Week #48 {2015} Thanksgiving Break

How is it that we are already at Thanksgiving Break?  This year is FLYING by!
~

Sunday Ry came home from Sunday School with a new Bible verse memorized!

Monday I took a nap with this big kid and his pillows on top of me. It actually was comfortable. Maybe because I was cold and all the extra layers warmed me up.

Tuesday morning was beautiful and brisk.

I sat outside all bundled up and blogged a bit and then had these 2 kids join me. I didn't last very long because the briskness turned cold very quickly. But then 37° will do that to you! It was beautiful thought!

Gigi Facetimed with the kiddos to do a fun "science" project that was pretty cool.

I have recently started reading The Indian in the Cupboard out loud to the kids. We all snuggled up on top of Rylan's bed to read for a bit.

Even though I'm the only person in my family that likes cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, I decided to make it from scratch this year... and it was so worth it!

Click {here} for the recipe I used {it was from The Pioneer Woman}. Plus I was able to make it 2 days before and just pulled it out to serve on Thursday.

Wednesday we were cleaning and preparing the house for some friends that were coming into town for Thanksgiving. Payton wrote them this sweet note:

Our local McDonald's is already rockin' the Christmas decor and I love it. Only in the South can they put up a manger scene with "His name is Jesus."

 Chris came up with a brilliant plan to have a family sleep over up in the bonus room for Thanksgiving Eve.

Only he decided that once the kids were asleep that he would go back down to our bed. {party pooper? or a smart man?}

Thursday was Thanksgiving Day!

Friday morning I made Pumpkin Crumb Cake for breakfast. If you haven't made it yet, you need to. It's the best ever.

Jeanine and the kids had pulled some pranks on us yesterday; saran wrapping the toilet, placing raisins in the bottom of our shower {which looked like poo} and putting vegetables in the foot of

our bed. They continued the next morning by toilet papering our room and closet while we were eating breakfast.

Ry continued playing with the bristle blocks with Jeanine.

And was proud when they had copied the picture on the container.

Dylan went to let our neighbors dog out for them {Cullen went too} and now is obsessed with getting a dog of his own.

Payton finished her Lego set and was {rightfully so} proud of it.

Eric liked tinkering with the blocks too!

We {of course} had leftovers for lunch.

And then we said goodbye to Eric and Jeanine. The kids hung around and played the rest of the day!

Saturday we headed to Nolensville and were VERY happy...

because we were about to eat this.

Burger shack...the closest thing to In-n-Out here. Yum!

~

This kid cracks me up. Seriously.

We decided to go driving the back roads and enjoyed the last glimpses of fall on this drizzly day.

We even got to see a family of deer!

That night Ry kept blocking Daddy's view of the tv. He thought it was hilarious.

And for payback for the pranks the kids pulled on us, Chris Saran wrapped Dylan's bed. He thought it was awesome.

~
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Thanksgiving {2015}

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year with Framily {friends/family}. We woke up early to get cooking. {photos by: Payton}

We had a family pie making contest this year. Boys against girls. The boys made an apple crisp.

And Payton and I attempted a banana cream pie and we made a pie crust from scratch.

I later found this cute video on my phone:

Food baking time!

Eric and Jeanine showed up bearing gifts. They had brought the big kids Legos and bristle blocks for Ry.

Which they played with for hours

And we kept prepping linner {lunch/dinner}. {photo by:Jeanine}

Chris showed up and the 2 Chris' "sat down" to watch football. Ha! {We'll be getting furniture in there someday!}

We gave thanks to the Lord for all he has done for each of us, ate dinner and then just sat around talking. We had a great time.

Ry and his soda mustache.

Then it was time for dessert. We have a tradition of spraying whipped cream in the kids mouth.

Dylan {of course} went overboard with Payton.

Group photo!

Thanks Eric & Jeanine and Chris for celebrating Thanksgiving with us!

Week #47 {2015}

On Sunday I caught myself saying to Dylan "Just because it is blue, doesn't mean it matches.".

Then we had another awesome view of 4 hot air balloons.

2 flew over the house,

and the other 2 were flying so low we thought they were going to land behind our house.

The red one flew so stinking low and I was so excited to get it on video {we were actually talking with the people in the basket}...until I realized that I hadn't pushed the record button. {Doh!} Fortunately the blue one flew over pretty low and I was able to get that one on video.

We quickly ran to the front of the house and cause this picture as well.

I love when Rylan can talk with me about what he learns at church:

"Who has a plan for you? God has a plan for you."

~

Monday Payton caught a wagon ride to a friends house {she was screaming all the way!}.

Then later that night Rylan started doing this out of the blue.

I've been laughing since I saw this on Facebook. 

Dylan has hit being a "pre-teen" pretty hard and there are days that are so very frustrating....but then, the next day {Tuesday}, he's wanting to wear a unicorn head to school for the pep rally and you just have to love that kid. He's awesome.

Me and my girl.

Wednesday we had a dreary rainy day.

I thought we were going to float away... But then in the late afternoon the sun peaked through and I caught this picture.

And then God showed his wonderful glory with this stunningly beautiful sunset that followed.

Yup, God is good, even on the dreary, gloomy days.

Thursday Ry and I {and his penguin} had a fun day running a few errands.

One of the stops was to the library and I bribed him with some computer time there if he stayed with me while I found the books that I needed. As we were leaving we were told that story time was beginning and we decided to try it out again {the past few times he lasted 2-3 minutes before he was d.o.n.e.-done}. Not only did we stay the whole time but he participated and followed all the instructions! It was "farming" day and they ended the time painting with vegetable pieces. He loved it!

Then in the middle of the Target parking lot, we had another reminder that God is amazing, and he is good. {p.s. This picture is unedited with no filter...and it looked even better in person!}

Back at home Ry made a home for his ducky, complete with a rooftop Christmas tree.

That night we went to Payton's program at school.

Friday Payton had her fall party at school and then we headed to Chattanooga!

Saturday my parents were out to dinner with my sister and her family {Yes, she's the lucky one who still lives by our parents.} and she caught this adorable picture. 

My parents are so adorable and love each other desperately even after being married for FIFTY years!