Thankful Turkey

It was a tradition in my family growing up to make a Thankful Turkey every Thanksgiving, and everyone writes on slips of paper things they are thankful for, and stuff the turkey with them. And at Thanksgiving dinner, we read what is written on the slips of paper. Dustin and I have continued this tradition in our family.

The turkey has some evil eyes, and crazy teeth. Also, did you notice the "mom" tattoo.

Lauren and Kate putting their slips of paper in the turkey.

Kate is thankful for the "world."

Parker's first Basketball game

Parker made a basket at his first game

Man, he is a cute little basketball player.

I love watching my kids play sports!

Halloween

Kate was Snow White this year. My mom always wanted to dress me up as Snow White when I was a kid and have my 7 brothers be the dwarfs, but they never went for it...shocker.
Pictures this Halloween did not turn out all that great. The kids were so excited and in a hurry to get into the Halloween party that they didn't want their picture taken. Lauren was a Vampire(except her vampire teeth wouldn't stay in). Parker was so happy to be Darth Vader, and Elle was fittingly a (pink) Monster.(she is a little terror these days)
Also, the kids and I made their trick or treat bags together. I remember making a trick or treat bag when I was a kid too.(thanks Mom)

Dustin made mummy hot dogs with the kids.
(while I was sick in bed with a cold)

And glow in the dark Lemonade. I got a recipe off of the Internet, and it called for tonic water. I had never had tonic water, so I had no idea it was disgusting!! It does however glow in the dark with a black light, which was really cool.

all things pumpkin

The night started out with Jack o lantern pizza.
Lauren and Parker dug right into the pumpkn carving.

Kate was a bit less enthused.

Elle was by far the least enthused.

Elle thought the inside of the pumpkin was disgusting!




Guess which pumpkin belongs to which member of our family????

1.


2.

3.

4.

5.

Pumpkin Patch and Brown County

We went to a really great pumpkin patch for Family Home Evening last Monday. It was fun to drive out to what felt like the middle of no where Indiana and pick our own pumpkins. It was a fun little adventure.

A week earlier, I took Elle and Kate to a different pumpkin patch with friends.

The girls loved the hayride out to the pumpkin patch.

But, it was cold, very cold. And Kate got, well like Kate, and refused to pick up her pumpkin.

One of Elle's new best buds is Lyndee. She loved sitting on Lyndee's lap during the movie on farms.

Kate loved doing farm chores. Too bad this enthusiasm for chores didn't continue when we got home.

Dustin took a day off a couple of weeks ago, and we drove down to Brown County State Park. It was so beautiful there. It was a really fun family day.

Elle wanted Lauren to hold her hand almost the whole time we were there. It was so sweet.

After Parker had gone down this hill, he thought it would be fun to run back up it.


Lauren and Kate found a caterpillar.

This is the covered bridge we went through to enter the State Park.

The Dining Room molding is finished

Dustin put molding up in our dining room. He did molding around the doorway, he raised the baseboard, and he put a shelf around the room, and vertical lines around the room. I think it looks great. He did a great job!!!

This is the corner of the shelf.

This is the corner of the molding around the doorway.

We use our Dining room as a piano room.

Dustin and Elle cuddling. She loves Daddy so much!

volleyball

We have tried baseball and soccer, dance and gymnastics with no true enjoyment, but Volleyball on the other hand, Lauren loves it. She is awesome at it too. And Dustin and I LOVE to watch her play.
I know this picture is blurry, but you can see the ball coming towards Lauren, #8, and she bumped it over the net. It was a great shot...Good job Lauren!!

I know I am a bit partial, but what a cute Volleyball player!!