Thanksgiving Feasts, Dance and Basketball

Will's ever changing Christmas list

Darren & I have spent some time at the kid's schools for their Thanksgiving feasts. Darren went to Jack's and took deer meat. They were having a traditional feast, eating food that they ate back in the day. Jack was excited to have Darren there.

Darren and I both went to Will's feast and they sang some cute songs. The teachers read what each child said that they were thankful for and Will was the only one that said "my mommy". You should have seen Darren's face! Will and Darren ate a few doughnuts, pumpkin bars and an array of other things. Hannah's feast was not for parents but she said that it was "ok". She wanted to sing songs for me like Will's class did. I told her next year she would get to sing.

Max of course has a feast every 3 hours with his milk. He is getting so big and talking up a storm now. He smiles a lot and sleeps well at night. I actually really like having him so close in our room. Now if the cold that he has had for 3 weeks would go away, we would all be happier.

Hannah had her first "watch night" last week. Parents are not allowed to watch other than this assigned night every 3 months or so. They say that having us watch more than that is too distracting for kids this little. The whole family went and it was fun. She really loves it, participates and smiles. She is not shy at all. She can't wait to see her recital costume even though it is months away. She asks me every week who is coming to watch her recital. I tell her that it is too far away to know that but for sure Darren and I would be there.

Jack is doing really well in basketball. He is great at defense and shoots many times a game. He is also great at rebounding and sometime rebounds his own shot 3 times before it goes in. He does not give up which is also great to see.

The kids are getting really excited for Christmas. We put the tree up this week and they about went out of their minds waiting to put the ornaments on. They have all made their list but Will has erased and rewritten his numerous times. I took a picture of it tonight. He basically copied down everything he saw in the Toys r Us catalog. I have only determined 1 thing that he wants that has been consistent.

Hannah is really excited for her upcoming birthday. It is all about Hello Kitty this year. She wants all of the Hello Kitty "babies" as she calls them. Just what we need...more stuffed animals!

Grandpa visits, Field Trips and the Barn

Will on his field trip at the museum
Will signaling me to "come here"

Our handsome little guy!

Kristi, Bryson, Max and Hannah

Grandpa & Max

Jack in front of the barn

Will in front of the barn

Jacob, Will, Max, Carly, Bryson, Hannah, Jack and Braxton

Our try and getting a picture of the cousins. Notice Max's stomach hanging out and throw up coming out of his mouth.

We have been really busy lately. I went back to work a couple of weeks ago after taking 12 weeks off (but really working most of that time) and I can't seem to catch up.

Jack started basketball and is doing great. He is awesome at defense and scores a couple of baskets each game. I will take pictures soon! Will just signed up to start wrestling which starts in January and Hannah LOVES dance. Max just spends a lot of time in his car seat! Poor guy!

My dad finally met Max last week and it was great that he was able to hold him and spend time getting to know him. The kids loved their time with him also and so the "When can we go to Arizona?" question is more alive than ever. Getting to Arizona is more work than I care to imagine right now but we will do it hopefully go sometime before summer.

Last weekend Steve and Kristi were in town from Colorado and we finally were able to meet our new nephew and cousin Bryson. He is so good and looks so much like Braxton. Braxton is talking a lot and loves his cars and balls. It was so fun getting to spend some time with them. We also got together with Jason and Melea and their kids. We all decided that we need to schedule a night to go out together without the kids over Christmas when Steve and Kristi are back.

This week Jack had a field trip to SilverRidge retirement village and the Post office. They walked to both and I realized how out of shape I am not being able to keep the pace with 2nd graders!

Will also had a field trip to the Durham museum which he told me was boring but I thought it was pretty neat!

Hannah had "crazy hat day" and I did not get a picture but she was really excited and I was surprised that she wanted to wear the hat I found for her. She always surprises me!

Finally, there is a (VERY old) barn that we see in the middle of a field every time we get on the interstate. Jack and Will have wanted to go in it since they could talk. Darren took them each separately on Sunday. They rode on Darren's motorcycle (I did not like that) taking the back roads to the barn. They went inside, saw a can opener, some other stuff, and a sign that said "do not tear down". They were both very impressed and have not stopped talking about it. I was glad that Darren decided to take them because times like these are so important especially to Jack now that he is a little older. He will always remember that afternoon with dad. Darren makes so many memories with the boys doing things with them that he loves too. Jack, Will and dad have so much in common and could talk about cars, hunting and dogs all day.

I can only hope that when the kids think about me that they will also remember times that we spend together playing games, doing crafts, carving pumpkins or making hats for New Years eve. I may not be able to spot a Mustang GT 500 like Jack and Darren or spend the afternoon at Cabela's but I love that they are taking after Darren and that they look up to him so much.