10 Reasons to be thankful 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

1. I am thankful that I get to host my family for Thanksgiving-not only my side but my in-laws come as well.  It is so nice that both sides mingle so well!
2. I am thankful that my kids get to experience some of the same Thanksgiving traditions that I had growing up.
3. I am thankful that I have the "know-how" to fix a turkey, a ham, and homemade yeast rolls.
4. I am thankful that although we will be missing my baby sister Pam, Jay, and Mr. Lincoln and Chad's sister Alicia, Jerry, Alayna, Jared, and Jaden that they have each other to celebrate this holiday with as their "own" family.
5. I am thankful that God will be part of the day (as always) but one of my favorite parts of our noon meal is the bowing of heads before the food is scooped onto plates. 
6. I am thankful that I remembered to get the turkey and ham out of the chest freezer!
7. I am thankful that once all the tummies get full, we all sit around and visit.  I don't host my whole family very often and I like having them sit around my living room.  I used to care about every stitch of the carpet being clean, but now I just want everyone there.
8. I am thankful for the rainy forecast.  The conditions have been too dry around here.  There are families that lost their homes to fires this year and we still get to celebrate in our home.
9. I am thankful to see my nieces and nephews! 
10. I am thankful that Mom will still be part of my Thanksgiving.  She is never very far away.  I am thankful that I still "feel" her presence even if it is when she is reminding me that everything doesn't have to perfect for everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 
Remember to count your blessings!

Halloween 2010 Part 2

Mike and Tina hosted a dress up party this year.  We had a mouse and a zebra.

A "big" Devon Hester and a cowgirl

a couple of hippies (seriously Bud was the best costume ever!)

a couple dr's

Tina, totally in her element, did bowls full of icky stuff.  She blindfolded the kids then stuck their hands in!

Tina the Witch, Mike the Star Wars Trooper, Chad, Susie, Ryan, Anne, Kara, & Bud

the kids bobbed for apples!  Mike got the perfect shot of Clay!  

we had such a great time this Halloween!  so much fun with our friends!

Trick or Treating always starts at Grandma and Grandpa's

Papa giving the volleyball player a lift!

Papa trying to lift the football player

Brittany, Betty, and Clay

the best part of this visit with Betty was Clay loosing his 1st tooth!  Betty gave the kids apples, which Clay loves so he immediately bit into.  Clay said his bottom teeth hurt.  Brittany checked it out and sure enough Clay had a loose tooth!

Then after just a tiny bit of twisting, the tooth was out!

The next stop was to Jerel and Connie's and their beloved dog Jackson

Trick or Treating wouldn't be complete without a stop at Earl and Judy's

Then, we were off to our church's Light the Night.  Brittany, Thomas, Danny Lee, Clay

Caleb and Brittany

Ellery and Brittany

we haven't taken a recent picture of the kids together, so here is all 5

Caleb,Ellery,Bryce,Brittany,Clay

Halloween 2010 Parties, Trick or Treating, & Clay lost his 1st tooth!!!!

This year we were invited to a couple Halloween parties which were so fun!  Brittany was a volleyball player and Clay was Devon Hester (Clay uses Halloween to get a new jersey every year-such a smart little boy!).  Here are a TON of pics from the last few weekends!

Brittany and Brady

seriously, how cute are my kids????

Brittany and Mariah

Clay and Deaton

Braxton and Brittany

the adults also had a party!  Kevin and Cindy

Brandy and Kurk

Todd and Ashley

we headed home for Miss Kennedy's 2nd birthday party!  Morgan,Brayden,Madilyn,Brittany

Miss Kennedy-The Birthday Angel

when Kennedy blew out the candles and everyone was singing to her, she got SO shy!  simply adorable!

I got the honor of holding Drew, the sherriff.  Honestly, holding a sleeping baby is one of life's precious gifts!

Conner Prairie & the Headless Horseman 10.24.10

Brittany as a spider fairy

Kylie as a spider fairy (look how different the artists did the painting?!)

  

Colin as a warrior

Clay, of course, wanted to be orange and blue but since they didn't have blue paint he went with white/orange.  The Chicago Bears "C" on one side and #34 on the other side

Trey as a warrior

The kids and I have been wanting to go to Conner Prairie to see the Headless Horseman.  This year we decided this was the year that we were going to go.  We went with Tina and Connor and each kid brought along a friend.  The kids got their faces painted with glow-in-the-dark paint.  The detail of the make-up artists was phenomenal!  After face painting we "headed" (hee, hee!) to the Headless Horseman wagon ride.  Since we were rookies we went on the ride at our scheduled ticket time (we were handed the tickets at the main entrance) which was meant it was still daylight.  Therefore, the ride wasn't as scary.  Next time, we will know better and know to go after it gets dark.  Nonetheless, we really had a good time!