OUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

We've had a great week! Jeff's dad and step-mom, Jim & Gail, arrived Saturday evening and spent the week with us. The kids and I had the whole week off of school and Jeff didn't have to work so we have all had a good time hanging out around the house playing games and just visiting.

Gail brought the kids this game and they have all had fun trying it out......

Gail is also more than willing to play card games and ALL of the kids figured that out quickly. I can't even begin to count how many games of Old Maid, Go Fish, Crazy 8's and UNO they have all played......

The kids (with Gail's help) made some Thanksgiving day turkeys for decorations. They used ritz crackers, white frosting, hershey kisses and candy corn (and Rena added her own touches at the end when we ran out of candy corn because she made so many). Everyone had fun making them and they turned out really cute.....

Jim, Maleah and Jeff having a nice rest in the backyard.....

They just couldn't stand it -- they had to make funny faces.....

Almost dinner time! Notice how I am NOT in the kitchen? That would be because I did not do a darn thing to help with dinner. Gail was awesome and did the whole thing. She offered to do it and I was more than happy to give my kitchen over to her. I was here and available if she needed me, but really she did it all.....and it was delicious!

The table! I did help with that -- although Rena and Maleah had a great time doing most of it.....

Our center piece -- Rena did one side and Maleah did the other.....

Rena and Maleah love olives (or maybe they just like playing with them - either way they always eat them after they play with them!).....

Hanging out after dinner.....

At this point Cameron had had enough sitting and visiting, but he was able to stick it out a little bit longer (only because we insisted!)......

After Jeff and I got back from our Black Friday shopping (yes, we got up at 3:30am & went out) we all headed to our neighborhood park for a picnic and play time.....

Notice who's in the lead.....

Rena is a super crazy hula hooper right now so she decided to give it a try while going across the monkey bars -- it didn't work, but she had fun trying.....

Ah, time to rest.....

Again this year we had so much to be thankful for and it was great to be able to celebrate it all week long with family and friends!!

2010-2011 SCHOOL PICTURES

Cameron - 2nd grade.....

Rena - 1st grade.....

Maleah - Kindergarten.....

WAY TO GO BULLDOGS!

Sunday was Cameron's last baseball game for the season. He actually missed the game because he and Jeff were camping for the weekend, but we made it to the end-of-season picnic. It was a fun season and we are looking forward to Spring ball.

The team and their trophies.....

Play time at the picnic.....

STORY TIME

Maleah had a nice restful afternoon reading stories to her babies and animals.....