Thanksgiving at the Outer Banks

Some of my most vivid and favorite memories have happened at the Outer Banks. My family would go every year, when I was growing up. This year, I was able to take my family there for Thanksgiving. The kids loved it just as much as I did and still do!

We fed the seagulls every day,

 visited the aquarium in Roanoke,

ran up and down the sand dunes at Jockey's Ridge,

and ate sand, well, only Dorphy did that.

Each morning the boys would beg me to play "the water game." We would stand by the edge of the water and run away from the waves. My toes were so numb from those cold waves, but it was worth it to hear the cute giggles from my buddies. 

It was wonderful to have my grandma and parents to celebrate Thanksgiving. This has been our 3rd year at a beach this time of year, and I am hoping this tradition continues.

 

Stitches

It's been a long time since we had a "first" around here. I got a phone call that Lincoln fell off his stool in art class and would probably have to get stitches. I was so worried about my buddy and nervous how he was going to do, since he hates shots.

I couldn't tell how bad it was when I got to the school, because he had a bandaid over the spot right below his eyebrow. When the nurse took it off, we could tell that he would definitely need stitches!

I told him if he was tough and held still for the doctor, I would buy him whatever you he wanted at the store. That worked! He didn't cry it scream, he just pleaded, "no doctor, please no, don't give me a shot!"

Dr. B was impressed with how well he did, so off to the store we went. He chose an Optimus Prime mashables.

His cut is healing really well, and it probably won't be noticeable when he gets bigger.

We Are Thankful!

I have always looked forward to Thanksgiving. I love spending time with family, eating lots of pie and watching the Thanksgiving day Parade. I want my kids to also enjoy this holiday, especially since Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier in the retail/commercial world.

We started taking turns drawing something we are thankful for. I don't have pictures of all the days but so far, this is what my family is thankful for...

Dave: food, car, soap, pencils

Drake: blue robots, blue sheep, blue apples, blue trains (I helped him draw the robot.)

Mom: bodies, church, our house, our family

Lincoln: hearts, Lego, mom, toys

This little activity has been great! The kids  are anxious to have turns, and it has helped Lincoln when it is his turn to pray. He know has lots if things to be thankful for, and our dinner prayers keep getting longer!

Week in Review

Life is good! Here's what the past week has looked like for our little family...

In Wednesday nights, I go to church for the girls youth group that I help lead. Dorothy usually joins me, and she gets passed from girl to girl. This night my 14 year olds were lip syncing and dancing to their favorite songs. Can you tell they planned that one? I had to help them transform it into a music appreciation night. Dorothy loves being with these girls!

Thursday afternoon in the car pool lane...

My MOPS group does 2 service projects a year, which I coordinate. On Friday, we made superhero capes for our local children's hospital. I have really enjoyed spending time with these lovely ladies. 

Saturday began our kitchen renovation. Dave was proud of himself that he thought to use a car jack to take the kitchen countertop off. Drake was proud of himself for bringing his hammer to help.

Lincoln had 2 birthday parties this weekend. One was at Monkey Joes, so I had to sneak out before Drake found out about it. Lincoln is in the Spider-man shirt and beside him are Dalton and Ethan from his class.

Mom took the boys to the new children's garden where we are members. It looks like the boys had fun from the pictures. I was just glad to get a rest, since I have been sick!

It was great to have Lincoln home from school on Monday and Tuesday. We played with friends, spent tons if time outside, played mini golf, and had a picnic at the park. 

Tuesday night, I went to a relief society dinner. I had to get a picture with our current president, because she is a sincerely nice person and ALWAYS happy. I want to be like her when I grow up.

Wednesday, Dorothy was upset I put her in jeggings, but I think she is adorable!

Drake also has a cough, and coughed so hard he threw up on the lovesac. You can tell from this picture it has really slowed him down. He had just finished helping me take off the cover to the lovesac to wash, and told me to take a picture if him doing "feet in the air jump."

Thursday Dorothy had her first ponytail. She slept on her hair wet, so the top was sticking up, perfect for a new do! 

I'm thankful I can be home to be part of these small everyday things!

Trick or Treat

Halloween is a fun Holiday to celebrate. What's even more fun is 2 teacher workdays Halloween week! I had the kids help me with a bunch of cleaning and laundry one morning, with the promise we would go to Chuck e Cheese afterwards. They were great little helpers!

Dave was out of town, so we even ate at McDonalds for dinner that night. I was scoring major mom points! The next day, we had 4 friends over to play.

Jack and Drake made some delicious sugar cookies.

Dorothy got her first card in the mail. It was from Giggi.

Dave's flight from Michigan was cancelled bc of snow and wind, so he wasn't able to make it home Halloween night. We went around our neighborhood with the Sherill family. The boys really wanted Dorothy to be a pink power ranger. I did my best making her costume, but she ruined her foam mask before I could take her picture. 

I'm so glad we went trick or treating early, bc soon after we got home, we had a huge rainstorm. We watched curious George boo festival and sorted through candy. 

 

I am looking forward to another 2 teacher workdays we have this coming week!

Chill in the Air

It is starting to get a little chilly here in NC. Dorothy had to be bundled up for our walk one morning. Like most things, she didn't seem to mind!

She isn't crawling, but she can get where she wants by rolling around it scooting in her bum. She has 2 teeth now, and is almost 20 pounds (75th percentile). 

I was cooking in the kitchen and she rolled all the way over to me from the other room. 

Besides watching her brothers, she loves her jump-a-roo and sitting on the floor with toys. She also moved into her crib! No more monkey bed. I think she is starting to like it, and she usually ends up on her tummy. It is music to my ears when she says "mama." We are stil waiting for her to say more.

On a chilly Friday night, we had our neighbors over for dinner and carving pumpkins. 

I'm so glad my same neighbor was able to watch Drake for me, so that I could go on Lincoln's field trip. I also drive 2 sweet girls from his class.

Lewis Farm was great, even with such a large crowd. They broke groups up into 15 minute activities. The kids went through a corn maze, climbed on hay bales, learned about animals, fed horses, picked pumpkins, and saw goat hearding. 

Later that night, all of the kindergarten classes got together for a trunk-or-treat.

Bring on more of this weather!

Potty Talk

This sign hangs on the kitchen wall. 

The boys are very familiar with our rules. One day during lunch, I broke rule number 2. It was a moment of weakness, but it was hilarious. Drake was laughing hysterically and said," Mom you cack me up!" I guess sometimes it's ok to break a rule.

While Lincoln is at school...

It is so strange to have Lincoln gone most of the day, but we still manage to have fun!

We met some MOPS friends at Lineberger farms for a hayride, pumpkin picking and a picnic. The farm is huge and they have tons if play equipment, mazes, and other activities for kids to do. Drake made corn angels in the corn pit.

Dorothy had fun swinging.

We had a wonderful time! When we were almost home, I noticed Bear Bear was not in the car with us. We made the thirty minute drive back to the farm. Thank goodness it only took me about 15 minutes to find him. Someone placed him lovingly on a picnic table. Bear Bear isn't allowed outside of the car now!

Another day, we did some Halloween crafts with Ella Kate and Jack. They boys loved testing out the glow-in-the dark paint.

Dorothy is also getting excited for Halloween!

Sometimes Drake plays beauty parlor with Dorothy, while she is nursing. Talk about being a princess! Can you imagine having your hair combed, while you are enjoying a nice drink? Sounds like heaven.

This is how Drake rolls at Sam's Club: eating a hot dog, while resting his head on a bag of bread flour. He cracked me up when he saw a lady, in the parking lot, tucking in her shirt. He asked,"Why does that lady have her hands in her bum? Does she have an itch?"

I painted my toe nails, and Drake was so impressed that he wanted his done too. 

Lincoln had spirit week at school last week. I thought he looked so handsome in his police uniform. Here he is demonstrating bad cop, good cop for career day.

He has been listening to scripture scouts in the car; they are CDs that have kids talking about scripture stories along with music. One day he asked Dave to listen to them, while they were driving to soccer practice. Dave said no, because he was listening to a news story. Lincoln asked Dave if he liked them and Dave responded that scripture scouts wasn't his favorite. Lincoln paused for a moment and said, "dad, you don't like the word of God?" Ouch! He is learning a lot from the CDs. He informed me there was a prophet in the Bible, whose first name was Abra and his last name was Ham. Hehe!