We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Tallmans on Thursday and with the Beelers on Friday. Two full days of eating and family....we are so blessed.
I did an abysmal job of taking pictures on Thursday and the only one I found to steal from my sisters was of the food table. Ha. But what a spread it was.
The only pictures I took the entire day were of these two goons...
Mike went into town to visit his family and see his cousin who he doesn't get to catch up with very often. He sent me this picture of him and Isa.
We spent Thursday night at my folks' and then headed to town Friday to spend the day with the Beelers. The day was sunshine-y and beautiful.
Last pic of my longest hair in years before I had a couple inches lopped off the next week.
We had brunch, played outside, and then had a midday meal.
A belated birthday gift for Zayden...
The girls did make-up!
We went ahead and drove home Friday night so we had our weekend at home. What a great couple of days with family.
Sunday brought church and Sunday school. Zayden was ready early enough to show me his new Legos he picked out while birthday shopping with Grandma.
We spent the afternoon doing the "it's a beautiful day in November" hustle. The kids and I cleaned up the yard. I raced around on the lawnmower, mulching the leaves while Xavier pushed the smaller portions. Mike hung the Christmas lights with Xavier's help.
We headed to the Fross' in the mid afternoon for a Bible study bonfire. Zayden got to shoot a few rounds with Mr. Fross when we got there.
I often wish I thought to snap a couple of photos at our Bible study groups. The kids all playing, adults around the fire....they are the kinds of evenings that fill my heart up for many days after.
We roasted hot dogs and made smores and took home happy hooligans to run through the shower.
Monday brought school....and back to the routine after mom and dad being gone a couple of days. Monday evening was swim and basketball.
Tuesday was OT/PT for Natalee and just a regular routine day. Evalynn continues to be a fun preschooler. She loves school and still uses both of her hands to write and cut.
It's fun to watch her switch back and forth.
Xavier taught Evie a new song...
and Natalee started read Evie Hotel Flamingo.
On Tuesday my Grandpa Bryce passed away. This news brought a lot of different kinds of feelings, most of which I kept inside for several days.
Wednesday was a very busy day. School, gymnastics, grocery store, and Mike ended up working late before Awana/youth group.
My strong little gymnast...
I did a grocery pick up order, ran in to exchange some pants for Zayden, and stumbled upon this clearanced mattress. Just a couple weeks ago Mike had told me that Natalee's mattress had a hole in it where her braces rubbed, so I decided to snag this one and consider it kismet.
After we got it home, Xavier helped me drag it in the house, we unboxed it, went to remove the other one and discovered her current mattress was pristine....the cover was what was torn up. Oh boy. What to do with the new mattress already in the house?
In the end we gave Natalee the new mattress and stacked her old one on Xavier's thin bunk bed mattress to give him more cushion. Both declared themselves quite comfy so I guess in the end it worked out, though I was sweating and we were late to church getting it all moved around.
Thursday was Zayden's birthday. Mike took Natalee to hippotherapy and used some of his extra time when he wasn't hanging with the birthday boy to plan our next concert getaway...Hootie and the Blowfish anyone? He's got a {vintage} hat for that...
Natalee and Xavier went to Christmas choir practice Thursday evening and Natalee stayed for Bible study. Mia planned a movie night for her and Evalynn while Mike and Zayden watched Harry Potter. Mom read a book.
Friday was a busy day. I had a little meltdown about my grandpa with Mike and then took the kids to Otter Hills for the big kids to do their science labs. Zayden stayed to go to his friend Jaxson's birthday party and the rest of us came home. Mia showed me the slippers she had fashioned out of cardboard and paper and honestly they are pretty creative. She even lined the soles.
Evalynn and I headed to Missouri for Grandpa's visitation. We stopped at my mom and dad's and unloaded our overnight bags before we went to town.
Back at home Mike did swim practice and then sent Mia to her friend Amara's birthday party and brought Amara's sister, Aubrey, who is Natalee's friend, home to hang out for awhile. In the midst of that, Zayden got dropped back off. Mike basically spent his Friday counting heads and playing chauffeur.
Mia had a blast at Amara's party - thank you Melissa for the pictures.
In Missouri, we went to my sister, Andrea's, after the visitation to eat and just visit for awhile. My grown-up niece and nephew were home for the weekend and it's always so good to catch up with them. Evie was such a trooper. I ran her through the shower when we got back to my folks' and she snuggled up in my bed for the night....my little teddy bear.
Saturday morning Mike got the older four up and around and brought them to Missouri for the funeral. Evie and I had breakfast with Papa and Grandma (Papa made French toast!) and then got ready ourselves and headed to town. It was a nice service and much of our family was able to be there.
Evie and Artie
After the graveside service, we had lunch at the church and got to visit with a lot of extended family. Lauren and Lance ended up taking Zayden home with them for the night and spoiled him with supper out, games, and a fun sleepover.
The rest of us headed back to Iowa for the afternoon/night. My friend, Jessica, had brought Mike soup, bread, and desserts Friday afternoon after I left and I was doubly blessed in her thoughtfulness and in that Mike saved it for Saturday night knowing how whipped we'd feel. We had a delicious supper and then showered everyone early and put on a movie to wind down our week.
Eight years ago Zayden took his sweet time coming into the world. He was supposed to give me an October birthstone on my mother's ring, but instead held out to 42 weeks for the November stone. Zayden still marches to his own rhythm. He's a fun kid, caring and intentional in his kindnesses. He has a strong conscious, can still get lost in his own world of imagination, and has a unique mind.
Today, on Zayden's 8th birthday, he thinks he'd like to go to Bible college and become a pastor or youth pastor. I cannot wait to see how God guides Zayden!
Zayden chose breakfast pizza for his birthday breakfast and 'had' to get a donut to stick the candles in.
I accidentally bought relighting candles and didn't realize it until the moment they went up aflame again. Ha. Oops.
After breakfast, Zayden opened a couple of presents. A new Bible bag to fit his Bible and Awana book together.
Ameliya worked SO hard on the gift she gave him. She painted Zayden a super hero puzzle and recruited Dad to help cut it apart. She's so thoughtful and it was a lot of fun and challenging for Zayden!
Success!
This year I chose Technic Legos for Zayden to try to challenge him.
A pull back monster truck.
While Zayden was building Legos, Evalynn helped me make his supper dessert - dirt cake.
Zayden's lunch choice - pb&j and carrot chips.
Mike took a PTO day, so he took the three youngest kids to the park while I did a bit of school with the older two. It was a beautiful day and our newly remodeled park is a fun place to play!
Back home, Zayden opened a set of Transformers and a small Lego set to finish up the presents for the day.
He requested chicken strips, tator tots, and mashed potatoes for supper and Mom rounded out the meal with roasted broccoli. Dirt cake for dessert...
To wrap up his birthday night, Zayden and Daddy snuggled up to watch the second Harry Potter movie.
A belated birthday gift for Zayden...
The girls did make-up!
