Thanksgiving 2016

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving was the typical pie preparation day for me.  We had Aaron over for a sleepover the night before and then headed over to Nona's in the morning.  She encouraged me to make a double batch of pies while I was there.  So I made a pecan pie fore both of us and a banana cream pie for both of us as well.  It was honestly a bit of a disaster...the pecan pie cooked over in the oven just as Phin had some tummy troubles.  Let's just say it was a Pie Wednesday for the books.

Thanksgiving started off  early for me.  I got up early to put the turkey in the oven and head over to a Turkey 5K at the local Rec Center.  My final time was 29:18...not to bad.  Phin was pretty excited to see the metal that I won when I got home.

We hosted Seth's parents and Seth's brother's family for Thanksgiving this year.  They brought yummy salads and rolls.

We also had turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes a gratin, gravy and glazed carrots.

 

Th kids table...

The grown up table...

After lunch Jordan and Seth played a few games.

Grandma Jo read to the grandkids.

 The grandkids also had fun playing together.

Grandma Jo and Maddie also had a Pinball tournament.

Beth, Eliza and Lily joined us later for pie.  I borrowed this picture from Abby's Facebook page...Lily, Millie and Jaclyn Joy.

The next day we did some Black Friday shopping...but at a reasonable hour.

Millie found a friend.  This one is for Jeff and Kim.

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxing...Grandma Jo was sweet enough to watch Phin and Millie while we went to Dr. Strange with Reed.  Seth and Reed also found time to go shotgun shooting with Eric, Teresa, Michael and Jared on Saturday morning.

First Snow

We had our first snow on November 17th.  Phin was so excited from the moment he woke up.  He finally convinced me that we should head outside after breakfast.  I got him ready and was starting to get myself and Millie dressed when he opened the door and headed out the door.  A moment later I looked out and couldn't see him in the front yard and I started to panic.  I was still in my bathrobe and started to call for him.  Our sweet neighbor Jill responded that he was over in their yard.  Once Millie and I were all dressed we headed out to try out our new (to us) sled.  It was just perfect for two little kiddos.
 

 

It was a good thing we headed out early in the morning...the snow was mostly melted by the afternoon.  I wish I was as excited as Phin each time it snows...I don't love the snow...but I sure do love watching my kiddos love it.

November

November was a little more low-key around our house than October.  We started the month off with dinner at Chick-Fil-A on their peanut butter drive night.  We donated jars of peanut butter for the needy and got some free chicken nuggets in return.  It was a good way to start off the month and a good way to teach Phin about the needs of others.  I didn't manage to get a picture of Phin on that night...he was too busy playing in the play land.

The weather the first half of the month was absolutely dreamy.  We spent many afternoons outside enjoying the perfect Fall.  Millie loves stairs and has mastered going up and down.

One gorgeous Saturday, I convinced Seth to hang up some Christmas lights.  He was already up on the roof cleaning out rain-gutters...so it seemed like the opportune time.

He wasn't a super big fan of the task...so I jumped in to help.

 

We have a nightly pizza night in our family and a couple nights in November we ended up stopping at a local pizza joint rather than getting take-out.  Phin loves pizza...one of the small list of items he will happily eat.

On our second trip Millie perfected drinking out of the end of the straw.

She also tried to tip the pizza directly from the plate into her mouth.

We walked to a park with friends one day.  The weather was so perfect...that Phin decided he would sport just his short-sleeves...along with a cowboy hat and a hammer.

Millie likes to be right in on the action with Phin.  She loves going down the slides on my lap.

Just an average Sunday around our house...

The weather was so beautiful the first Monday in November, that I decided another tram ride was a good idea...unfortunately we got all the way up to Snowbird just to find out that the tram was closed during the day for the season.  

We decided to walk to the Snowbird playground...just to find that it was closed as well.

We improvised and went to a park down in the city instead.

Phin and Spencer enjoying the swings.

Millie and Ella enjoying the wood chips.

International Gaming Day was held in November.  It was also the day of  an all board game yard sale.  We convinced our niece and nephew to watch Phin and Millie while we went.  The yard sale was CRAZY!  We walked away with a few games that have been our list then we headed to the library for game day.  We played a game that was on my list...Karuba...and we loved it.  We ended up playing it at least 7 times during the game day.  We have already ordered a couple of copies for ourselves.  Chances are that if you see us over Christmas break...you will play this game with us.   My best description of the game is that it is a twist between Carcassonne and Tsuro.  You are laying tiles on a grid to create paths for adventures to get to their temples.  The game plays extremely fast because you all play simultaneously.

We met another couple and taught them the Red Raven game Near and Far.  Then we met a Red Raven representative and she taught us the new game Islebound.  We love Red Raven games but this one had too many elements for our taste.  Seth twisted my arm into playing Spyfall as well.  Our friend Paul joined us for a couple of hours near the end of the day.

We got back to pick up Phin and Millie and took Isabelle, Ben, Matt and Emily out for dinner. 

We had family Sunday dinner with a good family friend.  Morgan Tonon was visiting from Italy.

I dug this picture up from my archives from 2006...we had Christmas Eve Dinner with the Tonon's in Italy that year.

I also got to visit with my dear friend Allie in November.  I got to meet her youngest and see how much her second to youngest has grown.  Amy invited us over to her house to hang out.  I brought a little craft...we let the kids make Oreo turkeys.

Millie was a pretty big fan of the Oreos.

Then we headed to Chick-Fil-A for some lunch.  It feels a little strange to see Millie playing like one of the big kids.

We got to spend some time with cousins as well.  Here Phin and Aaron are wrestling...and Millie to avoid the action.

She decided Spencer is a little more her style.

More posts on the First Snow, Thanksgiving and Sleigh Rides to come.

13 MONTHS

Millie started walking the first week in October and hasn't looked back.  For the first few weeks of walking she would take a few steps and then crawl a little.  Then she decided that walking was much easier and started sticking to it full time.  It has been fun to see her little walk progress as she has become more confident in her new motor skills.  She loves to chase Phin around and to be able to get to whatever she wants.  She was quite fascinated with this toy at the playground.

She loves to be close to me as well.  One day I was getting dinner ready and she insisted on sitting on the counter right next to me.  If I am cooking...she wants to be up where she can observe exactly what is going on.  She is a pretty picky eater...and insists on feeding herself.  She has really stated to love applesauce in squeezable pouches.  I also pulled out some refillable pouches and she has been loving vanilla yogurt in the morning.  She can only be trusted with a few cheerios at a time...when she is done eating them she tends to flip them all around the kitchen.  She also loves bananas...but again when she has decided she is done she tends to squish the bananas.

She is soooooo ready for nursery at church.  One day I was asked to substitute so I took her with me.  She loved hanging out with Phin and Zoey.  Seth has walked her down the last few weeks to drop of Phin and she has become quite distraught when they turn around to leave.

She loves to crawl up into the stroller when it is parked in our front room.  

She also loves to stand up in the stroller as well...makes me a little crazy.

We also discovered we have to buckle her into her high chair...or this happens.  One day I was at the grocery store and she managed to stand up in the seat there...I have been tightening the buckles quite a bit since that happened.

Millie loves to be around other cousins.  We loved having Spencer and Aaron over one day to play.

Another example of her love of climbing...I wonder who she gets it from.

I love this picture I captured as we were getting ready for church one day.

Phin update:  Phin also LOVES his cousins.  He thinks all kids are his cousins.  When I ask him questions about school he often talks about the other kids saying "my cousins."

He has become quite skilled at imaginative play lately.  He calls this tree in our front yard his "home."  He often pulls things from inside the house to hide under its branches.

He saved up money this month to buy a bug catching net.  It came in pretty handing when a grasshopper came into the house.  Here he is showing off some of his Ninja moves with the net...this month he has become more than slightly obsessed with Ninjango.