Thanksgiving

 

Joe the baby whisperer with Katy

 

The appetizers! Daniel put together a fruit platter and Joe made a meat, crackers and cheese pepperoni turkey. That and an assortment of baked treats kept everyone happy until the big meal.

 

Playing soccer on the back porch with Daniel. They played a LOT of soccer on the porch on Tday since it was wet from rain and in the backyard the other days.

Jim and Brandon tried peeling potatoes as seen on the internet. We didn't use small potatoes and it didn't work. But attaching a (new) toilet scrubber to a big drill from Jim's work and trying to make it work was entertaining to watch. We have new ideas for next year though. Someday we won't have to peel them!

Joe definitely has the skills of a surgeon. I don't think a dog could have cleaned up that turkey off the bone better!

 

The kids table! We were so hungry and so happy the kids were behaving we forgot to take a picture of the adults, or any of the rest of the tday spread! but...the kids were very good and we had a lovely dinner and conversation.

 

To prove that worms don't drown, we all watched the PBS wild kratts show episode about worms and everyone enjoyed it.

 

Pie time! Key lime, pecan, pumpkin, lemon meringue and apple. Happy happy family! For the Thanksgiving holiday we snapped pictures when we remembered but really never got a whole shot of us all since with the adult to kid ratio we had things were fairly wild! 

 

The next morning we went to Marbles. It got more crowded after the first hour but we had some great times.

 

Katy loved the kids place.

 

It was fun for me to spend a little time in there with here because usually she is in a stroller while I chase D around.

 

Love that little tongue :)

 

Kiersten in the tower she and Daniel built together.

 

Diana in the other big house.

 

Jake building on to the big house. And Addie showing Joe here goggles.

 

Diana our fearless climber doing what she loves.

 

My kids really got into the hockey!

 

Addie and Joe playing some hockey as well!

 

Brandon made some kind of paper rocket launcher and it got stuck in a tree. And then a soccer ball got stuck in a tree trying to get it out. So Brandon climbed the tree to get everything down! After he got down Brandon told us that we need to cut that tree down before Michael is just a few years older. Wondering why? Look at the base of the tree and there is Michael, trying to follow his uncle.

 

Drumroll for the next addition to our family...Jim is making a lizard cage for a bearded dragon. This cage is going to look amazing I can't wait to see the finished product. And the kids are thrilled with the prospect! We took them to the pet store the other day and they took out a bearded dragon for the kids (minus Diana :) to touch.

Acorn Festival, Zoo, Family Pictures

 

A few weeks ago the cousins came over for our first ever Acorn Festival! Marian and I thought up games and crafts that weren't too nutty :) They gathered acorns- which considering how many times the acorns spilled was a lot harder than I thought it would be- and did a Acorn brigade where they each had a portion of an obstacle course to complete and would then pour the acorns into the cup of the next person. It was a fun challenge for them.

 

Mike had to carry a cup on the zipline. The first time he tried, he accidentally kicked the whole bucket of acorns off the ramp. Ahhh!

 

Nicole and Kaitlin traded off doing the rock climbing wall it was pretty tough.

 

 

Everyone waiting in their spots for the next round! We had them race to beat their time and figured that was better than having them race each other :)

 

Michael is a very dedicated writer. At the parent teacher conference his teacher showed me how he goes above and beyond in every writing assignment. If the sentence is "The leaves were blowing in the wind" he writes something like "The leaves were blowing and rustling in the wind and they were brown, yellow, and red." Seriously. He writes at least double what he needs to and loves adding detail. Who knew? It's fun to decode what he's trying to say. This is a really sweet note once I figured it out. "I appreciate everywhere you take us. I love you mom and dad I like everything you do like help other people."

Nicole made this very detailed unicorn for a friend. I love to see when they put detail and hard work into a project or gift.

 

I tried doing starters for sourdough and amish friendship bread, but they didn't work out. I'm making a few changes, doing more research, and we'll see if it works out next time around. I always liked science experiments :)

 

The polar bears are at the zoo now! They have an amazing underwater viewing area where we got to see this one play with a ball in the water.

 

The kids love this mud pit area at the zoo. Such a random idea but the kids LOVE it.

 

I took a panoramic shot of the elk and bison that came pretty close to feed. Of course it's hard to see when the pic is small but it was awesome to watch.

The grizzly was relaxing but Nicole came over and started growling. This is the third time that she got the grizzly to come over and check her out. This time he sat down and posed on the closest rock. I think it's safe to say Nicole should stay away from grizzly bears they are way too curious about her!

 

Misty morning for the kids first protest. Mine too I guess. We were doing a walk to our elementary school since they are trying to make us attend a year round elementary and middle school. Since we specifically changed from that school to our current school because of how difficult year round is... we joined a hundred other folks for the 10 minute walk. I don't think it makes a difference but I felt like we had to do something.

 

It was tricky but with two strollers and Jim parking the van at the school for me we managed it. Jim was the real star, he rode his skateboard from the school to his office. Less than a mile but still I was so grateful and I bet he got as many looks as our march did.

 

Jake had to disguise his turkey so he chose to do a pirate turkey. The kids all helped find sticks for a peg leg, jewels and cloth for his hat, sword and feathers. It was pretty fun!

 

Our niece got married and we went to her reception late last night. Well, late for the kids :) They were thrilled to be out past bedtime eating cupcakes!

 

Nicole loved the buffet and told me the shrimp were amazing and that she just HAD to go back and get some more. On the way home she said when she grows up she wants to be a shrimp-catcher and if anyone tries to take her shrimp she won't let them. Jim asked her what her favorite part about the reception was and she said the bride's pretty dress. It was sweet and then a great way to talk about what a beautiful and modest dress it was.

 

 

We braved 31 degree weather to take family pictures with our friends. We took turns with our little red noses and smiled. The kids were absolute stars for being so good.

 

My boys!

 

The girls

 

Nicole was so cold she couldn't smile very big. She is sure growing up!

 

My little D hoping we will let her go inside soon!

 

We came back home for some more pics in the backyard so the kids could warm up in the house. I love this pic of me and Jim.

I told Jake to say "Hey baby" and he sure gave me a cute smile. I only had to take two shots of him he is so easy!

 

 

Mike couldn't stand still he was so cold but we finally managed to get a good grin out of him! Love this boy!

 

Katy we never really got a great shot smiling but I love this one. We sat her down in the leaves and started arranging them around her and before we knew it she was taking a sample.

 

And this one of her cute little red nose. She is a really sweet little thing, very active and you can tell she is doing her best to grow up and be running around soon like her siblings.

Into Fall

 

The weather in NC is just too good for pumpkins. All it took was two days of 80 degree weather and I came outside to four fruit fly-infested rotting pumpkins.

The kids had a random day off school for a teacher workday so Marian and I headed to the beach! Well, the lakefront beach. 15 min to paradise.

 

I loved watching the kids working together to bring water and clay to this enormous castle/moat that someone else had built. We were the only ones at the beach it was amazing weather. The kids were even swimming in the water!

 

Little D in her element- free and in the wild!

 

Michael busy as can be on the moat.

 

Nicole loving the time with her cousins!

 

Jake right with Mike totally working hard on the moat.

 

My pitiful twig actually has some green sprouts.

 

If this thing ever gives us fruit it will be a miracle. I hope it will on one hand but on the other hand I keep waiting for Diana to bring me a "stick" she found.

 

Michael had a Letterland parade. They don't do anything Halloween at schools. They have "fall learning experience" or in this case all of the kids got to dress up like a character from their alphabet/spelling learning program Letterland. Michael was "Kicking King"

 

We had a trunk or treat Thursday and had friends over to trick or treat on Friday. The kids wore their costumes from last year. I do have to note that I had my one minute of fame and glory. I read somewhere that everyone has their minute and this was mine. I won the ward chili cook-off. I know it's not grand and glorious but receiving that spray-painted gold ladle was it for me. That is, if you discount all the people that stare if I take all the kids shopping with me.

 

This is as good as you'll see of the boys who were off to get candy. On Thursday, they and Jim did the green army men costumes which I love. On Friday, Jake just wanted to go and get candy and opted for the simple sweater bee costume so he could get out the door faster.

 

Saturday we went to the community park and I played some basketball with Jim while the kids biked and scootered around. Diana gave Katy a tour of the place :)

The weather is so pleasant as it fades into fall we love spending time outdoors.

 

 

Jim had the kids race!

 

  

 

Mike's Kindergarten class

 

Mike's class went to a pumpkin patch and he sure loved it. He's climbing in the center of a giant spider web.

 

His favorite part was swinging the hammer down trying to make the bell ring.

 

 

They have real tractors for the kids to climb on!

 

Little D pulls out everything I put in her hair. Even the clear plastics. She'll keep pulling until either it or the hair with it is out. Since I don't want to deal with bangs I'm just hoping her hair grows fast!

 

Doing some more unpacking indoors. Finally my stuff from Europe, Marian's Lithuanian nesting doll she gave me, the tribal guy Dad got me in Africa, and the Ukranian painted egg from Daniel all have a rightful place in our home. Hidden behind a flower arrangement so they will hopefully stay intact.

 

We started our "thankful tree" in November. It's a great way to help us all be thankful every day and remember our many blessings.

Katy had her six month checkup a few weeks ago. She is sitting, army crawling, and babbling away. She weighs a petite 14lbs 6oz (14th%) and is 26.5" tall (69th %). Long and lean. She loves sweet potatoes and gags on peas. Cheerios keep her happy but she hasn't figured out how to release them in her mouth. She'll try to cram her whole fist in and chew which doesn't exactly work. She's getting around all over the place little by little, it's fun to see her follow her siblings around.