so creative and loves building things. Needless to say, daddy spent a great deal of time searching for missing pieces.

Even Jeffrey joined in the fun.

Crosby was busy building too. Talaine is pretty good at building and keeping up with this kiddo.

A picture is worth a thousand words and I think this one shows how much fun these two were having.

Jeffrey had some serious skills for searching for missing things, perhaps he's had lots of practice?

So much fun!

Besides stickers, Crosby also enjoys playing with Choo Choo Trains, books, puzzles and monster trucks.

Cuddle Time with Jeffrey

Night Night Jeffrey!

Hungry Time! Good Morning everyone.

Meeting baby Kensie (3 weeks old)

Future shopping buddy!

Crosby isn't too sure about the new baby but he warmed up to baby Kensie very quickly.

I wish I could remember what we were trying to make them say here (to get everyone to smile)...
it might have been about tooting or the "Bounce Park" but I love that the moment is so real.

The "formal" pose (or result).

Caden loving our "Fatboy" bag.

Parker meeting his baby cousin Kensie

Patty & Parker... they've missed each other a lot

These two were pretty much glued together most of the weekend (smiling the entire time)

Boys being boys... ready to go to the "bounce park"

I'm pretty sure this picture was taken in the bathroom (which looks odd) but the next picture will show that uncle Jaime was actually supervising two silly monkeys playing in the bathtub. Thanks Jaime!