Writing Briefcase

Mac was so excited to come home from school with the Writing Briefcase.  It's full of stuff for her to make creations with--paper, glue, markers, scissors, feathers, poms--really, all kinds of stuff.  She made several projects, including an owl puppet with a paper bag and glued on feathers.

 

 

She gets to take back to school one of the projects she made, and she chose to take a little stick puppet she made of a lion.  Super cute.

Kitty's First Christmas

Kitty is feeling the Christmas spirit, as well.

 

 

Brad's Movember is almost at an end.  He has stuck it out, through itchy day after itchy day.  Tonight he shaved in increments.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow he goes to work and then he gets to shave completely!  He is thrilled.

 

 

Christmas Dresses

First Sunday after Thanksgiving--Christmas time is in full swing, around here!  The girls posed before church this morning in their Christmas dresses.  Thank you, Grandmere!

Goodbye!

Farewell, Wright's!  We have loved having you here with us!  Drive safely and try to remain sane for 10 hours in the car!

Christmas-time

There is snow on the ground, and Brad came home this morning with a new sled!

 

 

Mimi is still into eating it, I guess.

We sent all the kids out, even though Layton and Isabelle didn't have snow pants.  They only lasted a little while and then we had to warm them up!

 

 

Christmas came out, today, and the girls all helped put the ornaments on the tree.  I should have taken a picture--all the stuff was on the very bottom of the tree.

 

 

This afternoon we went and participated in a service project putting together care packages that will go to the elderly with Meals on Wheels.  The kids were in charge of decorating the envelopes for the cards.

 

 

All the adults had to sign all 100 cards, and then stuff the bags with the goodies we all brought.

 

 

It was cold, today, with the high somewhere around 29.  We decided to brave Holidazzle, anyway.  We were SO cold.  I had literally forgotten how to dress the kids for very cold.  They should have had snow pants and scarves on, too.  They did really great, though.  The hot chocolate probably helped.

 

 

And last, in a busy day, was the lighting of the house!

 

 

The Wrights leave tomorrow morning.  It has been a great visit with them.  We are so glad they chose to come up and see us.  Tonight we relaxed in front of the fire

 

 

with the tree on in all its glory. 

 

 

Merry Christmas season!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The big day is finally here!  The house is clean, the chairs all set up, and the rolls made--awesome job by Naomi. 

 

The boys headed out to the turkey bowl and had a great time.

 

 

 

At lunchtime we made the kids eat outside to preserve the progress made inside.  And it was like 55 degrees.  Warm.

 

 

Me and the centerpiece arrangement I made.

 

 

The tables (there were three) all set up.

 

 

My little turkeys are sweet!  This picture was SO blue straight out of camera that it couldn't be fixed to look remotely natural.  So I went with a retro feel.

 

 

I was in charge of the baked turkey, brined overnight in salt water, and covered in bacon.  People really liked the covered in bacon part.

 

 

Brad was in charge of both the smoked turkey,

 

 

and the fried.  I have to admit, when he brought in the smoked turkey, I was less than impressed.  It looked, as you can see above, like it was charred.  HOWEVER.  It was wonderful, and I think the best thing Brad has smoked!

 

 

We had 25 people in the house, with donations of food for us to enjoy.  The spread was wonderful, and everything was absolutely delicious.

 

 

As everyone was gathering for the evening in our home, it started snowing, and it was truly magical.  You could see the snow falling outside the windows,

 

and we were all cozy and happy inside.

 

 

It kept falling all through the hours everyone was there, and we now have snow!

 

 

This was truly a wonderful holiday.  We have so many things to be thankful for.  Our lives are brimming with blessings and our hearts with gratitude for them.  This day went so well.  Naomi and Joe have both been great helps in making this go smoothly with so many people.  We are so thankful for our friends and our families far away!  Happy Thanksgiving!  (And I am not setting foot in a mall tomorrow!)

Mall of America

We were off to the Mall of America this morning.  The girls love this place, and I have to admit, it's pretty cool.  An amusement park inside of a mall?  Of course it's cool!  The biggest problem is that the girls all want to go on different rides.  That means certain girls have to be patient while other girls go on rides.

 

 

Isabelle and Mac wanted to go on the Log Ride, and Brad and Naomi said that when they got to the boarding area, the girls wanted to switch parents to ride with.

 

 

Leiden loves the swings--I'm actually surprised every time that they don't make her sick.

 

 

We packed a lunch and ate it together mid-rides.

 

 

Out of focus, but sheer joy.

 

 

And then the carousel for the last ride.

 

 

While I was getting Leiden on the little roller coaster pictured above, a lady in front of me handed me a pass good for rides all day.  So we adults went on a crazy roller coaster.  Straight ups and downs, and upside downs and twist arounds.  Whew!  Brad and Joe went on it a second time--they are in the lower right corner of the car.

 

 

Mimi found some sand to play in while she waited.

 

 

Pretty sure she knew she wasn't supposed to be playing in it, because this is what I got when I said her name.

 

 

And with a visit to the Peeps store, our trip to the Mall of America is complete.