Thanksgiving and Snow!

We started our relaxing day with watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The kids loved it! I'm actually embarrassed to put this picture on but just wanted to show you our "out of the box" meal. You all know I love to cook and this is not how we would do Thanksgiving if I had an actual kitchen. But you do what you have to. :) Can't wait to make some meals in our new house!

It actually was surprisingly good, except for the turkey... none of us could even eat it (well, I think Evan did). Brian's comment was that it tasted like "MRE meat." We'll have real Turkey for Christmas. :)

The kids especially loved the sparkling cider-- my family's tradition.

Pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.

It was a wonderful day together (lots of football) and we have so much to be thankful for this year.

One thing we did to help teach the kids about being grateful was to look through the Samaritan's Purse gift catalog together. Natalie and Blake each picked out things they would like to send to kids around the world that don't have very much. Natalie chose baby chicks, mosquito nets and and a toy lamb that sings Jesus Loves Me. Blake chose soccer balls and shoes. We had some neat conversations and I think maybe we'll do this every year. Here's the link if you might want to do it with your family. They have all different price ranges for the various gifts and it's fun, tangible way for kids to help others. (We usually do the Christmas Child Shoe boxes but missed out on that this year.)

We woke up today and... it had SNOWED!!

We don't really have snow gear with us but we still went out for little while. I think it's Evan's first time to actually play in the snow.

There really wasn't too much but still enough to have fun!

Writing names...

We close/move in to our house TOMORROW... can't tell you how excited we are!!!!!! :)

I'm thankful for...

...among other things, my wonderful husband and my three great kids!!

Looking through toy catalogs... this is the first year the kids have realized they can make "requests" for Christmas. :)

Evan trying to be in on the action...

Natalie and Blake made this fort.

It was a little small so Brian made them a huge one.

Plenty of room inside...

I love my cute family!

I am thankful for all of you too. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Quote Time and Tour

I have another paper with more but I can't seem to find it right now but here's a few quotes:

• The kids got stickers at checkout in Target one day and Blake put his over one eye, "Look Mom, I'm a pirate!"

• Natalie: "I wish I could just get a ladder and go get a star to light my room at night. Then I'd get a cloud to lay on for a pillow."

• Our landlord's name in KY was "Junior" and Blake told Natalie, "Mommy's talking to 'Asparagus'" (from Veggie Tales)

• At church the kids filled out papers about themselves. One question was "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Blake said: "Just like Daddy" Natalie said: "a grocery checker-outer" Later after passing a gas station she told me, "no mom, I want to be a gas pumper"

• One night Blake didn't want to go to sleep so we told him to just lay there and talk to his stuffed animals. "But they don't talk back!"

• In the car Natalie said there were "dots in her foot" so I was explaining that maybe it had fallen asleep. She replied with "Was it snoring?" And then later she said, "It's okay now Mom, it woke up."

Here's a tour of our little extended stay hotel apartment: Coming in the front door- living room and kitchen to the right, kid's bedroom straight through that door.

To the left, hallway to the bathroom and our (and Evan's) bedroom.

Brian was playing "horsey" with all 3 before bed one night. :)

Living room- they were looking at a Toys R Us flyer-- a lot of "I want, I want" Now I know why I don't usually show them things like that! :)

Snack time at the table.

Twin beds in Natalie and Blake's room.
Our room- Evan sleeps in his pack and play in our closet. :)
Kitchen- I had thrown away these papers the kids made at church and Natalie took them out of the trash. She wasn't happy I'd tossed them!
Better view- opposite side has fridge and stove. Can't wait to cook in my kitchen with all my things again-it's been since July! I definitely am a pampered chef. :)

The living room area... sorry these weren't the best shots but thought it might help you all picture where we are living. Two weeks until we close on the house! Yay!!

Trick or Treat and more...

Say hello to the cutest butterfly, scariest shark and silliest monkey you've ever seen! :)
We went over to the neighborhood where we bought our house to check it out. There were a ton of families around and we got to see the elementary school where the kids will go so that was neat too. Can't wait to move in!

"Trick or treat!"

Evan was in the stroller for most of the time (it was chilly!) but still held out his bucket at each house. He was definitely old enough to realize what was going on!

We found a park to play at one day.

With tons of leaves to pile up and jump in... fall fun!

We're staying in a little hotel apartment: 2 bedrooms and a little living area and tiny kitchen but it beats a regular hotel room and it's great to have a fridge and stove. Just a few more weeks until we can close on our house! Can't wait!!

Turning into a little boy more and more each day....

Trying on Daddy's heavy vest.

Getting ready for lunch... tomato soup and grilled cheese. And yes, there's only 3 chairs here so Brian and I eat on the couch. :)

Hungry Hungry Hippos... they love it but boy, is it a LOUD game! Evan has been walking around squealing and screeching just to try to make as much noise.

I heard we're supposed to get snow this week so maybe the next post will have snow pictures!!

Our Move to Colorado

Talk about whirlwind packing and cleaning... we found out Brian's class was cancelled on a Wednesday and were on the road Friday! It was a quick turn of events but we were excited to get out to Colorado. We rented a little U-haul to take all of our stuff.

This one would have loved to be out there too. Just their size... On the road! We took it slowly and stayed in 3 hotels along the way. A little mini-vacation.

Checking out the hotel pool.

I know this is terrible but I had to put this picture on... Brian had an awful reaction to the chlorine in one of the pools and could barely open his eyes. Fortunately visine helped.

Kansas is very flat...

A stop at Cracker Barrel one day. I think I see mountains!!

Are we there yet???

It was a fun trip out and we are loving Colorado Springs already. More to come soon but the big news is we bought a house and hope to close by the end of the month. Thanks for your prayers for our family... we appreciate you all.