Turkey Day, Part 2

My Dad's side of the family celebrated Thanksgiving at my cousin Heidi's house in Hutchinson, so we were able to see some of my family on Thursday as well! We got there about 4pm, so dinner was over (not that I needed any more food!), but there were plenty of leftovers, plus tons of dips, desserts, and homemade candy. The kids played barbies and basketball with my cousins' kids while the adults played cards, watched football, and looked at photo albums. We headed home about 9:30 that night and everyone was asleep before we got to the edge of town!

Unfortunately, I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few:

all the "girls"! (minus my Mom, my 2 sisters, 2 nieces, an aunt, a cousin and her 2 daughters, and a cousin-in-law who couldn't make it - we gotta lotta girls in this family!)

my cousin Chelsi and aunt Jackieuncle Bobby feeds my cousin Chazni's daughter Brayli some of the guys relax and watch the football game

my grandparents

Turkey Day, Part 1

Wednesday afternoon, we headed to Hutchinson for Thanksgiving at Paul's parents' house. The kids had a ton of fun playing with their cousins, and it was even nice enough for them to spend a lot of time outside. We had sloppy joes soon after we got there, then after the kids went to bed that night the adults stayed up to eat shakes from Bogey's and watch Get Smart, which was hilarious! Thursday morning the kids were up bright and early to play outside and watch the parade on TV while the women (mainly my mother-in-law!) cooked the meal. After we ate, it was time to break out Rock Band. Even Paul's Dad got in on the action!

the kids watch Kung Fu Panda on Wednesday night
Asher and Preston play Lego Star Wars on the PSP

powdered, glazed, and chocolate donuts for breakfast - what more could a kid ask for?!

the girls enjoyed watching the Rockettes during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

all the cousins making funny faces while playing in the playhouse

the whole crowd during dinner (except for Paul who took the pic!)

father and sons rockin' out

Kindergarten Feast

Last Friday was Kellyn's Thanksgiving Feast at school. Daddy took the morning off so he could take Breckyn to gymnastics, then they both met us at the party shortly after it started. The class was dressed as Indians and put on a little mini-program of 3 Thanksgiving songs. After that, they feasted on a whole roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, grapes, pumpkin pie, and my own first attempt at Jello jigglers which I cut in the shape of leaves and apples. I'm happy to say that they were a hit - especially with Kellyn, who ate at least a half dozen of them by herself!

Basement Progress

In August, Paul pulled all the necessary permits and got busy on the basement. It's coming along nicely, and he hopes to be done sometime in January or early February. So far, the only thing he hasn't done himself is install the fireplace. We do have to send out a little thanks to some friends and family for helping hang drywall, so Jamie, Jeremie, and Garett - Thanks!! We very much appreciate the help! The drywall hanging, mudding, and taping is totally done now (thank goodness!) and Paul is in the basement as I type this, sanding the joints to prepare for ceiling and wall texturing, then paint. Here is a bit of the pictorial progress so far:

Halloween!

On Halloween evening, all our neighbors got together to roast hotdogs and play games. The kids enjoyed "wrap the mummy" and "pin the heart on the skeleton" before heading out to trick or treat the neighborhood. Christal and Mitch came for the weekend and Preston was thrilled to have his friend Triston the Pirate here, as well as Aunt Shelly who came down from Lawrence for the festivities. Bruce and Rachel and their kids went with us also, so we had quite a little group! The weather was perfect and the only time I can ever remember trick or treating in short-sleeves and flip-flops! The kids were pretty tired after all the parties and we only made it down 4 cul-de-sacs, but all the kids ended up with nearly half a Walmart sack full of candy. A pretty successful Halloween, I'd say - and I think my waistline would agree! ;)

Preston's Halloween Party

Preston had his class party in the afternoon and Daddy was working from home, so the whole family got to be there. It was such a fun party and he got to do a lot of neat activities such as peeling an apple with a special apple peeler at my station (of course he wouldn't eat it, so the girls did!); making a spider out of crackers, PB, and pretzels; making a scary hand out of candy corn, popcorn, and clear gloves; and sticking his hand in covered boxes to identify the creepy contents, such as "fingers of a second grader" - hotdogs!

Kellyn's Halloween Party

Our little Sleeping Beauty had a great Kindergarten Halloween party! The kids rotated thru several stations and got to make caramel apples and photo frames, and play musical pumpkins and pin the nose on the jack-o-lantern.