our story: Thanksgiving 2012

Frankenstein Hand Experiment

Harper has such patience for the girls. She does not, however, have patience for Brock.

Ella's Bathroom Mirror Messages

I think this one says, "Dad I love you mom I love you."

Sophie's Puffets (that's what she calls puppets)

Treats for the neighbors from the new kids on the block.

As a little kid, me and my family would often take pictures of our amazing-looking food. This, my friends, is a sammich!

Ella and Dad's turkey for school

Chad and his dad made our new table out of some barn wood that we had in one of our barns.

For the first night at our new table, we had to make an extra special meal!

Chicken Cordon Bleu

For Brock's Thanksgiving feast at school, we were to make an apple pie. While peeling the apples, Brock left a trail of apple peels.

This year's Thanksgiving was a little different than years past. Ella was running a fever, so her and I stayed home while Chad took Brock and Sophie to the Heusinkvelt Thanksgiving. To make it special for her, we decided to make handprint turkey cookies. She had a lot of fun with it; however, she ended up taking a turn for the worst that evening when her fever spiked to 104.7 and she was complaining of being dizzy. I took her into the ER, and it turned out to be strep, and she was very dehydrated. She broke her fever the next day and made a full recovery!

Once everyone was feeling better, we had our own Christmas party for setting up the tree. The kids (and Mom) were able to pick out their favorite snacks for the special occasion.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Harper had to stand guard the oven while the smoked turkey finished cooking. Once she realized that the turkey was not coming out...

she moved to more familiar territory.

Homemade Apple Cider

The girls had to wear their Christmas dresses.

Sophie Bang Bang's New 'Do

In the few days preceding this event, I told them the story of their Aunt Lindsey who cut her bangs to her scalp and how when they grew out, they stuck straight up. I then said, "So never, ever, EVER cut your own hair!" This was quite surprising when she came downstairs without her bangs. Maybe I gave her the idea. ???

He's makin' a list and checkin' it twice! Or maybe 3 or 4 times with our kids.

Typically Elfie comes the day after Thanksgiving, but this year, he was M.I.A. The kids were worried that Elfie could not find our new house, and Ella said she spotted two elves upstairs -- one by Brock's room without a hat and one in her room with a hat. We knew Elfie was somewhere, but didn't know if he had become part of Harper's fertilizer. It was only until we were all packed and ready to go to the Hiller Thanksgiving that Brock and Dad finally found Elfie. Brock walked into the house to see Elfie sitting on the table writing a letter. In the letter, he explained that he had a hard time finding our new house, and if we find him in comprising situations in which Harper could get him, please put him in a safe place. I have to say, he has become quite the mischievous elf this year.

Ella and her reading buddy, Lucy.

All ready for school!

Thanksgiving weekend I also ran my first 5K in the Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis. Chad had kept asking me if I was okay to run because I had been under the weather, but I assured him that it wasn't in my chest, so I was fine (even though my cold went right to my chest after the run). It may have been in my chest all along, but I didn't catch pneumonia, and I did it for a good cause. :)