Thanksgiving 2010

We had an amazing Thanksgiving this year and are filled with deep gratitude for all God's blessings on our family and extended family! We are grateful for good friends, good health, sweet children, steady work, for dreams and the freedom to dream, for those who came before us and all they sacrificed and for a wonderful country to call home.

Our week started with a road trip to Sumter to spend the night with Aunt Niki and Uncle Clete and pick up Grandy. From there, we were able to spend time in Awendaw, visit with friends, enjoy time with Nana and Grandad and our cousins, catch up with Mimi, play with the Norris family and then wind up in the NC mountains. It was a fun-filled week, and the kids did a pretty good job rolling with all the comings and goings.

Giving Thanks

We have been trying to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving this week. I already feel like it is a "rush" to the holidays, and I am intent on savoring the many blessings we have and not sprinting to Christmas.

Anyway, Turner and I worked on a Thanksgiving tree during rest time the other day, and it's hanging on our window by the kitchen table. We are so, so blessed to have such a loving family that she ran out of room. She did manage to fit her grandparents (including their pets) and us on there!

We love you all! xox

The Golden Girls Hit ATL

The Golden Girls -- Mrs. Kizer, Nana, Mrs. O'Brien and Mrs. Timmerman
One Happy Little Girl -- After all, she has FOUR grandmothers to boss around!

Monkey!
Parker with his women

The seesaw got a good workout!
Merry-go-round (Mrs. Kizer got on, too! Brave woman!)
Dora Bingo Tournament. Amazingly, Turner won EVERY time! :) Which meant lots of Oreo "prizes." Oh, and the GGs went home with a full working knowledge of all the Dora characters!

Mrs. Timmerman next to the "Down" sign we created, so she wouldn't keep walking into closets!

Nana reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to the troops.

We had a super fun weekend with the "notorious" Golden Girls this past weekend! Nana and her three close friends came to visit and play with us in Atlanta. It was a treat to have them, and I am pretty sure we broke some local ordinances by laughing too much. We ate lots, played lots and enjoyed having a full house.

Turner and Parker could get used to having FOUR women (plus mom) waiting on their every need! :)

To Market, To Market...

Some early morning reading fun with Bro-Bro!

(Turner knows every word to this book and pretends to read it to Parker. He is a willing and happy participant!)

Front Flips!!!

Turner asked me to make "movies" of her front flips for our biggest fans! She is thrilled that she can hoist herself up and do this BY HERSELF now. :) Happy watching...

Welcome Home, Brett!

Several months ago, I shared about Parker's teacher, Ms. Gail, and her son, Brett, who had been deployed to Afghanistan. We had mailed him a care package and have been praying for his safety over the past months.

Thanks be to God, he is back on US soil and will be coming home to see Ms. Gail on Friday of this week. Turner wanted to welcome him home, and she made this awesome banner for him! She did everything BY HERSELF and was so proud and happy to give it to Ms. Gail this past Sunday. It will hang in their family room for his return!

Family Funtimes - HEE HAW!

Our first fire of the season was SO BRIGHT, Parker had to get his glasses! :)
The A-Team building the first fire of winter!

Horsin' Around

The horse and rider are almost the same size!

We had a nice family Friday night last night! The kids were squealing and playing well together, and the weather was perfect for building a warm fire. Good times!

Growing Up...

We had quite an exciting day yesterday!

It started with Turner's six month dental appointment, where the dentist informed both of us that Turner has two loose teeth (her bottom two). I could hardly believe it -- she's not even 5!!! But, he showed me, and they are truly loose.

She's definitely on the young end of things, but I suppose between her early talking and frequent talking, one could say she's always been "advanced" in the mouth! :)

Needless to say, Turner is elated! In fact, she bound into school and proudly told her teachers. All day, she had a smile on her face (a smile that will apparently soon sport two holes!).

Then, at gymnastics, Turner did a front flip on the bar ALL BY HERSELF! She was thrilled, and so was her teacher.

Wonder where my baby girl went? I don't know, but I DO know that I am super proud of my big girl who seems to be quickly taking over around here.