Snow!

When the holidays come, I always say that it doesn't feel like Christmas. I have to say today's surprise snowfall really does get you into the holiday spirit.

Thanksgiving Day

We had a great Thanksgiving. We ate around 3 p.m., and the meal Nana Harla and Papa Frank cooked up was great.

Dan carving the turkey

I'll spare you the photos of the adults eating, but here's the kids:

Casey


Lily and Sophie


Brett


Maggie, who got her very own table


The biggest kid...
Nana and Papa's dog, Levi
He really gave Wanda a run for her money this week

After dinner and lots of running around, the kids finally settled in the playroom to wind down and watch some movies.

It was wall-to-wall Lovings

Pre-Thanksgiving Tiki Party

We all headed over to the Avery's for a pre-Thanksgiving tiki party. The highlight of the evening, was a game of Pictionary (boys vs. girls).

This is always fun when everyone's been drinking and no one has any artistic talent.

Dan's turn


Captain Don drawing "street"


Papa Frank drawing "yell"
(The head he drew looked a lot like Pacman)

Even the kids got into the act.

Sophie drawing "miniature golf"

(Not bad for an 11-year-old)


Casey's turn
(He had the word "submerge." Not an
easy one for a 6-year-old.)

Loving cousins

The Loving cousins have descended upon our house. We ordered pizza Wednesday night (mostly since we don't have any fridge space what with the turkey and all).

Sophie with Casey and Brett


Lily and Maggie

Pantry

Big thanks to Nana Harla who cleaned out my pantry in anticipation of Thursday's big meal and all the groceries we'll be buying.

Here she is giving me a tour of the pantry.

Raking leaves

Yard work is always easier when you have some "help." Brett and Casey took a stab at raking leaves this morning while Dan used a leaf vacuum.

Raking leaves with Dad

Guess what came next?

Lauryn comes over

Tonight, I babysat Lauryn while Dan went to a sports memorabilia auction (yawn) with Jeff and Kathryn. Casey loves it when Lauryn comes over; maybe because he isn't the youngest anymore and he loves little kids.

Lauryn had lots of fun. She got to do a bunch of things that she can't do at her house:

Going up and down the stairs


Climbing to the top of the boys' bunkbeds


Watching movies with Casey in the playroom

Where was Brett during all this excitement? Going down the basement stairs on his sled.

That's excitement to a 2nd grader.