My oh my, how the holidays fly!

Halloween

We all had so much fun trick or treating on Halloween night. And by "we" I mean, Nate, me, a darling cheetah, the prettiest Cinderella, and the cutest little monkey I've ever seen. We met up with our next door neighbors and went around a few blocks. Simon and I were a little slower than the rest of the lot, being that he's one and a half and I had a boot on my foot! The night was considered a huge success (a.k.a. the kids got a LOT of candy)!

After the trick-or-treating fun, we went over to our friends' the Andrews' house for a chili dinner. What a great way to end the night! Thanks guys! Why did I not get pictures? All I can figure is my battery died or something.


Thanksgiving

Preparing for the big day...

The night before, I got to go over to my friend Christine's and learn to make pies (as did our friend Launa). Sure, my mom has taught me before, but if you don't use a skill, you lose it! Besides, if you get a chance to cook with Christine, you take it! She's gourmet!

We made pumpkin, pecan and coconut cream! Mmmmmm!

We were invited to our dear friends the Andrews' house for dinner. Everyone brought dishes to share and it all turned out delicious! We brought broccoli casserole, cornbread dressing, fruit and ham that Nate cooked on the BGE. It was a lovely time. I'm so thankful for great friends!

After stuffing ourselves, we all gathered to check on the hot deals for black Friday. I've never been one to go out (sorry to all the die-hards). But, I'll tell you this...I did do some shopping that day (on-line, that is).I can't let this opportunity slide by without showing some pictures of the yummy food. After all, it did have a "starring role" of the day.
(especially for you, Kristin) ;)

It was a day I'll remember and am thankful for,
full of friends, good food, and a whole lot more.
"More?" you ask? Well, you see,
the day will hold more than one memory.
The children delighted in seeing each other,
running and laughing, one with another.
We, the adults, also had fun,
talking and visiting (and eating a "ton").
I'm thankful for much, but above all the rest,
I'm thankful for the bounteous ways I am blessed.

Remember?

Remember when I went to SC to surprise my Mom for her 60th birthday?


The moment of truth...


It was so PERFECT! My sister picked me (and Simon) up from the airport. We'd planned a little surprise party drop in at her house for shortly thereafter. A few close friends were there to surprise her when she arrived (thinking she was picking Kara up to go to lunch). Simon and I were hiding in a back bedroom. Once she settled in a bit, we made our appearance. She had just dipped a chip in salsa and was about to eat it when we came around the corner!

Sorry the shot's a little shaky, but I was shaking with excitement! It was a moment I will never forget. I'm sure she won't either! I'm so thankful I have such a wonderful hubby, who supported and even encouraged me to go, as well as wonderful friends who helped so much with my girls! Thank you all!

I love you Mom! I hope you had a very happy & memorable birthday!


{You're not getting off that easy! More posts to come on our visit!}

The last day of Grandma's visit

All good things must come to an end. And so it was with Grandma's visit.
Her last day, (on our way to the airport, as a matter of fact) we surprised Julia by meeting her at school for lunch. We all sat with her while she ate and visited one last time before Grandma had to go back to Utah. Julia was absolutely delighted!

Simon loves ANYTHING on wheels.

Peek-a-boo Julia!

Thank you, again, Mom, for coming to see us. We LOVED having you and look forward to when we'll get to see you again!

Galveston trip (back in October)

While Nate's Mom was here, we had the opportunity and pleasure of traveling South a bit to see Nate's Aunt Pam, Uncle Mike & their kids, his cousins, Lauren and Tanner. We met them at their house in Houston, where we enjoyed:
meeting Jeffery the bearded dragon,
partaking in a yummy BBQ,
and the kids even played in the pool (but mostly the hot tub because the pool was chilly!)

Lauren came bearing gifts for the kids...
A&M stuff (she said they have to start the brainwashing young). :)
I might have quite a bit of family that would cringe seeing that (Texas Tech fans that they are).

After our meal, we all headed out together to their house in Galveston. It was late when we got there, but we could tell it was beautiful. The next morning, it was so nice to wake up and take in the beautiful views...(and, of course, get right to enjoying the fun!) The girls wanted to fish (but didn't catch anything that first time)!

Pam and Mike took us over to the beach side to see all the devastation Hurricane Ike caused there. It was awful...and fascinating...and terrible...and utterly unbelievable.

Liliana standing next to a heap that was once part of a house.

Nate and Mike (to their left was what used to be beach front property, behind them, a street and the houses on the other side of the street).
Me, with my lovely booted foot wrapped in an even lovelier garbage bag (hey, it kept the sand out!), in front of the only two houses that were still standing. Even if those homes are livable, they are uninhabitable because they are now too close to the water. They are actually in the water!
{sorry, that smile on my face seems quite out of place - "Oh, I'm having my picture taken...smile!"}
A house that used to be beach front property, sitting high on stilts.

These stilts, to be exact (see the house in the background?).There were all kinds of random things on the beach that used to be in houses.
(Just like there were random things along the sides of the road, far from the ocean...like BOATS).

Grandma steered Simon away from just walking right in to that house. Thanks Grandma!

Liliana was worried that the ocean was going to come back and cause damage again (or that another storm would come). She was pretty affected by it all.
See her bucket? It was filled with shells. The beach was covered in them! (Shells and random buckets alike).

Julia was drawn to the water (of course).
She got soaked (not without a little help from Daddy).

We left the beach behind and returned to Pam & Mikes beautiful house for the remainder of our time. We enjoyed fishing, relaxing, playing games, talking, visiting, riding in the golf cart, kayaking on the bay, and much, much more.

I love this picture of Nate and Lili lounging in the boat slings. So cute!

Nate even got in the water. It was pretty cold, but he was helping fish out some of the pulley weights that came off the boat sling system during the storm. Thankfully, their house didn't get too much damage (the "wash away" level was damaged and their deck looked as if it'd been sand-blasted in some spots, but only if you were looking for it).

Julia had the best time catching crabs and shrimp in a little net! She was good at it too! I know, it's really not that surprising.

Golf cart fun...
Simon's wind-blown look. :)

Lili & Simon enjoyed the hammock.
Simon is holding a pomegranate in that picture. The kids loved eating them out on the deck!

Games are so much fun! Anyone up for a round of "golf"?

We all took a little walk in the nature preserve. The storm was so hard on it! The salt water killed all the plants. We had to turn around part-way in because the mosquitoes got so bad! They were literally swarming!

It was a good thing we were done, because I (my foot) was done walking! Ali got the golf cart and I took the kids for a ride...or was it that they took me?

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Nate's family and spending it with them in their beautiful home! Thank you so much guys! We love you and can't wait to see you again!