Thanksgiving highlights!

What a sweet Thanksgiving week we had. The kids had ALL week off from school. It had some trying moments with one major mouth washing out episode, but the overall week was absolutely wonderful.

School ended with parties of thanks. Many Indians and Pilgrims graced the walls of our house after the art made it to our home. Betsy's class had Bugles as cornucopias.

After Stephens' Party (above with baby Lanah) we went to McDonald's to wait for Samuel's party...

We went to Riverside Park the first day for a picnic. They saw a stage and all took their cue to have a dance party! The second picture is Betsy teaching Stephens some ballet.

The next day we went to the science museum where there were fun crafts planned for the kids. The first picture is Betsy and Stephens making turkey call necklaces with yarn, beads, feathers and coffee stirrers.

Mickey enjoyed his "bear" back ride :)

This is one of Lanah's first trips down the treehouse slide.

The kids helped me decorate two turkey cookie cakes for Thanksgiving festivities. Too bad we forgot the one to take to Hattiesburg...

While we were in Hattiesburg all the little boys and Betsy went to the theatre to see "Cinderella" - sweet show. Needless to say Betsy loved the show and the other boys liked it too - especially Samuel: he really got into the action of live actors on stage. I think he will be a little performer :)

Tasks

Here's Lanah's first time to take out the trash. She is learning so much from the bigger kids!! Now if I can just get her to change her own diaper...

The difference between using the iPhone camera and a really great camera! Above is taken with my phone - it's ok. A memory. The below was taken with an amazing camera and big lens. The shadows and exposure are much better!!

This Time of Year

We Love Fall!

But this month has been a bit Crazy!! In the very last of September we thought Samuel broke his finger

Turns out it was a wicked sprain - God spared him again. He is blessed with amazing bones and balance. He has never made a visit to the ER in his Uber-active 8 years!

The next week we went to visit my parents in Hattiesburg to see their new house and help them decorate and hang heavy mirrors on the walls. Ken and I quickly came down with the sromach bug and were not very helpful people!!! WE were grateful to be where my folks could help us. Not sure if THEY loved us bringing our nasty germs to them! No, really, they were glad to help but were SO glad they didn't get the bug, too.

And then Ken's bug came back... He felt awful. I went to a Bible Study party Monday night and when I came back he was on the phone with a resident saying "No, I'm not going to be able to come put a central line in that lady. I have appendicitis." And I said - "No you don't. When I left you had a stomach bug. You must still have that bug and be better in the morning. I don't have time for you to have surgery." Of course, surgery he did have because he diagnosed himself accurately. The next morning when our friend, Jerry, took him to the ER, I took the girls to Wal-Mart to get ready for the crazy week. I called my parents and they hoofed it up to Jackson to help for a couple of days. I called my friends Kortney and Shelley to help with the kids. I went up to the school to tell the kids what was happening. And on my way to the hospital I ran over our sprinkler head and BROKE it. A busy few hours. At lunch Ken had surgery and was SO much happier to be out of pain.

A few days later when Ken went back to work (he said, "I will get more rest at work where no one jumps on me, kicks me or tries to climb me...") I went to Home Depot and got the stuff to fix our sprinkler head - go me!

This month both boys finished playing soccer. They are getting really coordinated and good! I am so proud to watch them. We pray they will grow to be good sportsmen.

Stephens' team minus Henry Smith

Samuel's team minus Thaxton Berch.

And a neat highlight of the month: one of Ken's patients let us use their penthouse apartment in the newly renovated King Edward for a night away from home. What a treat!!! We enjoyed dinner at Parlor Market - good food, but the prices will keep it fron being a regular haunt of ours. Then a quiet evening AND morning in downtown Jackson. The setting really made us feel miles away from home when really we got home in five minutes. We are grateful for the break from the lovely chaos.

And to top it off, Samuel turned 8. What fun. We had a few friends from his class spend the night. They made their own pizzas, played Bingo, watched the Clone Wars, played outside until way too late, talked about burps, played the Wii. Can it get any better for an 8 year old?

And we haven't even made it through all the fall festivals and Halloween events... Two more days. We'll make it and it will be an adventure!!!