Thanksgiving 2012

Here is our Thanksgiving in a nutshell, up at my parents' house today. It consisted of my parents, my brother, Gram, me, Ben and the boys, and two friends of the family, Lorraine and Cheryl. My mom did the most of the cooking and it was delicious! As always, we ate too much food, but had a great time together on this fun holiday. 

Eli and Bumpa played chess while Andrew looked on - 

 Davey checked out Black Friday deals online:

 And later, Davey held Andrew -

Pretty table before dinner:

Charlie loved playing with the Noah's Ark set -

More of sweet Andrew :)

Gram and Cheryl stirring things in the kitchen -

 Charlie helped my dad get some dishes out of the desk hutch - 

Lorraine hanging out before dinner -

Eli is very into learning geography and studying maps, so it was fun to show Bumpa the countries that he knows on the globe. I was impressed because normally he learns the different countries on a flat map in his room, but he was able to find them on the globe too.

Mmmmm cherry pie.

Charlie is a little monkey!

Before we left to drive back home, Gram came up to me and Ben, put her arms around us and sang, "I love you, a bushel and a peck..." we are lucky to have her in our lives along with the rest of my family too. Feeling thankful tonight.

A Bushel and a Peck

I love you, a bushel and a peck

A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck

A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap

A barrel and a heap and I'm talking in my sleep

About you, about you,

'Cause I love you, a bushel and a peck

You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle oodle ooh doo

A doodle oodle oodle ooh doo

I love you, a bushel and a peck

A bushel and a peck though you make my heart a wreck

Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess

Make my life a mess, yes a mess of happiness

About you, about you

'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck

You bet your purdy neck I do

A doodle oodle ooh doo

A doodle oodle oodle ooh doo

November at Home

I've fallen off the wagon with my personal blog and it makes me a little sad. I'm hoping to be more consistent in the winter when life slows down a little (hopefully). Here are some pictures that I've taken in the last few weeks at home. Eli and Charlie are very into painting, drawing, creating, etc. and I love seeing what they come up with. I'm also grateful for an easel with two sides so they can use it at the same time and not fight over it. I also included some pictures of Ben and the boys yesterday - Ben came home a little early from work and took the older two boys out for a bike/scooter ride to the park while I stayed home with the napping baby. 

Andrew is 10 weeks now and such a sweet little baby. His nighttime schedule could be better, but for now, I'm trying to enjoy my time with him in those late/early hours. Two nights ago, he was wide awake from about 12:30-1:30 a.m. I quietly talked to him in his dark room and enjoyed the stillness of the rest of the house, and reflected on how lucky we are to have this little baby in our family.

Eli's pirate ship (below) with the crazy sea monster, complete with googly eyes. 

Eli showing Charlie his dragon picture.

Charlie's colorful dragons :)