Happy Thanksgiving!

As you gather with family this week to cook the turkey........

Prepare the vegetables and side dishes..........





Add secret spices to the cornbread dressing.....









And bake the pumpkin pies......

Remember to give thanks to the Lord for all the loved ones in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Birthday Campout

Our oldest wanted to go camping with some friends for her birthday, so why not? It was going to be a cold weekend, and most had never camped before, so we packed the gear, bought some groceries, and away we went. Except for the cell phones (so each could call home to assure they hadn't been attacked by a bear), it was an electronic-free weekend!

They each received a "camping pack" upon arrival. This contained a bandanna, whistle, glove & sock warmers, and a plastic bowl. Each item would be needed during the outing.

For dinner, we brought chicken breasts with a variety of spices and condiments. We prepared our meat to each individual preference, then wrapped in foil and placed over the fire. While they cooked, we enjoyed salad and dinner rolls baked in our box oven.

After dinner, dishes, and a hike to the restroom facilities, it was time to get all snuggled in 200 lbs of hats, gloves, sleeping bags & blankets. But at 35 degrees, they were all needed.

It was a cold night, but the warm egg & cheese sandwiches made a perfect breakfast. Since we woke up early, the girls had time for one more nature hike while Mom got everything packed up.

On the drive back, still wearing bandannas and smelling like campfire smoke, the group decided we needed to eat again (teenagers!). So, we stopped off at a pizza buffet.

Happy Birthday (my not so) little girl!

Spirit Week

The little one had spirit week at her school. Each day of the week was a different theme. Not only was it a fun activity for the school, but the parents really enjoyed it. All the kids hopped out of bed each morning and was excited about getting ready for school!

First was "crazy hair day". We teased her bangs and put in 5 poney tails.

Day 2 was PJ day. Her big sis braided her poney tails the night before so that all she had to do in the morning was potty & brush her teeth.

The next theme was sports day, and she had plenty of soccer & gymnastics outfits to choose from. But, like her big sis, she wanted to wear volleyball. Those knee pads were so big on her they just kept falling to her feet.

It was a fun week, and as you can tell, she wasn't shy about posing for pictures! :)

Mature Decisions

After the trip to Carowinds, our son decided to make the best of a long week. It was a 5-day weekend where the kids were out of school, but with no TV, no friends, no electronic games, and no cell phone, what is a kid to do?

Since computer use for educational purposes was allowed, he learned to play piano. He plays not by reading music, but by listening to the notes and watching his hands. The songs are amazing!

He also decided to take up running for exercise. Even in the rain, he was diligent with his workout. All this training gave him his best time ever in a 5K: 25 min! Awesome!

And the best for last- he now loves to read! In just one month, he has gone through three 400+ page novels and is asking for a fourth for Christmas! I have never seen him so excited about books!

Once it was time to play outside again with friends, he definitely made up for lost time. But, the new hobbies he gained that week are still a part of him, and I couldn't be more proud.

Carowinds

In October we made our annual trip to Carowinds in North Carolina. The weather was perfect, and so were the crowds! No waiting in line and you could even stay on the ride over & over again!!

The two youngest enjoyed kiddie town while Mommy, Daddy, & the oldest rode roller coasters.

By the end of the day, we were all ready to leave, exhausted, head spinning, and feet sore. We're good now until next year!

Warning - New Driver on Road!

It seems like just last month she was taking her first steps, and taking her to get a driver's license could not be possible already! But, after she studied for the past 6 months, making excellent grades in school, and being extremely responsible, I couldn't think of a reason not to let her reach this milestone.

After first being turned away because we didn't bring a school ID or report card, she finally gets through with her 2nd attempt. First up was the eye exam. Luckily, she wore her contacts that day.

Next up was her written test. Her study skills paid off. She only missed one question out of 30:

"If you're driving at night and approaching another vehicle on a highway, when should you put your low beams on?"

a. 100 ft

b. 200 ft

c. 300ft

After waiting 20 min to find out she passed, it's finally time for the picture as the adrenaline starts to rush.....

First, look in the mirror, practice the smile, fix the hair, and pretend you're not nervous.......(flash)!

A few minutes more and it's that glorious moment to hold her own drivers license for the first time! Yes, it's really a permit, but I present to you our newest driver in the family! Her smile says it all! :)

Breakfast in Bed

Our family tradition is to serve the birthday girl/boy breakfast in bed. Our two oldest have their birthdays close together, so here are the pictures of their birthday mornings.

Our son decided on Sara Lee Butter Strusel, a rare purchase in our household due to it's fat content. The oldest chose blueberry muffins with LOTS of fresh fruit on the side. The youngest was a little jealous, so she sneaked into bed with big sis just before we hit the lights on! Look at her wipe her eyes! A drama natural!

Company Picnic

Daddy's work had their annual family day! The kids had a great time riding all the rides, eating food that isn't really good for you, and playing all day.

Fall Sports

The fall sports have really kept us busy. Every day there is some event or practice, and sometimes all three children are going in different directions at the same time!

Our oldest daughter is doing both volleyball & cross country. For volleyball, I have tried for several games now to capture her awesome blocks, spikes, & serves, but since I can't use a flash, the picture is always blurred. This was the only action shot where she's looking my way. Sorry!

Her love of running fits perfectly with cross country. She's running at the varsity level and staying competitive!

Our son is quickly rising again in baseball after taking a 2 year break. He's such a natural athlete, but also knows what it's like to have to earn the coach's respect.

Switching leagues makes you a "no name" in the new league, but he's gone from batting at the bottom of the lineup to batting 5th, and from playing outfield every game to now their main first-baseman.

Our youngest gets Daddy as her coach in soccer. Although she admits her favorite part of the game is running through the tunnel and getting snacks, she typically scores 1-2 goals every game! Most kids this age get distracted so easily with a plane flying overhead, or their shoe coming untied, but it's still so cute to watch. :)

Camping trip

Now that the weather is cooler, the family wanted to go camping. It was a cold night, but the ones sleeping in the middle stayed warm.

For dinner, we had hobo stew, yeast rolls, and smores. For breakfast, it was boiled eggs, monkey bread, and fruit salad. Notice the box lined with foil. That was our oven - called a "box oven". You can cook anything in there that you would a normal oven, but may take a few extra minutes.