Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving was fairly quiet this year. We had planned on traveling to Boise to see Tim's family but with my Dad near the end of his life, we decided to stay close to home. We visited my Dad during the day and then my Mom was able to join us for dinner.

This is the first year without my Grandmother and with Dad absent, it didn't really feel like Thanksgiving. We didn't even eat turkey, Tim wanted ham instead (he had already eaten turkey once this year so felt like that was plenty! Sounds an awful lot like his Dad, Papa Bob!)

Yesterday we had a few flakes of snow, but today it is really coming down. Winter must be here! I just hope we don't have 94 inches in town this year, that was a bit much for the roads and those of us who grew up driving during Virginia winters! Tim says let it fall, he is ready to ski!

Avery's 7th Birthday at Build-a-Bear

Hard to believe, but Avery will be 7 next week! She had her party today at Build-a-Bear Workshop and everyone had a great time!

Avery and I made these High School Musical cupcakes. She did a great job decorating them!

Avery choose a Christmas moose named Holly.

Avery (center) with Carson, Emily, Lauren, Darcy, Olivia, Gwyneth, and Shannon.

Everyone seemed thrilled with their new pets!

Halloween Party Fun

The Escaped Convicts......be careful, we carry knives!

Sona and Grif, our next door neighbors and good friends.

Matt & Stacey, you may remember Matt as a groomsmen in our wedding...

Derek & Audrey (and baby McKenna), good friends. They came dressed as a Mom and Dad.

More Halloween Fun

The kids enjoyed playing dressup in our convict costumes. They sure do make cute criminals!

Avery and McKenna

Carson as Superman with Bella behind him as a cheerleader

Carson, Darcy, McKenna, Ryan, Bella, Benjamin, Avery, and William

Tim and Matt reminiscing about the old days. We laughed so hard that night!

Ready for Trick-or-Treating!

As soon as it was dark, we headed out for Trick-or-Treating. It was, by far, the warmest Halloween we have ever had here. Most years the kids have on multiple layers, hats, gloves, etc just to brace the cold. This year, it was 50 so we were very happy. No gloves, no cold feet, much more like Halloween in Virginia where I grew up.

Avery couldn't decide between being a cheerleader and Sharpay from High School Musical. The cheerleader won for Halloween night, but tonight we are having a party and she will be Sharpay. More pics tomorrow!

School Parties

Here are the kids in their traditional Halloween outfits before school. Avery was unable to wear her costume to school (for some reason at her school Halloween parties have to be "Fall/Harvest" parties. Very strange....)

Carson at his preschool party (he's the Ninja Turtle) with Gavin the pirate, Zach the Hulk, and Ansel the Pterodactyl.

I helped organize Avery's "fall/harvest" party where we decorated cookies, painted pumpkins, played games, and read stories about, what else..."fall" since no Halloween things could be included. Yes, I am a bit annoyed with that whole thing. Several of the other nearby elementary schools had parades and all kinds of Halloween activities. It's hard to explain to 1st graders why Halloween has to be ignored at school! Above is Avery painting her pumpkin.

Carson came along for Avery's party and had a great time. Here he is with our neighbor Tommy playing wrap the pumpkin. Avery had her turn too.....

So much fun!

Halloween Cookies and Pumpkins

Thursday night the kids and I made several dozen sugar cookies for decorating at their school parties. It's nice to have help in the kitchen!

Pumpkin carving is another tradition we love. Carson and Tim made this Frankenstein carrying a body and Avery and I made the witch.

Spooky!