Did anyone see the month of November go by? I can't believe this is the last day.
I guess I will blog about some of the fun we had during Thanksgiving week so I will at least have one post for November.
The kids had the entire week of Thanksgiving off which I loved. We have lived in places where they were only off Thursday and Friday or Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The first few days of the break were spent getting the house ready for company. The kids had play dates and sleepovers. Aaron has a friend who lived two doors down. Aaron and Hannah spent Saturday, Monday and Tuesday running between our yard and her yard. They had the best time.
Doug and Shannon arrived Wednesday with their girls in time for lunch...homemade chicken soup and sandwiches. We didn't stop eating until they left on Sunday.
This is a random picture of the five kids being creative and having fun. They figured out they could make a star. When they are together there is generally no tv. They just play.
We started what we hope will be a new tradition this year. A local ministry holds a race as one of their fundraisers. Doug, Lori, Rachel and I ran the 5k. PK ran the 1k with Noelle, Aaron and Hannah so we didn't lose any kids. Shannon was the official photographer.
The weather was perfect for a run. Over 7000 participants were expected for the races. There was also a 10k option. The director of the ministry prayed over the participants before the race. I thought that was neat. Next year it will be our turn to go to Doug and Shannon's house, but many communities now hold Thanksgiving morning races.
We came home and put together a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Lori and Rachel helped prepare dishes this year without any adult assistance.
It is nice to watch the two of them interact. They of course know they are way to cool for their old parents, but when they are together they aren't afraid to be silly and let down some of those walls they have to keep up with other friends.
Here the kids are serving up their Thanksgiving feast. I insisted on serving it from the kitchen island because when we first moved in and I saw the island I envisioned serving Thanksgiving dinner from there.
Shannon took time to call her extended family and with them a happy Thanksgiving.
Each year the kids put on a play. They write it themselves. Each year tops the previous year. This year was no exception. It was like a little musical when Aaron and Noelle performed a duet.
I love having the trampoline in the backyard. The kids all spent a lot of time out there. Doug caught these pictures of Noelle and Hannah watching the clouds.
The boards that are scattered around the yard were drug out of the shed by the kids. It is all scrap lumber from finishing the basement so it really is just for them. They made a bridge from the shed to the trampoline. I don't have a picture of it, but it was just fun.Black Friday belongs to Shannon and me. We start early and go as long as we can. We noticed we are starting to get a bit older because we were willing to sleep an hour longer and give up being at Target right when the doors opened. We come away with great deal every year, but we don't go with that one particular thing in mind that we have to have or kill to obtain. I think people watching is a big part of the thrill. This year it was pretty calm. After we had our fill of shopping, we went to see a movie. In appreciation we gave PK and Doug Saturday. They went to see the latest Harry Potter. Then they came home and put a new ceiling fan in the living room. The old one needed to be serviced and it was kind of dark and dreary.
PK's younger sister and her husband stopped by for about an hour on their way through town Saturday morning. The kids were really happy to see them.
Sunday morning came way to fast and our company was on their way back home.