Happy Thanksgiving

Time for some turkey and a day of taking note of our many blessings!  The past couple of days have been filled with activity and lasting memories.  Wednesday the house quickly filled up with family-my parents and Grandma were able to make it this year along with my brother David and his faithful hiking companion Maddy.  Dinner was a full table and more in abundance were the blessings, some funny some serious-always nice to take the time to remember and thank the Lord for what he has blessed us with.

 Great Grandma is keeping up with all the fun, never a dull moment and she has just enjoyed watching the kids and listening to James trying to keep up with everyone and their activies-never wanting to miss anything.

 The days have been full, some how vacation has a different meaning now that we have kids....vacation means work!  but it is all fun-just exhausting as they have endless energy.  The weather was beautiful and we have all enjoyed the outdoors.  Bike rides to the park, exploring and mountain biking at Turkey Mountain and many walks to tired out the dogs.  I think Brayden was on his scooter with friends for an entire afternoon...causing a fuss not showing back up at the house at dark-the joys of growing up and stretching the boundaries.  David brought his yard game that was fun to play, along with spud and kick ball.  Some of us explored the Philbrook Museum today while others hit the couch and rested.  Of course the weekend wouldn't be complete without a little bowling-Andrea was pretty proud not using the ramp this year.


The kids are keeping Grandma and Grandpa busy-crafts, reading, games of UNO, checkers.  Brayden was up for staying up and learning a bit of Dutch blitz and Wizard this year...I think he just thought it was fun getting to stay up way past his bed time.

 We missed having Aunt Nea around this year-although we are all pretty excited to have another baby around next year!

A Thanksgiving Play

I feel like Thanksgiving is wrapping up and Christmas is fast approaching-the kids are finishing up their projects and work having to do with Thanksgiving. Crazy!  Becca's class put together a thanksgiving play that they performed for parents last week and then friends at a nursing home this week.  Becca was Mary Brewster-a pilgrim who told about how the Indians taught them how to plant corn.  She is always full of grins and did her best to hid it when on stage-silly girl.  We finished the Friday celebration with a thanksgiving meal...which I don't think the kids ate much of!

Book Recommendation

I don't recommend books very often, as reading I think has so much to do with a persons preferences and their journey through life.  Seeing as both Ron and I both found this book to be thought provoking, encouraging; one of those books that stretches your understanding of God's will for our lives, I wanted to pass it along.  

Even though we might not have a visible "thorn in our side"  I am overwhelmed daily at the amount of pain-physical and emotional surrounding me.  Seeing and listening to how imperfect our human life is with so many struggles gives the illusion of saten's power.  This book is a great encouragement in dealing with the reality of life!  Hope you can take the time to read it.

Thankful!

So thankful for Ron being home this week-as are all the kids!  Along with beautiful fall weather, lots of sunshine and a day without any schedule we all love just hanging out together.

No Turkey for Perky

 It was Andrea's Thanksgiving play yesterday, hard to believe it is that time of year but school keeps us on track these days.  Christmas plays are in the works and thanksgiving celebrations are in full swing.  Becca has her play next week.  Once again poo r little Perky didn't get any turkey for thanksgiving.  The kids think this is just the funniest play and all the laughs and giggles make it so fun to watch.  Andrea was the bread and happy to perform.

Most special was the two classes that came in to watch Andrea performance were Becca and Brayden's. They had both asked me to pull them out of class so they could watch and I had told them no.  So fun to watch Andrea with all the kids.  Becca had fun remembering when she gave the same play last year.

Yes, it is morning and James had to have a sandwich along....I think he has lunch three times before noon actually hits!

Ruts N Guts 2013

Three days of cyclocross races, what a weekend.  Perfect weather, tons of bikes and lots of fun!

So proud of Ron-completing all three races.  Biking for 40min with a flyover (eventually closed due to two riders leaving the race in an ambulance) barriers, steps and mud.

 Some of the young life road biking team also joined in the cylcocross rides this year.

 The kids rode every night-two nights under the lights and today under the warm sun.  They were covered in tattoos, and exhausted from endless play in the Jupiter jump.

Brayden is the oldest in the kids race...time to move up to the junior race, which is a little more intimidating.

 He was pedaling a little faster with this racer on his tail!

 Becca just grins even when she is yelled at.

 James is just in his glory.  The first race he was in tears when they only did one lap.  The first night he had to sleep with his "racing"shirt.

Special Moments

The time change has been working pretty well for everyone-it helps gets the girls out of bed a little bit earlier, making for a little more relaxed/enjoyable morning.  Andrea is not a morning person and having some extra minutes to wake up makes her a half way pleasant person in the mornings.  James on the other hand is up bright and early with Brayden, today I think it finally caught up with him.

                                             These moments make me miss my babies!

The Truth is in the Garabage

The other day someone asked me what I did with the candy the kids get.  I logically said they get to eat all the candy they want when they trick or treat but then it's just one piece a day...maybe in their lunch.  HA!!  this is the garbage for the living room/desk rooms-FULL of candy wrappers. Just the opposite of my logical explanation, instead it has been a free for all for the past three days and I really can't yell at the kids because I know I helped eat half of it.   Yes-this is reality, all good intentions set aside.

Another Fun Halloween

What a perfect evening.  The rain cleared out and the air was cool but not cold.  The kids were super excited, James kept asking when Halloween was and when I told him it was after gymnastics he started telling everyone sitting around him that Halloween was NEXT!  We walked the neighborhood-always fun seeing neighbors.  Every year is different and this year was the first year that we didn't take a stroller or have to walk up to the house helping a little one-so nice!  James bit the dust about half way but was content to just watch the fun from the street.  We passed out candy after sorting through all the loot.  Andrea's favorite is the whoppers, Brayden was pretty excited for his ONE payday and Becca was happy to have a fist full of suckers.  I was impressed that they all got a full size Kit Kat-someone was pretty generous.  The kids loved passing out candy and trying to yell trick or treat before the kids at the door could say it, they would whip open the door and yell it...not sure what the trick or treaters on the other side of the door thought!