Deck The Halls and So Much More

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (Eve, as Benton would say!)! This past weekend we took advantage of the last days of warm weather and found our yearly Christmas tree. This year, we seemed to have a difficult time agreeing on one because we were limited on the size that would fit in our designated spot. In the past we have always gone big and full, this year we needed tall and skinny. We finally all agreed on a VERY tall and perfectly skinny tree. It looks perfect all lit up and decorated!

Pederson's Christmas Tree Farm

West Salem, WI

 King of the hill! Watching all the tree hunters :)

 Holicky family 2017

Brutus was eyeing up another pup, but being the good dog he is he knew he could do nothing about it and just stared sadly! 

Elfy our Elf on the shelf has returned too. So far, this year hasn't been as exciting as the past. Benton, being the wise three year old he is, has taken upon himself to inform our seven year old that the elf is not real and only a stuffed toy. I think because he's not as excited about the day to day shenanigans that our elf creates, it bums Kynzley out a bit and she doesn't seem to be as excited either. Benton has also let us know that Santa is not real. We thought we would have this problem with Kynzley ruining it for Benton, not the other way around! To be honest, I think Benton needs to tell himself these things are not real to help him with his anxiety. He hates things out of the ordinary and really does not like change. 

Other fun happenings going on in the Holicky household:

-Kynzley has recently joined Girl Scouts. Her troop along with a couple other troops sang carols at one of our local nursing home. Kynzley sang loud and proud!!

  -Benton is doing great in "school" and LOVES going! It only took two classes before he told me that I no longer need to watch! 

Benton is the "high maintenance" one out of the two kiddos. He LOVES having his nails painted and his hair done. He's also very opinionated on his clothing. 

-We soaked up all the beautiful weather with long hikes as a family

-Playing with friends and laughing lots 

Special Memories

As the kiddos start to get older (ugh, so hard to wrap my head around!) we seem to be switching up our yearly traditions. This past weekend was a new one for all of us! Typically, Francis heads up north to hunt and I stay behind. When we started dating I stayed behind, spent time with the dog and did some girl things - shopping! When we had Kynzley it turned into a girls weekend. After Benton was born it became a weekend without daddy, filled with running Kynzley around to different activities and still incorporating a girls movie night!
This year Kynzley decided she wanted to head up north with daddy! She was looking forward to spending some alone time with Francis in the car, hanging out with cousins and being able to bond a little bit with grandma and grandpa. All of this was done and her bucket was over flowing at the end of the weekend! She also did another first - 'hunted' with daddy! She bundled up, sported her bright orange and watched for a big buck. Unfortunately, they only saw birds and squirrels.

While those two were off enjoying time up in the tundra, Benton and I hung close to home and enjoyed lots of snuggles. Benton has been fighting a cold for some time and this weekend his cough hit it's peak. We had cruddy weather around here so it made it a perfect time to catch up on rest.
On Sunday, we squeezed in some cupcake making after church and enjoyed a birthday party of our neighbor, Aubrey! Benton was the only boy and rocked it!

 Nothing is more comfortable than wearing ALL cats when you travel!

 We did A LOT of Facetime!

 Riding in style

 Francis, Inga and Kynzley 

 Kynzley was in heaven to have a cat to play with for the weekend

Most know Kynzley's love for animals - or obsession with animals! What most may not know is this girls love for animals is more than just cats, dogs and caged animals. This girl wants to live on a farm soooo bad (it's almost annoying to listen to ;-)). She loves to be dirty and hands on. She was so excited to be able to do chores with grandpa. The pants she was wearing were full of manure at the end of the morning - no big deal to her! If she could lay in dirt with pigs all day she would!

She begged daddy to be home in time to make her cooking class. In Kynzley's cooking class every week they make a different dish from around the world. The first week was an american dish, this week was a Mexican dish and she was NOT going to miss her favorite meal!! They made it back just in time to make a tortilla soup, quesadillas and a authentic dessert. She was happy!

 Ta-da!!! Paw Patrol cupcakes complete!

Happy birthday, Aubrey! 

2017

Tricks & Lots Of Treats

We wrapped up October with cold weather and lots of candy. Kynzley and Benton had a great Halloween, they enjoyed all the activities the holiday brings. Benton felt that he had enough candy from the prior Halloween events and chose to stay behind and pass out candy on Halloween night. Both kids love to pass out treats and admire all the different costumes that come to the door!

My arctic fox and Batman

Halloween 2017

Benton started off our November with a big step! He started "school"! Since Benton is a summer birthday we decided to keep him home another year before starting preschool. Academically he is ready to rule the world, social and emotionally he still needs to mature a bit. He loves his mama and hates (panics) when I'm not within sight. 

Our local YMCA offers a one day a week, two hour class that helps little ones adjust to what a school setting is going to be like. Really, the only difference between what he is attending now and an actually preschool, I am able to observe now through windows. He can see me at all times. My goal is within the next couple weeks to break that!!! 

His first class went great! They have welcome time, craft time, snack, gym time and stories. He was so excited to show me his first school project, an apple tree! 

 Free play before class started