November wrap up....

The last half of the month started with the fun arrival of Grandpa Matthew and Grandma KayLee. The night they arrived we went to Buffalo Wild Wings, just to start off the trip right. Early the next morning I took KayLee to the fresh wreath making activity at our church that Sara and I planned. That was a fun to do together and I love having a fresh wreath that I made hanging on my porch.


KayLee and I in the wreath making festivities.


Some of the ladies at our table, love these gals.

On Monday Andy and his Dad went shopping in preparation for their many hunting excursions here. KayLee and I were somewhere, I cannot remember, but I do remember walking in the door and seeing this....



Yes, this is Andy hanging from the pull up bar in a tree stand harness. I guess it is something you would want to test out before being in a tree. This is why I love Andy, he is always making me laugh.

Tuesday was our hot chocolate stand similar to what we did last year, where we sell hot cocoa, wreaths, and jewelry, and donate the money to the cystic fibrosis foundation. Porter and his friend JP are "in charge" of it, but this year Carlee and Wes got to be more involved and also handed out flyer's in their classes, they were so excited. Our friend Ally Zappe who has cystic fibrosis came to support us, it was great to see her and her daughter Olivia. This year we raised more money than last year, the kids were so excited!! It is such a cool thing to see your kids being excited about helping others, especially this time of year. I have to give some serious props to Sara, she gives so much of her own time and money to do this for the kids, you are amazing girl!


Our little stand.

I think I forgot to mention that it was pouring down rain this day! The weather could not have been worse. Andy and his dad spent so much time setting up a great protection for us so that the sell could go on. I was so impressed that people still came despite the weather, although I bet we would have had more if it were not raining.


Wes, Mrs. Brax, and Carlee (their Kindergarten teacher).


Andy and Matthew doing manly things in our garage.

So overall the sale was successful! Thanks to everyone that came and supported us, the kids, and most of all, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

That night, before the kids went to bed, Matthew spent so much time with them making a marble run that went all the way down the stairs. It was awesome. Porter worked on it later and had it start at his bed going all the way down the stairs. It was great while it lasted.......Marin attacked it the next day!



Our Thanksgiving was great, crazy, but great. My friends and I started out the morning with our own little 5 mile turkey trot, which I loved, there was less guilt in all of my over indulgence of the amazing food we had at my house this year.


Hillary, myself, and Mamie (yes I made Andy get out of bed to get a picture of us post run).

Andy went and played football with the guys like always which was good. Then it was time to get down to business, we were hosting a few families, with Andy's parents, an intern Andy works with from CA, and we invited the missionaries, so needless to say we were a full house this year. The food was spectacular, I could not believe how much we had, and there was a great variety of food, it was so fun. The kids loved having their friends here too. It was so cute to hear them singing Christmas songs while they were eating! I love the Thanksgiving holiday, this whole time of year, it's just fun, despite the chaos.


Some of the gang at the dinner table.


I think Carlee had the camera and was taking pictures and that is why we are all laughing.

The day could not have been any better, it went so well. After everyone had gone and things settled down, Andy and I decided to try out the black Friday thing, but that was a no go, too many people. I don't like how they started it at midnight this year, it just wasn't the same.

The next morning, we got up and got ready to go and cut down our tree (I love traditions). It was the most beautiful day and warm, it could not have been better.


On the tractor out to find the tree.




Matthew showing me how tall a tree was, could it be the one??? Nope.


After a while the kids needed a break.


This is the one.


My boys cutting down the tree.


Porter is getting so big.


I think this is my favorite picture from their trip, Matthew and KayLee are so cute!

While we were waiting for the tractor to come and pick us up the kids were jumping to Andy off a big pile of something, they are just crazy.....


Tessa is just cute.


Carlee's turn.


Leave it to P-man to go all out.


The whole crew riding the tractor back to the lot.


When we got back to the lot, our good friends the Stelter's were there waiting to get on...funny!

So that sums it up....we had a great and very busy last half of November. I cannot believe that we are in the last month of 2011! I am trying to soak in as much of our remiaining Ohio time as I can. And, I love this time of year, it is so fun, busy, but fun, so bring it on holidays.

My little has two bigs....

Tessa started pre-school this week, I am in total shock! The baby that I had when we first moved to Ohio is now in pre-school, I cannot believe it!

She is going to a pre-school at a local high school, it is only $25, a total score. It is one of those programs that the high school students teach. She has been assigned two "bigs", Charlene and Shelby. Tessa is with them the entire time, they are best friends for sure. The other night, Tessa asked me if they could be in our family, so I think things are going well. Oh, and another bonus is that two of her friends are going there too!


Tessa and her big Shelby coming out to the car.


My little Tessa May.


Tessa is rocking an Olivia backpack.

My own attempt at family pictures....

I have gotten tired of looking at my kids old face shots on the wall and the fact that Porter's was from the summer of 2010, it was time to face the facts, we needed new family pictures. So after a few trips to our local park and minor complaining from Porter that he had to wear something other than basketball shorts and a t-shirt, we got something that I felt good hanging on our wall.


Family


My handsome boy.


Sweetest girl.


Miss Tessa May.


Oh......the peanut.


My hubby and me.


Walking Family.


These girls are such good buds.

So for now I am satisfied. I would really love to have a professional do our pictures one day, but I am just to cheap.
*Andrea I need to be closer to you.
*Thanks Kim for meeting me at the park last minute and helping!

Halloween 2011........

I am going to sum all of the festivities in one big post, we just had too much going on. First it was getting a pumpkin, which we waited until the last minute due to Andy's work schedule. We ended up at Pickering Hill where we thought the wagon ride would be going, but that was not the case as it only runs on the weekends. We ended up walking to the curb and getting one that was already picked, not what we had in mind, but it works. We met our friends there and that was fun, they have a little boy named Grant who was born the same day as Marin, they are so funny together.


Just hanging around the pre-picked pumpkins.


Marin in the pumpkins.


Tessa was so excited to have her picture taken with Marin.


I love this picture. Tessa did not want anyone else in the picture with her and Marin. Her sad face is truly so sad.


This girl loves her dad.


I don't know that there is anything cuter that her dimple.

The next Halloween thing on the agenda was the school parade and parties the Friday before. I loved hearing all of the "Angry Bird" screaming in the hall, I know the kids felt cool.


Carlee with her class. I love that her teacher dressed up to.


My red angry bird.


In Carlee's class I was in charge on one of the games, we did spider races made out of little pom poms.


Pom Pom spider...I know it's scary.


The black Angry Bird.


I forced them to take a picture together.

Then on Sunday we carved pumpkins. That was fun letting the kids stay up late to do that. Tessa wasn't to into getting dirty though, I did most of the work, then she just wanted to lay in bed with me and look at the American Girl catalog. Andy did a great job helping the kids and he is so patient to let them choose any pattern they want.


Can you guess which one is Tessa's? She loves that her name has a T in it.


The gang, including the Molly.

Now onto Halloween....I love this holiday, dressing up and seeing all of the kids in their costumes is awesome. In regards to our costumes, I worked very hard on them and I am very proud of them, props to myself. The idea came from Porter wanting to be an Angry Bird. So after spending time on-line looking at where to buy one and realizing they were $50 a piece I said no way. He was pretty bummed. So the next step of course is to google angry bird tutorial.....and bam, there you have it. So after many trips to Jo-Anns and many coupons later, we ended up with an Angry Bird family that I couldn't have been happier about.


The Angry Bird crew.


Acting out the game.


We invited the Lovingers over to trick or treat with us, and I was just dying over Grant in Porter's Dumbo costume, he is so cute!!


My little blue bird with a messy face.


Three birds.


Two pigs.

Okay, so there we have it, all of Halloween in one big long photo explanation. Now it is on to the next holiday. Gobble Gobble! Oh and if you or anyone you know would like to buy and Angry bird family set of costumes, they are offically for sale!