Another year, another tree!

For the 8th straight year, we made the hike out to the tree farm to hunt the perfect Christmas tree. Once again, we scored a lovely blue spruce that we cut and drug with Simone's help. We started off with some hot apple cider and then made the climb and begun the hunt. After about an hour, we settled on one about6 ft tall and perfectly manicured.

It was a long drag back to the barn but Simone was a trooper both uphill and down.

And her reward was a peppermint candy that made her happier than any old tree ever could!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year Simone was lucky enough to get to spend Thanksgiving with all of her grandparents at our house. Yes, she got more than a little spoiled but that's what grandparents are for, I suppose. She was very excited to wear her new Thanksgiving dress that, coincidentally, coordinated with the table linen. LOL!

The turkey was nearly too pretty to cut, but no worries, we did.

Clearly we were too busy eating and shopping to get many pictures of the kick off to our holiday season, but it was great!

First Ballet Lesson

This Saturday Simone took her first dance class -- in Tiny Tutus. We have to admit, she wasn't totally into every minute of it, but she did look pretty adorable. And isn't that what really matters at this age?

Many of her moves looked a little more like kung fu than ballet, but ya gotta start somewhere, right?

Stay tuned for progress on this front...

Boo at the Zoo

Well, this year mommy's costume surpassed daddy's as far as crowd appeal, which didn't much please daddy. But as far as we're concerned, Simone stole the show with her octopus. Simone picked all of our costumes, an under the sea theme-- an octopus, jellyfish, and sea turtle. Again, the Zoo was a great time and Simone this year walked every step of it on her own.

Simone's First Field Trip

Being in pre-school this year means that Simone got to go on the October field trip to Cox Fall Festival. Mommy chaperoned the super fun day. There were tons of activities and the grounds weren't too soggy, despite all the rain we've had the past few days. We actually had very bright sunshine, and lots of wind.

Simone made sure she found the biggest pumpkin so that she could make a jack -o- lantern with it for Halloween.

Even big stacks of hay are fun when you're three.

Can you spot her? .... up on the dinosaur's back before she came down the slide inside.

and of course she had to try these on for size...

We fed the pigs for nearly half an hour. Needless to say, some very happy little piglets.

And Simone took a turn milking the cow.

On the great big chair with a classmate.

She loved these horses until the light one popped out and bit her on the head!!! I think it was going for her orange hair bow, but I told her it was just trying to give her a kiss.

The ultimate four-layer dinoslide was her most favorite of all. And yes, she was brave enough to go down all by herself---several times.

All in all a great day that has got us ready for fall and sparked our Halloween spirit!