For This, I am Thankful

I should write about Thanksgiving before it gets mooshed with Christmas.

Not much, but we'll start with November in general:

The kids all love to be with dadddy ... especially when he's playing his Star Wars computer game:

Kaleb got his picture taken at school:

The first real snowfall waited until mid-November. I was okay with that ... in fact, it could have taken longer. We got a good 12 inches in one night.
The kids were super excited to go out the next day and play in it:

We are grateful we live close enough to family we get to go visit often.
This year Thanksgiving was spent with Jake's family:
I was so proud of myself I had to take a picture of my cleverness. Being 30 weeks pregnant I am no longer able to easily turn around and toss snacks to the boys who sit way in the back of our Suburban (beside the fact it's unsafe). I rigged up a rope with a soft cloth bag so I could pulley snacks back to Alexander who would then had stuff to Kaleb. Or they would throw their trash in there for me to take care of:

A bushelful of blessings:
(Alexander did a lot of the picture taking)
Food prep team hard at work:

30 weeks (and some odd days) pregnant! I always forget how fast 9 months goes by:

Aunt Hannah made these adorable (and yummy!) table decorations. The kids were all super excited about them:

from clean to dirty in .5 seconds:

Some of the little cousins. Missing new baby Hadlee and Hailey's kids.

This picture makes Kaleb look small. These boys are almost exactly the same height and weight:

You're my best buddy, my favorite friend, we'll always be pals, from now until the end:

We spent a good portion of our time helping Jake's parents clean out their house. They have sold their house and moved elsewhere (sad that it's further away).
Jake's sister stupervising the truck unloading:

We are so grateful for the showers of blessings we receive from the Lord. It was so wonderful to spend this time with family and to feel the love that encircles us all.

All Hallows

Lets start with not Halloween related...I am 25 weeks pregnant...almost in my 3rd an last trimester! PRegnancy always seems to go by way too fast.

Kaleb had fun with crazy hair pajama day at school:

good thing he is way overdue for a haircut:

Breahna came in with the biggest grin and messiest face. I looked everywhere I could think of trying to figure out what she had gotten into ... still a mystery:

On to Halloween!
I was very proud of this hat I made for Kaleb's costume:

There were a lot of activities for the kids, especially with this being such a small college town. But I guess it is probably 50% populated by kids.
Festivities kicked off on Monday.
Raggedy Anne

Evil Chucky Raggedy Anne

Are you a conductor? No, Im a train!

 Alexander, make a pirate face...

 okay, show me your sword instead:

 Also very proud of this cardboard box train:

 The smokestack to be used for candy ... or cars

The local shopping square was our first activity:
They had free hey rides, go fish, apple bobbing (yuck, not for us) and best of all, lots and lots of candy.

My favorite costume ... headless horseman!

all of the employees were dressed up as Disney characters. No idea who that girl is but Kaleb was so scared of Maleficent.

We missed the big Halloween carnival that the college hosts every year, that was on Tuesday.
Wednesday we went to a local business that does an annual walk through. They have a big call center that all the employees decorate. It was pretty fancy and amazing.

We had to go twice since the boys are opposite schedules during the week. Kaleb, Breahna and I went in the morning. Then after Alexander got home and Kaleb was at school we went back. Despite going twice Breahna had 4 times as much candy as her brothers. She really knew how to work her charm. She would smile sweetly while she "slyly" was grabbing a big handful of candy. The employees would totally fall for her tricksy smile and charm and give her another handful on top of what she had just taken!
Wednesday night we carved pumpkins. Daddy did a lot of the work.

 oh daddy, we love you

the boys had no trouble telling us exactly what they wanted carved on their pumpkins:
daddy designed and carved Alexander's:

I designed and carved Breahna's. It was supposed to be a funny face, I'm not sure what it ended up as:

 I designed Kaleb's and daddy carved it:

Daddy and I didn't get to our pumpkins until Thursday night:
My pumpkin carving leaves a lot to be desired. Pat on the back if you can figure out what I was actually trying to do:

and of course, Jake's. Lord of the Rings, the all seeing eye is watching you:

What a lot of pumpkins! It will be nice when the boys can start carving their own. Or we might have to cut back to 1 pumpkin for boys, 1 for the girls and 1 for mom and dad.

Friday morning dawned cloudy, grey, cold and rainy. It stayed that way all through Halloween. I was pretty bummed. But, we still had fun:
Kaleb got to wear his costume to school. I brought his train just before their parade around the classrooms then took it home. I am so grateful for his school and all they've done for him. He has an amazing aid that is there just for Kaleb:

Trick-or-treating time!
Our Ring Wraith (Lord of the Rings) body guard:

 Jake of the Neverland Pirates:

 

 yeah, more candy!

We didn't stay out long. The cold and especially rain really dampened our fun. The boys just wanted to get home, have a warm bath and sit by the fire.
It's crazy to realize we'll be in a new city next Halloween! No idea where, still trying to figure out where life is going to take us after Jake graduates next July.
Enjoy your candy binge!