November Moments

November was a busy month and we had some fun things happen in between my trip back east and our really fun Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa in town!

We got to celebrate Dekker's 3rd birthday with him at the Martin's new home and had a really fun time being with our friends that we miss having as neighbors!

 Naiya.Sevi.Brookie.Eve.Dekker

Shy little birthday boy!

Wes is definitely not shy and came home after the party and put on a show with Naiya all afternoon! 

These two were super serious and sang their little hearts out and earned $2.25 from passers by!

Wes sang the Star Spangle Banner, Alexander Hamilton, Chandler Oaks School Song and a few others I can't remember. It was pretty amazing! 

The elementary school always puts on a Veteran's Day program and a few weeks before they always ask for pictures or tributes of any veteran the kids know. This year was the first year we participated and Grandma Cindy got us a picture of her dad, Walter Collins and her step dad, Ralph Bulkley.

 My boys loved sporting their patriotic shirts and taking the pictures to salute their Great Grandpas!

Thad is on a Destination Imagination team through his school and this year for their competition they have to build an amusement park ride in an unlikely place. Their team is call Plump Pugs and they have chosen to build a 360* pendulum ride on Planet Pug. They do this on a small scale with recycled items, but they build a script around it and then compete in February. Well, his team decided to head to a local carnival to see if they could get some ideas from observing the rides. I don't know how much science they pulled from the experience, but he sure had fun!

The week before family pictures Eve fell and scuffed her face up at Sevi's house and I was super worried we were going to have to be doing some major photo shopping. She was just worried about keeping it covered with band aids-

Luckily Sevi had a matching owie so she sported it like a champ and it was totally gone for pictures the next week!

We also found that cute girl like this one night-

Dreaming of being a mermaid for sure!

While I was on my trip back east Brian totally rocked the single parent thing and had a lot of fun with the kids. The first day I was gone he met up with the boys for Cheetah Chasers and Wes was so excited because it was the first day for any of the kids to be able to run the neighborhood (runners have to earn it by running the mile under 10 minutes three times in a row) and he was the ONLY Kindergartener! Brian was so proud of both of the boys for being able to run the neighborhood and they both did really well-

They have both been running the neighborhood every time since and are loving it!

I love when these brothers find common ground, they are the best!

The first night I was gone Thad participated in the school spelling bee!

I was so sad to miss this, but luckily he has the best dad and brother that went to cheer him on (bless Ms. Abby for keeping Eve!). He did get out the first round on the word "grins." He thought it was "grince." He was totally bummed and kicked himself for not thinking that through a little more, but he recovered quickly and I know he will study a little harder next time. I don't even care how well he does on these things, I'm just so proud of him for getting up there and trying!

Brian totally killed it with his first pony tails!

 I sure love that guy and that he doesn't hesitate for one second when being left with the kids. They have the best daddy!

He even took them on a fun hike on the Saturday morning I was gone and he got some great pictures!

  

The kids enjoyed some hot chocolate and toast with dad for breakfast one morning and Wes' tasted even better because he had a bandanna on from the pirate birthday party he attended and tattoos on his face from field day at school a couple days before. Life sure is more fun with dad around!

Brian caught this beautiful skyline on one of his morning runs-

The kids had fun one Sunday morning playing out back with dad while I slept in-

And totally killed it in their Sunday attire- 

 I love those faces and fun months with them plastered all over it!

T-giving Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa

Luckily we got Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Kent for FIVE more days after Thanksgiving and we had a blast!

On Black Friday we skipped early morning shopping and headed to the track at Williamson County Park to get a little workout in and enjoy the beautiful weather. 

Afterwards we did head to Home Depot with some of the shoppers to get supplies for our favorite handyman to fix our master bathroom shower with Brian. The boys ended up with these little flying guys from Grandma Cindy and LOVE them!

They kept us pretty entertained all weekend and surprisingly still working!

I had to snap this pic of us all on our different electronics:

Eve knows how to win her way onto Grandpa's lap!

We also had some delicious Rudy's on Friday night and Grandpa Kent was so glad to have that delectable BBQ again! 

Saturday was a fun relaxing day with games around the kitchen table, Brookie's birthday party for Eve and seeing the movie Wonder for the whole family!

 Grandma Cindy brought the game Tenzi for our family, BUT we already own it! So, we played anyways and it was a blast!

Happy birthday, Brookie! 

Wonder was SUCH a good movie! I am so glad we took the kids to see it and I just got the book today for Thad to read. I think I will have to read it myself! 

Sunday was spent at church and lounging. 

Luckily Kristen was so sweet to be our photographer after church and got a picture of our whole group and of my parents for their Christmas card.

 Thank heavens for good friends that take good photos and for awesome parents too.

Monday was our adventure day and after we sent the boys off to school, the rest of us headed up to Waco to check out Magnolia and Bucee's!

We hit up Magnolia first and it was a beautiful day and not very busy on the grounds.

We got cupcakes and shopped and then headed to lunch. 

 We wanted to go to Lula Jane's for lunch, but they were closed for the day so Kelsie recommended Twisted Root and it was delish! We had some yummy burgers and fries.

And on our way home we had to stop at Bucee's!

I think my dad was the most excited about this stop and we loaded up on Beaver Nuggets and beef jerky and were set. This is always such a fun stop for first timers!

These darlings loved being read to by Grandma. 

  

And luckily Grandpa Kent was here on Monday night to fish the rock out of Thad's knee that was in there DEEP!

And of course there was more fun and special moments between it all that just can't get documented. I love these parents of mine and am so glad they came to visit us! We said goodbye to them early Tuesday morning and just like that our visit was over. But I am just so glad we had them! These visits and time spent together are so precious and I am very aware of that.

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa! We love you!