This year we surprised the kids with tickets to The Nutcracker. They were really excited to see the ballet and we had great seats, so they were able to see it up close. Unfortunately, a snow storm showed up the same day and we weren't sure it the show would be cancelled, or if we would make it downtown. The show didn't cancel and we made our way to the Arts United Center. I was a bit worried we would get stuck somewhere in the deep snow, but we made it there! Yay! The plows were out before our drive home, so that was much less scary.   I had to get some pictures since they were all dressed up and looking snazzy!   In our row and ready for the show to begin. We all loved it! 

Over Thanksgiving break we visited both families. We started this year in Cadillac and then spent the weekend in Grand Rapids.   The kids played HedBanz with Grandma and Pop.   We had some yummy chocolate cake to celebrate my birthday.  Curt's dad won the annual game of Risk that all the guys play.   In GR, we celebrated Lucy's birthday early (to make it a little less crazy during the Christmas visit).  She loved her new umbrella!   She really wanted a guitar and has been putting on shows for us ever since she got this. :)  Cupcakes and cheesecake! Yum! We also squeezed in a trip to see Moana with Grandma and Gramps.  We had a great time visiting with both sides of the family! 

Lucy's preschool had a Thanksgiving Feast that included a program and a little "early" lunch afterwards.   They sang a few cute songs, then sat down for another group to sing.  At the end of the program, all of the kids sang a couple of songs together on the stage.   We headed to the gym for the "feast". We got a pic of Lucy with her teacher Mrs. Lawson.  The kids made vegetable soup, muffins, and butter, for the feast.

After school on Halloween, I quickly got the kids in their costumes and got them ready to go to Curt's work. They had several areas decorated for the kids to come in and trick-or-treat. It was all super cute!   They had a Harry Potter section and Ben fit right in!   Isn't Lucy supposed to be the one giving advice? (Peanuts section)   The kids enjoyed the Lego area. They got to estimate something for a Lego prize and Lucy was actually the winner! She got a cute Lego Friends set.   Bubbles everywhere in the Ocean area! We hurried home and grabbed a quick dinner and got ready to trick-or-treat the neighborhood. The weather was really nice this year!   Ben was excited to get a king size candy bar!  Lucy said she had enough candy after the first hour, so we headed home. She poured all of the candy on the floor and it was a LOT!

We celebrated Ben's 9th birthday with a bunch of friends at Lazer X. Ben loves playing laser tag, so he thought that would be a fun party spot.   He wanted a Super Mario theme. This might be the third time he's picked that theme for this birthday. The cake was really cute, but was supposed to have Luigi instead of Mario. It was too late to change, so we just went with it. It did taste great!   We decorated the party room a little bit before the kids showed up.   Eating cake and ice cream.  Time to open presents.  The boys played two games of laser tag and had tokens for the arcade. Lucy got in on the arcade action too! 

Every year after the zoo closes in October, they decorate for Wild Zoo Halloween. It is a really fun event that is around for a couple weekends. The kids can dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat in the zoo. There are fun little games and activities too! We always try to fit it in because we all enjoy going!   Anna and Harry Potter ( I LOVED their costumes this year, it will be hard to top them.)   It was a BIT crowded when we first arrived.   Pumpkins are decorated throughout the zoo.   Meeting Broomhilda.   Trying to make it through the maze.   The kids got to pick out a little pumpkin to take home.   Hanging out with our sweet girl.   A picture on the zoo sign is pretty much mandatory.   On this day, they had a fire engine out front that the kids could sit in.  The end to another successful Wild Zoo Halloween!