Happy Thanksgiving...

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, well let's just face it: it's hard to beat!

Unless maybe you prefer PB&J...

Or, if there are cookies around...



But, either way it's all about the Turkey!

Happy Birthday Jen!

While there, Jen turned 34!

We started the day with a little pampering.

The girls helped make the birthday dinner.

There she is Miss Coachmen  the Birthday girl.

While she sat eating her dinner, the surprise party guests were beginning to arrive.  Jeremy sent Jen to the basement with the kids and when it was time for cake she came up to a very surprising "Happy Birthday" shout.

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

Indianapolis: Snappers

On Monday, the 21st we headed to Indianapolis for Thanksgiving.  It was a long drive, 10 hours, but it was so worth it! 

On Tuesday before the rest of the family arrived the cousins headed over to snappers for a rainy day play date.

Bryant and Jenna

Mommy and Eli getting ready to head down the slide.

Julia and Gracie.  When these girls went down the slide all we could hear was screaming.

Eli bouncing.

Jenna sliding.

"see Eli that was fun, now it's your turn... I'll catch you!"



Bryant took Julia and Nathan to play laser tag... they emerged all sweaty.

The loot the got from their tickets at the arcade.

Gettin' a little crazy!

Eli, went a little crazy yesterday.  At the ripe ol' age of about 18 months, he got his first tattoo.  I know, we start 'em early.  I told Bryant I should take a sharpie and write "MOM" in the heart under "FOREVER". haha... the only problem is the tattoo will eventually come off and then "MOM" would still be there!  But, hey on second thought.... that wouldn't be bad.  Would it?

Look at my baby!  He's turning into a big boy! Wow!

We are so thankfull for our friends...

about once a week we meet up with our friends here and have a play date.  This month we went to a pumpkin patch and we also venture to the zoo.  I am so thankful for Dana, she is such a joy in my life and such a wonderful Godly woman.  And I know that my children are very thankful for her children, Elias and Ianna.

Ok, and I'm thankful for our husbands... since Thursday night we will have our kid-free play date.  Watch out Olive Garden, I think that there is a lot of pasta about to be ordered!

All Aboard!

Eli has really started to develop into a master conductor lately.  We moved the Geo Trax set into his bedroom last week and he has seemed to find his calling.  He has always been into toys with wheels. . . but, this toy is diffrent.  It goes all by itself. . . except, sometimes he just can't help but give it a little push. 

On another note:  Nathan declared that when he is older he wants to be a builder.  And Gracie has always wanted to be a mommy when she grows up. . . but just recently she has decided that she wants to have it all.  She wants to be a singer/ dancer and a mommy.  The funny thing is, how you can see your childrens passions at such a young age. . . I'm sure that if my kids aren't right on the mark with what their careers may be some day, that they sure are pretty close!

hookin' up the cars



giving a little encouragment up the hill

uh oh.  train off track... trying to get it back on

putting the engine on track

"Trick or Treat...

smell my feet, give me something good to eat.  If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear."

Nathan came off the bus singing that little ditty yesterday... of course, laughing hysterically!  When I told him he shouldn't say that, he changed the ending to... If you don't, I don't care, I'll hit you with a lawn chair!  Oh my!

Gracie.  When I picked her up from preschool I told her that we had to go home and prepare our Halloween feast... (one thing we were making was mummy bread).  Then after a few minutes, she said, "mommy do we have to eat the toilet paper?".... huh?.... she repeated it.  The she said, "can we wrap the mummy in frosting instead?!"... got it now.

The Halloween Feast.  (of which I will add, Nathan would not eat any of it!  He thought the bread was made from a real mummy and he made us put the deviled eyes in the fridge!)

Left to right:  mummy bread, pumpkin cookies, cheese and crackers, deviled eyes, Boo beverage, and creepy chicken salad

Nathan the ninja

Gracie the ballerina

Eli the lion

divide and conquer

picking and choosing

Happy Halloween 2011