Thanksgiving...

We had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving holiday. It is nice to not have to travel, even though we miss our extended family. Grandpa Jerry came down for the weekend, though, and the kids have enjoyed having the extra attention.



Brityn had her "Thanksgiving Feast" at preschool on Monday where she got to dress up as an indian. She had lots of fun putting together her costume. She liked the headband so much it had to be repaired before she even got to school!


Ryder loves to pick up his sisters from school. He knows exactly when we have to go and he gets his shoes out and is ready to walk out the door!


Brityn showing a fall craft, except I think that this is Kendyl's.

I made some brownies for dessert and the kids ALL had to help!

The family tradition of seeding pomegranates for pomegranate salad.

Steve has stalwartly kept this tradition throughout our married life, and has even inspired the same tradition for a few others.

It's a good thing the girls really love to help and don't mind getting messy, because those pomegranates spray juice everywhere!

Carving the turkey--good job Steve.

Delicious food, and I have thoroughly enjoyed eating the leftovers. Bobbies are the best!

Coloring placemats kept the kids happy.

And then some of us took naps.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Grandparents Day...

Kendyl's school had their second annual Grandparent's Day on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It is a really nice chance for the visiting grandparents to spend the morning with the kids at school.


Kendyl was so excited she could hardly keep still. Grandpa Jerry came and took her to school where they got to have breakfast, watch a program and spend some time in her classroom.


They both had a good time and even ended up making the same turkey craft as last year!


Thanks Grandpa for coming down early to spend Grandparents Day with Kendyl!

New shoes...

Girls and shoes. It must be something we are born with. When our niece was 9 she came out to Chicago with her mom for a visit. We took them sightseeing and shopping and took her to see the musical "Beauty and the Beast". She soaked in every moment including flagging down the taxi. But her ultimate favorite souvenir was a pair of black heeled shoes. She laughed, giggled, and worshipped those shoes. She even slept with them right by her head. We laughed at her obsession, and still joke with her about it today. :)


With the weather turning cooler, the girls needed some new black Sunday shoes. And Kendyl wanted the ones with a heel. And then she laughed, giggled and slept with her shoes right by her bed.


On Saturday night, she said she couldn't wait to go to church. Oh really? Yes, because I get to wear my shoes!

All about Brityn...

My little 4-year-old is growing up. She loves going to preschool and comes home everyday with something new to show me. She will sit and practice her letters and numbers while Kendyl does her homework. She is sounding out letters and words on the cereal box at breakfast. She shows me sign language for all kinds of animals and she can spell the names of all her classmates.


And this week she counted to 100 all by herself! She was soooooo proud!


Last week, Steve went to Brityn's preschool for Career Day. She was so excited to have Daddy come and visit her class. Brityn dressed up as a chef, I told her I couldn't wait for her to cook for all of us. :)


Yesterday she wanted to swing on the swings, and we told her she could, but she would have to pump her legs instead of one of us pushing her. She has resisted learning to swing by herself, but yesterday, she finally did it!


All smiles--she was so excited!! Way to go Brityn, you are an amazing, smart, beautiful little girl and you are growing up so fast! We love you.