Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving was lovely! Just lovely. My sister and her family drove in on Tuesday and stayed with us until Saturday morning. My brother and his family drove to Muskogee and stayed with Grammy and Grandpa. Wednesday and Friday, we all hung out in Muskogee, and on Thursday I hosted everyone here, including Grandma and Pa-Pa. Nineteen people!! I bought a hoss of a turkey...25 pounds...it took nearly 5 1/2 hours to cook that bad boy, but it ended up great!

Sweet baby Saige is even more precious than I could have imagined. I kept telling Miley how wonderful it was that she was the only baby during this visit...it was fantastic to get to focus on her and not have a tiny one of my own! Normally there is more than one baby during our family get-togethers.

I'm just gonna throw a huge pile of pictures at ya. I'll start with some random November pics then segue into Thanksgiving.

Saturday picnic in the park after the gym. My kind of weekend.

Our good friends, the Tormeys, just moved to South Bend this week. Here are the kids at Ava's birthday party/going away party. We are so sad they are gone!

Hayden's Thanksgiving music program in her class at preschool.

Jax's Thanksgiving program. The kids all made up Indian names. His? Mr. Underpants. Proud parents we are.

The girls watching Grammy sew curtains for their room. I am dangerously close to finishing the decor!

Grandpa came to Grandparents' Day at Emerson's school. She was SO PROUD to have him there!

Nature walkin' with her class.

And finally to Thanksgiving. Hayden with Saige, Little Miss Gorgeous.

Avery & Hudson (Miley's oldest two).

Addie (Jace's middle), Emerson, Saige

Vance (Jace's youngest), Parker (Jace's oldest), Jax, Hudson

We all think she really takes after her momma.

The kids' table at Thanksgiving. I had to get on the stairs to get them all in.

I am ridiculously thankful for the space in my dining room and foyer.

Siblings!!

Siblings with the girls doing cool arms!!

Jace & Liz

Miley & Eric

I left my camera at home on Friday for all of the fun Muskogee festivities, so if I get some emailed to me, I'll post those too.

Makin' Kindergarten memories

To say our eldest loves school is an understatement. She was hacked that fall break meant two extra days away from school. She wakes up every morning and carries her uniform, shoes, socks, and jacket downstairs and lays them on the entryway rug. I force her to eat her breakfast in her PJs in an effort to cut down on stains...that girl would probably sleep in her uniform if I'd let her.

Some of the highlights of this year thus far:

* Nature walks with her class. The campus has wooded acreage with walking paths. I wanna go on a nature walk!

* Their own garden. They planted fall vegetables, and the school chef came and did a cooking demonstration using their own vegetables. They're also creating/using compost. So fun!

* Music, Art, and Spanish. Each of her specials teachers is fantastic, and hearing her sing "De Colores" is one of my favorite things. Here she is (in the green/blue bow), more than likely telling everyone what to do and taking charge. My little choleric!

A few weeks ago, her class partnered with another elementary in town and went to their school to meet the other students. I love finding pictures like this on the school website...as a parent, it's fun to see what they do while they're away. 

Last week was also Jump for Heart. 

Tonight she and I went to the 6-12th grade choir concert. Loved every bit of it, especially the fact that she sat on my lap for a good portion of it. I got some good snuggle time in with my girl.

Finally, here's her Kindergarten school pic. Holy cow, I love this child. She seems so big to me, but I know someday I'll look back on this picture and have a hard time believing she was ever this little.

Domino Insanity

Jax is mesmerized by this. I'm putting dominoes on his Christmas list. :)

October Picture Post

The many faces of The Sauce.

October's weather was really warm! We had lots of outside bike time.

Emerson's fall party at dance.

She has Miss Raegan this year for tap/jazz and LOVES her!

After-dinner play time with Dad.

Jax's Pre-K field trip to the pumpkin patch.

Emerson's Halloween party at school.