Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was a little like Sunday dinner at my mom’s.  Both my brothers went to their in-laws so it was just us, my sister and her kids, my parents and one aunt and uncle.  Compared to the Thanksgivings I had growing up when the crowd was so big we had to use the church, this one felt pretty small. 

The day began for my kids with some fun at the Rippy cousins down the street.  They made donuts and apple cider in the driveway and then headed out back to do BB guns in the forest.  Meanwhile, I made rolls and pies and veggies for dinner.  On the way to my mom’s we made a quick stop at the hospital to check on Grandma Ele (who had back surgery the day before).  Her e is the crew at dinner. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

First Snow

These two LOVE the snow!!  They drove me nuts with pleas of “can we build a snowman?” until I dropped everything and went out there.  The kids decided the snowman should have a pickle nose and chocolate chip eyes and mouth. 

 

 

 

 

 

I Finally Finished their Room!

This has been an ongoing project since the girls’ birthdays in the Spring and I am finally finished!  I am so proud of the tree that I painted on their wall.  I also made the tie backs for their drapes, bedazzled their lamp with some beads, and refinished their dresser.  I think that is some kind of crafty record for me!

Here is the finished product. . .

Olivia’s side

Sydney’s side

I bought a Groupon for the vinyl, Sydney picked her saying :)

The reading spot! (the chair looks red in the pictures but is really the same pink as everything else)

The Return to Soccer

After two years of playing Football, Carter decided to try soccer again this year.  I love his coach (who is also their principal) and he had a lot of great kids on his team, they just weren’t great at soccer.  I think they only won one game but Carter said he had a great time and is looking forward to it in the Spring.  He especially liked playing goalie!

The Scariest Holiday EVER!

I think I complain about Halloween every year.  I am telling you, the day after Halloween is really scary at my house.  Sleep deprived, sugar overloaded raunchy children.  I call it their Halloween hangover.  But before the bad, there was some good. 

Harvest Festival at their school

Ariel (another amazing costume from Grandma Theresa) Olivia actually won a prize for best girl costume!

Rey Mysterio, a WWF type wrestler from Mexico. (we got this in Mexico when Carter was little)

The Pink Pirate (scored this costume at the quarter sale best 25 cents I’ve ever spent :)

The $100 bill (also made by Grandma Theresa)

Preschool Party.  Derek’s school does not believe in Halloween so they have an “orange party” instead.

Halloween at the dance studio.  They only cancelled classes after 5 pm so I had a couple of girls in my first two classes.  They showed up half costumed and Sydney had some fun turning herself in to a loofa with tutus.

 

Halloween Night at the Semtners

80’s hair band member

Shaun White

I kind of look like him huh?

 

Double Digits!!

My little boy just turned 10!

The day started with crepes for breakfast

Then he just HAD to bring crumby bars to his class.  (These are a Donut Parade special: maple bar with apple pie filling in the middle and old fashioned donut crumble on top!)

We did cake and presents at home. 

The highlight was definitely his party and due to an iPhone malfunction, we lost all pictures of the night.  Garth took Carter and 4 friends out to dinner at Wolfy’s then to a Spokane Chiefs hockey game.  They all had a great time and Garth was so pleased at the choice of friends Carter made.  Super nice, polite, grateful boys. . . perhaps this is a sign of some maturation on Carter’s part.