Thanksgiving 2016

Picture overload ahead! Whew...we had a fantastic week of Thanksgiving with Mimi, Paka & the Odoms!! Mimi, Paka, Noah, Gavin & Levi arrived on Saturday afternoon...and let the party begin! The kids were so excited to be reunited and were quickly off to catch up on all things light sabers and Star Wars. We had a couple of fun days and then early Monday morning, David & Amanda arrived! We were all happy to be together under one roof...in our new house! 

We did a lot of eating during the week...and I got a taste of what it would be like to feed a family of 11! Ha! 

Having Strange Donuts...always a favorite treat. 

On Tuesday night, we went out for Mexican. Our goal was to not be louder than the table next to us. I think we succeeded but that's the great thing about our Mexican restaurant...it's always loud and a little bit crazy. Just like us!

On Wednesday afternoon, Mimi, Nate, Noah and I walked to a few shops in Maplewood. It's fun to see our little corner of the world through someone else's eyes. We are so lucky to be within walking distance to a book store, a soap shop and a chocolate shop!

The book worms in their element.

It was fun to spend some time with the oldest boys. When Noah was born and Nate was 18 months old, I remember thinking that the age gap would be swallowed up in no time. It's definitely long gone. Which makes me sad and happy.

Chocolate...yum!

Paka made us fried pickles in the fryer he was using to fry the turkey. They were amazing!!!!

This is the only picture I have of our actual day of Thanksgiving event. It was a little crazy! But I was so proud to have Thanksgiving dinner in our new home. It's the first time I've been able to host Thanksgiving besides just for our family of 4, so it was an extra special day!

Scott had to go back to work starting on Thanksgiving, so on Friday morning, the girls went to visit him at the hospital. We love seeing him in his element!

The weather wasn't the greatest for the week, but the kids managed to get out and play football at the park every day. And on Friday, we bundled up and headed to the Zoo. Nate doing card tricks...the boys were all about magic and card tricks during the week. They even presented a magic show on Friday night!

Sweet Lila and the Crocodile...

This one...I tell ya...he's got a big personality and is so funny. Love him and the fact that he posed for me:)

Impossible to get all of them looking...but they are all still precious!

Truman was the guard cat for the week.

Friday night we celebrated a certain about to be SIX year old's birthday! Pizza for the win.

CAKE!!

Sweet cousins...Lila does her best to hang with the big dogs. But when she had enough, she would slip away to her room to play babies:)

Loving the fur vest from Mimi & Paka!

Amanda brought Scott some 40 year old goodies...arthritis cream, denture cream and bi-focals. Bahahahahaha....

After birthday celebrating, we had some other celebrating to do since the cousins won't see each other on Christmas. Mimi & her grandbabies...

 Making Mimi laugh!

We loved every minute of our time with our peoples! Thank you for making the trip to Missouri to be with us! Thanksgiving could not have been better:)

Weeks in Wrap-up

My dear friend Penny in Nashville reminded me last week that I have not updated in a while. I'm thankful to have her in my readership, so here is a look at our last few weeks.

Nate had swim meets on back to back weekends. Scott was able to make his schedule work out so that he could attend the meet I had to work. But that meant he had to work the next meet weekend. I had decided I would just take Lila with us, even though she would be super bored. But at kind of the last minute, I smartened up and decided to try to find her alternate plans (thank goodness, we were there for 6 hours!) Turns out Jane Ellis was so happy to take her and I was so happy she had something to do! Lila had a blast with the Griggs boys and this picture melts my heart. Life long friends are so precious. 

My Mom and Dad were in St. Louis for a meeting so we met up at Rigazzi's for an early birthday dinner for Dad. Lila and the birthday boy!

I couldn't get Nate to stop eating his fudge pop long enough to take a picture. You're welcome. But isn't it fabulous that they give the kids fudge pops!

This past weekend, the kids and I hit up the library, then ate lunch at Panera. Before walking over to see the Trolls movie, we went to Walgreens to have the kids passport pictures taken. Woop Woop! Can't wait to use them!

Cooperating is one of their strong suits...

Sunday was a gorgeous Fall day so we walked to the park. Nate drew...

and Lila avoided the paparazzi:)

Thanksgiving is almost here and we are so excited for our holiday visitors to arrive!!

Halloween 2016

If I were President, I would make Halloween always fall on a Friday or Saturday. Because Halloween on a Monday??? Can we say ZOMBIES on Tuesday morning?!?

The kids were not as in to picking out their costumes as they usually have been. But with some help from Scott, Lila chose Smurfette and Nate chose Kylo Ren. 

It was fun to trick or treat and hand out candy on our new street. So many wonderful families around us, we feel very lucky!

I feel like after Halloween our year snowballs with birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas! But so much fun to be had. We are excited!

Scott Turns 40

Scott turned 40 years young! We started off the day with some 40 year old pancakes. 

Sweet kiddos wishing him a happy day before school...

I had to volunteer at Lila's school that morning before Scott & I met for lunch. She is super funny at school. I know she is independent but at school she seems like she is like 16 or something.

We celebrated with sushi for dinner, presents and cake after school!!

Here's to your best year yet Scotty!

Encouragement

Last Spring, the pastor at our church gave a sermon that was titled "Who Decides." I loved the words and their meaning so much that I kept the bulletin. I continue to read this prayer often and it encourages me to live better and teach my children better. So important in an election year, when so many opinions are on display. I hope it encourages you today. 

Merciful Savior, like Peter, we desperately need a renewed understanding and experience of your love. Our heads know that you love impartially and unconditionally, and we are all too eager to receive that gift of love ourselves. Yet, we confess that we are stingy with your gracious gift when it comes to others, especially others who are unlike us. We want to place limits and boundaries around your love, to decide who is “in” and who is “out.” We are afraid and appalled that we might be asked to love “them” in your name – not from a distance but face-to-face, with hearts and lives fully engaged. We see the error of our ways, and we are sorry. 

Seize the Moment

Last Friday was beautiful. So gorgeous. We walked over to our little green space so Lila could ride her bike and Nate could protect us with his staff. Quickly, Lila decided that she would take off her shoes, as she does often, so she could feel the cool water in the fountain. Nate wore his rain boots so that his feet didn't get wet. And who says kids don't take after their parents. 

We all seize the moment in different ways. I'm proud that they both do.

It's Someone Special's Birthday Today

Scott turns the BIG 4-0 today! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We love you so much and are so thankful we get to share our lives with you!