HOLIDAY FOLK FAIR

enjoying a cookie...

Lauren, the tiger...

Ethan, the lion...

playing chess...

"peek-a-boo!!!"

today we went to State Fair Park for the annual Holiday Folk Fair... I used to go to it when I was younger and haven't been there in years... It was very interesting!!! The boys loved watching all of the different kids representing different countries dance... there was a lot to do for the kids too... I had to get something from one of the booths from one of my heritages... I found 3 small glass ornaments from Poland... Yes... I am Polish... So what?!? Ha!!! the ornaments are beautiful!!! we had a very busy weekend with Scott gone hunting... I was planning on laying low and hanging out around the house... that didn't happen... oh well... we spent a lot of quality time with Adam and Lauren, which was so nice...

CHRISTMAS PARADE!!!

Ethan with his Starbucks hot cocoa...

my boys...

Ethan, Caleb and Liam...

Lauren and Ethan...

Noeli and Ethan...

Frosty...

all snuggled up...

toy soldier...

Santa's elves...

SANTA!!!!!!!!!

This morning we (the boys, myself, Grandma Raap and Lauren) ventured out into the freezing cold to see the 84th Annual Milwaukee Holiday Parade... We met Stacy, Liam, Auntie Mary, John, Noeli and Dominic at Red Arrow Park where Johnson Controls provided Starbucks coffee, hot cocoa, lattes, cookies, and more for their employees (Stacy) and their families... It was awesome... We got tickets to sit in the Johnson Control bleachers across the street at Pere Marquette Park to watch the parade... SO NICE!!! Although it was pretty cold, it didn't seem to bother Ethan and Caleb... There were over 100 groups in the parade!!! A BIG THANKS to Stacy for inviting us!!!

the ride home...

THE ZOO ON A 60-SOMETHING DEGREE DAY

IN NOVEMBER!!!

On Thursday we went to the zoo to burn some energy outside while the weather was still nice... 60+ degrees in November?!? This past week was SO nice!!! We spent it outside a lot... Overhearing right now possibly snow this weekend?!? As much as I LOVE snow, it is hard to have the boys burn up energy playing outside...

WE LOVE SCOUT LAKE!!!

THE BOYS IN THE BOX

with all of the toys these boys have to play with, they played in and on this box literally ALL day!!! too funny!!! even Liam was quite entertained with the box!!!

Halloween 2010

all 4... 2 dragons, a princess unicorn and a soldier...

Ethan, Caleb, Jillian and Olivia...

"SIR, YES SIR!!!"

my little dragon...

the unicorn princess and the soldier...

my dragon and soldier...

Uncle Doug and the boys...

the under cover soldier... looking out for the enemy...

my boys...

Saturday was the start of the trick-or-treat bonanza... Scott and the boys went to Uncle Doug and Auntie Jamie's house for the annual Halloween block party... They had a blast!!! Sunday we went to the Weed's house and had a wonderful lunch and trick-or-treating... it is so nice because they live only 2 blocks from Grandma and Grandpa Raap... so we stopped there to visit for a few minutes... even though the kids don't make it too long, they had a good time... we got home at 6pm and Ethan wanted to keep trick-or-treating, so I took him in our area for about an hour... He told me, "Mom, we aren't going home until my bucket is full!" So we went until 7pm, when it ended in Franklin, and his bucket was almost full!!! We have enough candy to feed an army!!! I would have to say that Halloween 2010 was a GREAT success!!!