Thanksgiving DAY

We had quite a busy day on Thanksgiving. We started over at my Aunt Freda's house, over in Denver, with all of Poppi's family. It's crazy to think how many people cram into such a small house, and even though it's only once a year, it's good to see my cousins!

And then we hurried home to prep and finish cooking for dinner at our house!! Although I really thought I'd have a dining room table this year for the Holidays, the 12' folding table with 10 metal folding chairs around it worked out just fine :) We had all the grandparents, plus Aunt Kelly and Shauny over and had another awesome meal! We are so grateful. We have SO much to Praise God for and we have enjoyed being able to see so much family around this time of year!

Thanksgiving at preschool...

Both Reilly and Braxton had Thanksgiving feasts in their classrooms, and lucky for me, they were on two different days. Being the overachiever that I am (I know, it's a sickness), I decided to sign up for deserts for both of the feasts since I had found some super cute recipes on Pinterest that I wanted to try!! (and since I have SO much "free time" these days...why not?!) I did have lots of fun making the creations and I think the kids enjoyed them both!!

First up, Turkey sugar cookies for Braxton's class feast (and why not go ahead and make another 16 for Reilly to take to snack in her class on the same day?!) :)

I was so bummed that the video camera died as soon as I turned it on....no worries, only ONE child sang...and it wasn't B :)

Braxton with his apple turkey! He was so proud!

Next up, TeePee cupcakes. So, you are supposed to cook a cupcake inside a sugar cone...this part was kinda tricky!! And definitely made quite a mess in my oven:)

but they did turn out pretty cute in the end!! not sure they were the best tasting things, but hey, it's all about the cuteness, right?!

Such a different experience in the TK classroom...all the kids sing, loudly, and so enthusiastically :)

Sophie and Reilly

Asher and Reilly

Ms. Rowland...we LOVE you!

Thanksgiving in Greensboro...

We had a total of 5 Thanksgiving celebrations this year! The first of which was at mom and dad's house last weekend. Memama, Clarke, Carson, Cooper, Watts, Brandon and Angel and all of us were together for the afternoon. Mom made an AWESOME meal, as always, and then the kids couldn't wait to get the horses out and start riding. It's so funny to me that the horses just seem like some big dogs that the kids just want to get out and play with! They have no clue that most children may NEVER ride a horse in their entire life. What a treat it is to have time with family and get to do something so cool.

first, some time with Memama and Uncle Watts while the kids "patiently" waited for lunch :)

When Braxton was younger, he was so not into the horses! but in the last year, he has really developed a love for them and now wants to go to the barn with DeeDee everytime she's out there! Feeds, brushes, rides the horses like it's nobody's business!!

DeeDee and Poppi have a new baby.....meet Brayly (take 2 letters from each of their grandchildren's names...yes, mom is always creative like that). Reilly and Braxton are in love.

THUNDERROAD 1/2 marathon

If you look in the dictionary at the word "determination", you very well may see a picture of Shawn. The guy is just full of it...and "it", I mean determination :) From a body-cast and the prognosis that he may never walk again to a state championship Cross Country year in high school to a lifelong goal of working towards a marathon.....he is such a model for our children of beating the odds, pushing through the hardwork, and never giving up! And I couldn't be more proud. The kids and I LOVE cheering him on during the road races he's been doing this year and we couldn't WAIT to get downtown to cheer for him in his first ever 1/2 marathon on November 12th! He trained all summer long, through the good days and the very hard ones, and in the end, he BEAT his goal of finishing in 2 hours by 10 minutes...with a final time of 1:49:49!!!

The race is all through downtown Charlotte and we were supposed to just meet him at the finish line but I couldn't stand not being able to see him mid-race, so mom and I loaded up Reilly and Braxton and "raced" against the clock to try to catch him, in the sea of 7,000 runners, as he passed by the corner of Sharon Rd. and Providence. It was such a surprise to him to see us and I was SO nervous while we were combing the crowd! Then we "raced" uptown to find a parking space and get to the finishline. It was so awesome and so inspirational to see all the runners, and especially our runner :) We are so proud of you, BABE!

nothing like a cold beer and a chicken biscuit for your celebratory meal!?!?!

First FIRE!!

As tradition has it, we make a special night out of the "first fire" in the fireplace of the season! And back on November 2nd, we did just that! (and it just so happened to be on a Sunday, so the kids and Shawn are all decked out in their Panthers gear :)

the tradition includes hot chocolate and pop corn by the fire :)

"FIRE!!!!!!!"

Layton enjoyed staring at the flames the whole time :) We have NEVER regretted our wood burning fire place!

sleep tight!

Wow, I had quite a surprise last night when I went to check on Braxton before I went to bed!! This is what I saw when I looked into his crib:


I about fell on the floor laughing and had to run get Shawn. And then of course we had to take a picture. Braxton has developed quite a strong attachment to this froggy blanket, which has a hood on it, and apparently he spent some time playing with it in his bed before falling asleep! It was quite a funny site.

Halloween 2011

Shawn and I decided to be really intentional about things we chose not to do/to do this year around Halloween and after all was said and done, I think they were all good choices! The kids had fun dressing up as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and "Pluto"....as Reilly and Braxton insisted for their costumes! Braxton definitely wasn't the most "masculine" of all costumes, but it's what he asked for, it's what he's totally into right now, so I think it was perfect for him (and, he's only 2yrs old!). Reilly would wear her Minnie Mouse costume every day if I let her, and now that Halloween is over, it's officially added to the "dress up box", so I'm sure we'll be seeing more of Minnie!

Reilly had "Pumpkins with Pops" at school, so we had to hallow out a pumpkin and prepare it for Shawn and her to carve in her classroom one morning. It's always fun seeing the kids faces when they reach in and grab a handful of the goop inside a pumpkin!






The kids got to dress up for school on different days last week for their classroom Halloween celebrations.


We set out for an abbreviated trick-or-treating adventure early on, while there was still plenty of daylight. The kids had a blast getting all the candy and Braxton only got tired of walking after about 40 minutes. Layton just rode along in the stroller, in his costume, and was as content as could be! After trick-or-treating, Shawn set up a fire pit in our driveway, along with the infamous projector on the garage, showing "Mickey's Treat", the Halloween episode. (and of course, after the kids went to bed, Monday Night Football was the main show!).

Sophie, Chloe, Reilly, Lucy, Marlee, and Braxton....

next-door neighbor, Max with Layton (they are 3 months apart!)

cutest puppy Pluto ever!

Braxton with the boys (Bailey, Carter, and Owen)

the Dreschers came by...Ellie, Ava, Reilly, Branson, and Braxton...in descending height order (R to L!)