The Meaning of Thanks

This year I decided to "compose" my thoughts on paper about two weeks prior to Thanksgiving...I wanted to really give it some thought and not just "ramble" a few things off at the dinner table. The funny thing was, that even though, I had shared my thoughts with everybody, I think it all came down to being grateful for actually being able to make it over to my sister's house. We had everything all loaded in the van and ready to leave....WHEN the van didn't start, not even TRY to start. We have been so incredibly lucky over the years, and never have had any major car issues and, for a moment there I thought our luck may have run out! Being the mechanically minded one of the family, I suggested that Joel jump the van with the car.  Fortunately, that's all it was and we were able to get it started, and we were so grateful! It's no easy task getting overnight bags packed for the twins, ourselves, and making sure the older three were packed also! Not to mention the food we were to bring.

(Here are a few pictures prior to Thanksgiving and also on Thanksgiving day).

 Grandma and her brewd of boys

 Grandma and Mikaila-so cute!

 Visiting a few weekends ago...The lovely hostess and myself.

 Miss Mikaila was student of the month-hooray! She also won a free kids meal and dessert at the Raven golf club in Verrado. :)

 At the monthly assembly at school.

The twins at the Litchfield library.

Holding his beloved bubble gum from grandma.

 Quinn helping Mom with the fudge.

 My potato girl!

 Casey was the "inspector" to make sure everything looked great on the potatoes, oh and he handed the kids the potatoes also!

 Group effort! :)

 I love Casey, but soda's a close second!

 Joel and myself  enjoying the evening....

 I like this pic-cute!

 

What can I say.....You would think she was the baby of the family! :)

 Havin' Fun!

 Wonderful Host and Hostess!

 I will say, that sometimes it takes a turn of events or circumstances to make us again realize how grateful we truly are! We hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!

Russell's Like "Play"time

Our family got lots of playtime, in every sense of the word this past weekend. Friday, my sweet husband took the day off, so that I could get things done all by myself. Nothing luxurious, like me making a trip to the spa, but just a day to myself to do a little clothes shopping and browsing.  Things that I tend to take forever doing and bore the poor souls that are with me.
That evening, we had my niece spend the night with us, and I offered for her to come with us to the play that we were going to. She opted to stay home and play with Miss Mikaila, Uncle Joel, and the twins. So, that meant I was priviledged to get to bring just my two older ones with me, and enjoy a night at the "theater". The highschool was putting on Father of the Bride and did a great job, especially the one who was cast to play "Stanley Banks" (the father, in the 5o's version).

Saturday, we enjoyed just stepping into our backyard and tossing the football around, watching the kids play hot potato on the trampoline, and letting the girl cousins have a picnic lunch outside.They also made time to make ubleck, I think that's what it's called.....it's cornstarch, food coloring, and water. It firms up, and then turns to liquid, and back and forth. A nice gooey mess that any kid in their right mind would love to play with,  as long as their parents will let them! They did need to cut it pretty short, because we had to drop Ashleigh off at a babysitting job.  Then, we found out that Kaleb was in his championship game in Verrado and so Joel and Quinn watched that, while I kept an eye on the younger kids at the adjoining park. Nice job Kaleb!!! :)

Ok, is anyone getting tired yet?! After that, we took the kids to the mall, to see the much anticipated Lego store that had opened up a few weekends ago! Ok, not so exciting for the girls, but we knew that the boys would love it, and they did!
Dinnertime, called for going to Chiles and enjoyed "catching up" with my sister and her hubby, and returning Miss Rebecca back to them. Pretty much, non-stop busy, but a fun time as a family....
I'm off to go pick Ashleigh up from cheer.....cheerio!