Staying Warm (sort of)

We've had a pretty good cold snap for the last couple of weeks- I don't think it's gotten above 45 for the last two or three weeks and most days it doesn't even rise to 40 degrees. So here's what we've been doing:

Sesame Street Live!

Back in September, the USO and Sesame Street Workshop sponsored an on-base performance of a Sesame Street production, and tickets were free to military families. Well, to make a long story short we didn't receive any of those free tickets because they weren't ready when advertised and then we were out of town for a week... by the time we got back the tickets were gone. I wouldn't have cared too much but Ethan kept asking about it as time went on (guess I shouldn't have opened my mouth and told him that we were going to see Elmo). Well, we finally found out about a SSL show in Columbus- about an hour from here- so $100.00 later we finally got to go!

It was a very elaborate production!

Three venerable icons of Sesame Street

Two of Elmo's biggest fans

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning dawned bright and frosty at 20 degrees, so we thought, "What better way to start the holiday than by running in the 5K (3.1 mile) Turkey Trot on base?" So we bundled up the boys, loaded up the stroller, and headed over to the main base to join a few hundred other fools who had the same idea. There were several families participating with their small kids in strollers too, so that was a lot of fun. Best of all, they served hot chocolate inside the gym when the race was finished.

I am afraid, though, our era of running/racing with the boys in the double jogger may be coming to a close. Andy weighs almost 30 pounds, Ethan is almost 40, and the stroller is probably at least another 25... well, you get the idea. I do wish I had an odometer on the stroller. I'd love to know how many miles of walks and runs we've done together.

We joined some friends of ours that we knew several years ago in Florida for dinner that evening. It's been fun to catch up with them again. They have a little girl who will turn three in January, and all of the kids had a great time playing together while we grownups got to visit. It was a great Thanksgiving.

Christmas Parade

We bundled up the boys (again) for a Christmas parade last night in a nearby town. Yup, it's cold here in Ohio, but that's what warm outerwear is for!

Waiting for the parade to start (Andrew is impressed, no?)

The boys enjoyed examining the town tree after it was lit, and visited Santa. Andy even deigned to sit on his lap!

This weekend we've done a lot of shopping and designed Christmas cards. Our holiday season may be a chilly one outside, but we are so thankful that this year all four of us will be together and that for the most part we've been healthy. For all of this we are very grateful!