Fabulous Family Photo Day

Schaun's dreaded day was today. Family photo day! Last year was not a smooth experience, so no wonder he was dreading it, but it went smooth this year. Our group shots were good, except Schaun didn't like the pose. Bridget was the professional she always is and Becca decided to play this time. She willingly smiled and posed. The girls sat together without looking like one had a choke hold on the other. The last picture of the girls is my favorite EVER! They look like angels and it is just so pretty! I just couldn't be any happier with these!

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day started out at my mom's house this year. It was Kristin, Mark, Sawyer, Kent, Mom, Christine, and us. Mom was a little uneasy about how the turkey and gravy would turn out, but with some help from Mark and Kent, it was all great. It was a yummy meal and then we had a multitude of desserts that were yummy too. My Mom bought some toys (better late than never right?) for her house and the girls were entertained with those. We stayed and chatted for a while, but had to get home so Becca could nap before our next stop.




















Our second stop on Thanksgiving is with Schaun's parents. When I first joined this family we all fit at the the dinner table, those days are long gone. We now need three tables and next year we will need that plus two highchairs! As it always is, the food was delicious! The kids had a good time playing for hours on end. Kynzie and Bridget really connected last night. Becca was Becca and was all over the house. Max is starting to talk with people now and he was lots of fun. He was so cute "driving" in his chair with his plate steering wheel.

Thankfulness

This past year has brought with it some change. The most difficult one being my Gramma and her deteriorating health. This year will be the first Thanksgiving I can remember that we are not gathering at my aunt's house with a whole family. Last year I was very, very sick on Thanksgiving, but I didn't tell anybody how sick I really was. I had the feeling that last year would be the last of Thanksgiving as I knew it, so I suffered through it. Looking back it was totally worth it to me to have been there.

There are plenty of good changes. This year started out with an unexplainable pain that Schaun was living with. So, thankfully, he not taking piles of pills to get him through the day now and he feels human again. He started riding last Fall and thru this year his confidence and skills on the bike have grown. The motorcylce "hobby" of his has brought a good balance to our relationship. He is supportive of my scrapbook activities now so that we both have time for things we want to do. Eleven years and things are getting better and better.

Bridget went from a preschooler to Kindergarten. The amount she is learning, her reading and math, astound me. I don't look at her and see a toddler anymore, she is really a great kid to be proud of. She works hard, has many friends, is sensitive, and always wants to help.

Becca started out the year as a little, clingy, sweet two year old. She came out of her shell in August on our vacation. She started preschool in September and is just a whole new child. Friendly, funny, confident, but still really sweet.

My sister. I think she has changed the most. Motherhood has humbled and softened her. She is a great mother (and I was worried if she would be) and continues to be a great Aunt to her nieces and nephews. As a sister we butt heads and have different point of views, but it is a good balance that I need sometimes.

I can see more changes on the way. Congratulation to Kelsie for her accomplishment on being accepted to an elite fashion design school after she graduates next year. And we anticipate the birth of Scott and Tonya's TWINS next May.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends!

How do I look?

I know we are in for a treat when I hear this.

Fall Leaves

The other night we went out back and made a big leaf pile out of the very large leaves we have. Schaun just cleaned up the yard a few days earlier, but you couldn't tell from the leaves that were back there. Last year, Becca, would not have had any part of this. This year the girls were holding hands as they jumped into the pile. So much fun!

Blogging

Just a few months ago, my husband discovered that I had a blog and he didn't want me to be cooler than him, so he started his own. He takes his blog very seriously in the sense that he feels an obligation to inform and entertain the readers. Yesterday his blog job went to a new level.

Let me interject here that we have a gargantuan television. This is something that he had to have, the biggest television out there and we needed it all hooked up to HD things too. He loves this tv. When he comes home and passes by this huge thing he gives it a good look over to make sure I didn't damage it during the day. He chats with the girls for a while and then he hits the recliner, remote in hand, and settles in for the evening with the giant guide on his giant tv.

Last night, he went thru his routine, but he sat in the recliner and grabbed his laptop and not the remote! He was checking his email for requests from his blog for a Jayhawk song that people want. The tv wasn't on! He didn't even have the remote in his hand! I was in shock and I knew the blog had taken on a new position in his life.

Watch out giant television....you have a rival!

Delainey's Birthday

Delainey turned 13 on Saturday! 13! Wow! We had a little celebration with presents and cake at Gramma and Papa's house last night. The kids had a blast running and playing!

Welcome to the teen years Delainey (good luck to you Scott and Tonya)!

A Visit at my Mom's House

Sunday I went over to my mom's house because Kristin, Mark and Sawyer were there. Bridget and Becca were wild and crazy over there. The screaming laughter that comes out of those little bodies is ear piercingly amazing. Bridget has this pink dog toy that walks and barks and that was a big hit. Sawyer wanted to eat it and thought it was really funny when you tickled him with it.