Thanksgiving Day and Turkey Bowl - Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving break! One of the best school breaks there are! We get a week off of school, and this year we stayed at home with just the 5 of us.  There is a lot of time for playing and enjoying each other.  This year, Bill decided to help us out financially by working at a Christmas Tree farm, so it was just the three little guys and me a lot.  (As a side note, Bill got a speeding ticket in a construction zone his first day on the job, so he actually ended up making us no money.  Such is life.)

First, we have a photo of Eli and Major playing together.  (Brady was in the other room playing with his little football men.)

 Thanksgiving morning, I had the boys make a "thankful table" with drawings and words of all the things for which they are thankful.  And we started the day off with some chocolate chip pancakes.  The boys LOVE these things! Eli can easily eat 10 at one sitting.  Brady tries to keep up, but 4 is about all he can do.  :-)

 Before our Thanksgiving meal, we held our annual turkey bowl.  This is at least our 3rd annual game, if not the fourth.  The teams were Eli and Brady vs. daddy and mama.  Here are my Eli and my Brady before the game.  (And then we had to get another shot with Major in there.)

 The mean parents before the game.  We were team "Awesomeness".

 Since I was playing in the game, there aren't any pictures of the actual game, but here is Team Awesomeness after they put the hurt on Eli and Brady.  I don't remember the final score, but it was a lot to a little.

 Then, daddy and the boys played a little football on their own.

 Our family on Thanksgiving: Brady, Rachel, Bill, Major, and Eli

Major played on the swings and slide while we played some football.  I'm sure he'll be in there with us next year. 

 Major with a lady bug on his jacket (if you look really closely, you can see it), he loves to hold bugs!

 After football, it was time for our Thanksgiving feast!

 Of course, Thanksgiving Day would not be complete without watching a little football.

There is so much to be thankful for this year.  I am thankful for our new home and moving to Montgomery.  I am thankful that the boys (and Bill!) love their new school.  I am thankful for all the new friends we've made.  I am extremely thankful for my family, for a mom and dad that love me greatly, and three boys who are happy, kind, generous, and thoughtful.  And I am thankful that we have a God who is in control and has blessed us so richly.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween - Thursday, October 31, 2013

Woohoo!  Halloween is here!  The boys have been waiting forever for this night.  We start off with our traditional monster brain dinner.  (Green eggs)

 And the before photo on the front porch with Spooky the pumpkin.

 The first house of the night for Eli and Brady.  We decided to go trick or treating in a friend's neighborhood, so while we drove, I periodically allowed the older two to jump out of the car and trick or treat.

 For this first part, Major stayed in the car with me, but he soon got his chance.

 We stopped off at the Horn's house for some cake balls before the walking portion of our trick or treat evening.  Here is Savannah with Major.  Savannah teaches at ACA and is Major's Bible class teacher.  Mrs. Horn (Savannah's mother) is also a teacher at ACA and Mr. Horn (Savannah's father) is the high school principal.  This is a very wonderful and loving family. I'm so glad to know them!

 Eli, Brady, and Major trick or treating with Miss Savannah.

 Major's first trick or treating house.  He was so excited!  He said "trick or treat" just like his brothers, then would yell "thank you, I love you!" As he ran away after getting his candy.

 This little boy LOVES him some candy!

 After about an hour, Major and I went home to put him to bed and Eli and Brady went back out with daddy.  Here is their haul.  They were very happy and excited.  They will be eating candy for a very, very long time.

Happy Halloween!

Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Carving - Oct. 30th

Landmark Church of Christ held their annual "Trunk or Treat" on Wednesday, October 30th.  The boys were very excited to have two days of trick or treating in a row.  We also carve our pumpkin on Halloween Eve, so it was a very busy and late night.

 Brady is "Bumblebee" a transformer, Eli is Darth Vader, and Major is a dinosaur.  Here they are in front of the house, and at the trunk or treat event.

 Poor Major didn't understand why he didn't get to eat every piece of candy that was handed to him.  So basically, I got to hold him and his candy bucket the entire night.  He did get to eat two pieces, but I felt that two was plenty enough for a two year old.

 Brady throwing a football to hit a target to get his candy.  Eli is watching him in the background.

 And then home for some pumpkin carving!  I got one picture of Major and allowed him to watch for about 5 minutes, then put him to bed.  The next day was a school day and if he stays up late the next morning is terrible.

 This year's pumpkin..."Spooky".  Daddy did an excellent job, as usual.