A Thanksgiving Program and Feast

The week before Thanksgiving break the kids' school put on a wonderful and super cute Thanksgiving program followed by a feast!  Each class got up in front of the parents and sang a song.  I had to hide from Lily when I was taking pictures because I was afraid if she saw me she would run of stage...which is exactly what happened.  Thankfully her part was over at that point.  I remember Cole's first "program" so well....he cried the whole time.  This time, after 3 years of programs, he sang and danced like a pro!  He was in Heaven!  He kept finding me in the crowd and waving!  So sweet and so grown up.  I love these days where he is so proud that his mama is there watching him.  After the program we were all dismissed to the kids' classrooms for a Thanksgiving feast.  Since I have 2 kids and Rhonald had to work I was not sure what to do.  Cole's teacher saw my uncertainty (who do I eat with???) and invited Lily Kate to have lunch with Cole's class.  Thank you Ms. S!  Lily Kate brought rolls to her feast and Cole brought corn.  I only mention this because it turned into the sweetest story ever!  When I dropped Cole off that morning I overheard him tell his friends that they were so lucky because his mom was bringing corn and his mom makes the very best corn in the world (thank you steam fresh veggies)!  He was still so proud at the feast that he told everyone in line to "be sure and have some corn.  His mom brought it and it's great!"  It was so loving and so sweet.  He was just so proud of what I had done!  I love that kid.  I am so thankful for both of them....and so very thankful for their school.  It is our 4th year there, Cole's last, and we have loved every day and every teacher there.  There really is so much to be thankful for.

Silver Dollar Fun!

Last weekend was beautiful!  Probably one of the last warm weekends we will have for awhile so we loaded up the kids and surprised them with a trip to Silver Dollar City!  Oh my!  It was one of the best family days we have had in such a long time.  The park was totally packed but it didn't even matter.  Magic was in the air...Christmas magic that is.  The park was lit up with 4 million Christmas lights, there was Christmas music playing over the loud speakers, there was hot apple cider and hot cocoa flowing from the vendors...it was awesome!  When we went over the summer Lily Kate really wasn't able to do very much.  This time, however, she could do a lot...and she loved it!  We rode rides, played in the sand boxes, ate yummy food and when we all were getting a little tired we hopped on the Christmas train for a little break.  After the train ride, as we were walking over to more kid rides, we ran into our good friends, the Thompson's.  Seeing "Big Ben" was all Cole needed to get his second wind.  Those 2 boys took off and would have ridden rides all night if we would have let them!  And Lily....sweet Lily....I have never heard a child laugh as hard as she did while riding her very first ride!  It was so silly....frogs jumping around....but she loved it!  And she loved every other ride she was able to do.  We finally decided to head home around 6:00 - we had to eat dinner, and drive the 2 hours home and although we all hated to leave we did...with promises to each other we would come back very soon!  It was a fabulous day and I am so, so thankful for those memories, the huge smiles on our kids faces and the joy we all felt being there together.  Sometimes, life is hard but man, most days are crazy good and this was one of those days!

"Cheese!"

Something adorable and hilarious occurs whenever you ask Lily Kate to "say cheese!"  Her sweet face goes from normal and sweet to squished up and silly in about 2 seconds.  It is her new thing.  When she is standing up she will even scrunch up her shoulders for an even better look!  It is silly and fun and it is all Lily!  We can't stop smiling every time we see her "cheese face."  What an amazing personality our girl has!!!

Warm Fuzzies

There is nothing I love more than a random 75 degree day in November...except maybe a text that says, "Hey!  Anybody want to play at the park this afternoon?"  You don't have to ask us twice!  Friday could not have been more amazing.  I don't know what it was....the kids were in excellent moods, the weather was awesome and we had the park almost all to ourselves.  One thing my friend, Kellie, and I often talk about is how our kids are so happy with the basics.  A day at the park, time with parents, etc.  How they really don't need all of the "extra" things we think they do.  Well, this day was the definition of that!  The kids LOVED the leaves....throwing them, sitting in them, rolling in them (especially Noel who did not stop laughing the whole time there were leaves around).  We didn't plan to stay very long because of dinner, baths, etc but we all ended up being there until dark.  The afternoon was so much fun that no one wanted the day to end. It was a soul stirring day - one I hope I take with me for a very long time.  Isn't it funny how something to simple and so routine can turn in to one of the best afternoons we have had in a very long time?!

Happy Halloween!!!

Ugh!  There is nothing more cute than a bunch of kids dressed up in silly costumes full of excitement over a holiday!  I can't get enough!!!  This was our second year to trick or treat with a group of close friends in their neighborhood.  Our area is full of older kids (the kind that don't really dress up and show up with a Walmart sack to get candy...you know what I mean) and our homes are very far apart so walking is tough when you are 2 and 4.  We joined up with the Burrow family for dinner (don't they look awesome in their Star Wars gear?) and then met up with the rest of our group for trick or treating.  I love these kids....and their parents.  I love that they love my kids and that they are safe and comfortable with them.  I love that Rhonald and I had just as much fun being with our friends as the kids did being with theirs.  And I love making memories and living life with these people.  What a difference a year makes!  Last year this group fought over who was going to ring the doorbell at each house and who got to pick which house to go to.  This year they took turns (on their own) and just followed the leader, whoever that happened to be.  The "babies" are now toddlers and rode in wagons trying to figure out what the heck was going on.  Even they got in to it by the end and carried their buckets up to the doors with their brothers and sisters.  It was heart warming to see .... such fun and innocence and love for one another.  Just talking about it makes me excited for next Halloween!