November for us

So, since I was crazy busy the last 2 months, we are going to play catch up.  November was a fun month with everyday life and visits from friends and family.

 

Kevin, Kate, and Eve at the church across from the temple.  This is how we do snack time while we're babysitting. 

 

I start my girls off young teaching them how to hold babies.  My friend Jenn and her precious Lily came by to visit.  Kate loved her.

Kate and Lily

Jenn and Lily

 

I never know exactly what happens while I'm away, but it's fun that Jane is starting to take pictures.  The girls having a blast with Daddy.

I like the hat Kevin!

Katie looks good too.

We are all about hats tonight.

 

The weather was perfect most afternoons and even though I had too much I could be doing inside, I couldn't pass up the call of the backyard.

Who's cute legs are those in the hammock?

Oh, it's Alice and Jane!

 

I got bored, so I was playing with the camera settings again.  I love black and white.

Jane at the top of the ladder

Katie on the big girl swing.

 

Kevin is still scout master and it keeps him busy.  Here is a picture of what he does while he is away from us.

Scouting for food.  Lively bunch!

 

Our movie stars 

Our own Katie Terry

and Jane Elizabeth

We have a lot of fun in the car!

And we finally got around to carving one of the pumpkins we purchased.  Although, funny story:  We went to a pumpkin patch and bought 3 pumpkins for a hefty price (learned our lesson there) and then I went to Walmart and bought a cheap one.  Well, I tried to carve the big one from the patch, and I couldn't even get a knife through that thing.  None of them.  Then I tried the walmart one and it was perfect.  We'll just go to the pumpkin patch for the hay ride next year.  Oh, Jane created the face and Kevin helped her make it turn out.  I had to go out, so I came home to that beautiful face on our pumpkin.

 

I love pre-school and all the fun things we get to be a part of.

Alice at her class Thanksgiving dinner.  I helped her class make one of the pies.

Daddy was a big hit with not only Kate and Alice, but all the kids.  We love Daddy.

Alice called Gramma this morning and asked her to wear her flag shirt.  We had to get a picture.

Jane lost her top front tooth at school this time.  The tooth fairy again paid her a visit.

 

Jane's school does an international dinner night every year.  We got to sample food from around the world.  It was delicious, but we had to scarf it down because it was also Jane's last soccer practice of her awesome season.

Jane's class' display.  Jane was the British/American.  She was excited to show me her poster.

 

A friend of ours cuts hair and so I had her cut Alice's and mine.

Alice looking thrilled

She was ecstatic because Monica straightened her hair.  It was her best day ever.

Gorgeous, but I still love her curls.

 

Later on that evening we headed out to a campsite with some co-workers of Kevin.  We sadly couldn't camp, but had a lot of fun around the campfire.  Jane had her last soccer game the next morning.

Kate, Me, and the very friendly dog.

Alfredo and his wife.  Kevin gets to travel a lot with Alfredo.  It's fun to get to know the people he works with each day.  Erin was the one who set it up, but we didn't get any good pictures of her and her family.

The girls crashed on the way home.

 

Jane's team played hard and they beat the only team that had defeated them all year on that last day.  Fun, fun!

Jane and her medal.  She came so close to scoring a goal.  Maybe next year.

 

Oh, yeah, that was the craziest day ever.  So as soon as she got her medal we booked it out of there, changed clothes and went to a baptism.  As soon as the baptism was over, we rushed over to Long Doggers for Jane's team end of season party(Changing again). Then we headed up to Viera to my cousin Lisa's little girls 1st birthday party.  Only to leave after an hour to get to another birthday party.  It was crazy.  I think I changed 4 times that morning.

The second birthday party and not the right picture.  I'll see if I can find the coolest shot of Kate doing a butt drop.  Midair!

Kate loved the bouncy castles.

Alice loves to tumble

And attack Minnie

Helping give her sister a push.

 

And then after the party we took the girls home and then I headed back to Lisa's house for a girls night out with my mom, sister Kim, cousin Lisa, cousin Danielle, and Auntie Cheryl.  Sean joined us for a rousing game of Rage.  It was like old times.  So fun.

 

Kim and her family came into town for Thanksgiving.

Sunday afternoon we took a walk on the beach.  Thanksgiving brought some nice cool weather.

The little ones (well for Kim's crew)  Jane, Mikayla, Ben, and Alice

Kevin and potbelly Kate

I love footprints.  I know it's not the best picture.  But you can still see the Dad footprint and the baby footprint.  Love it!

Mike found some driftwood and had some fun with Jacob and Josh.

Jane found a beautiful seashell (they are all beautiful in her opinion)

Casting shadows and testing the water

Lookin' good, Kevin!

Alice in the super wind

Racing the waves

They had fun finding the rocks and then being statues

Katie in the wind

Not a bad picture of myself, with Kate, Papa, and Alice

 

The next day Kim put us to work on tearing out the bushes in front of Mom and Dad's house.  It was quite an ordeal.  We had a good time working together.

I gave the camera to Kate and told her to take pictures.  Not bad.  Kim is talking to Beth while she worked.

I had to take the picture of Gramma with the chainsaw.  I think she had too much fun with that!

How Katie watched the whole thing

 

We took advantage of the nice weather and headed to the zoo

Kate cracks me up

 

And of course, we couldn't have Ben and Mikayla come into town without having a sleep over at our house.   Movie time before bedtime.

The whole gang

Kate was obviously tired

 

And our annual tradition of running the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  I cruised a little faster this year.

Ben, Mikayla, and Jane before the race

Kevin and Kate before the race with our new double jogger.  I like it.

Gramma nearing the finish with the old double jogger and no kids.  They all ran it.

Finishing in just about an hour.

Kevin finishing the 10k in a little over an hour.

 

 

Then we started a new Tradition this year.  I forced everyone to participate in a talent show after Thanksgiving dinner.  I had a blast, and it seemed like everyone else enjoyed themselves too.  Thank you all for participating and humoring me!

Mikayla was the MC.  Mike's niece Wendy came up from Ft Lauderdale to join us for Thanksgiving also.

Nathan got me good (ask me about it sometime)

I sang (well lead everyone in singing) You are My Sunshine

Jacob performed baby shark for everyone's enjoyment

And Mom and I tried to play a duet despite interuptions of laughter

Kevin helped Alice say a little poem.

Kevin did a magic trick.  Jane, Mikayla, Ben, and Alice did about 4 skits.

My dad told a funny story.

Joshua shared artwork.

Wendy shared digital artwork.

Mike shared family history.

And Kate did a somersault!

It could only have been better if Kim had done something.  I look forward to next year!

Gotta love the beach.  It was a bit chilly, but doable.

Our beautiful mermaids

Dad and Kevin

Jacob buried in the sand

I love Alice.  The best is when she wants to go to school with all of those in her hair too.

Putting up the tree

Alice got to put the star on this year

Laying under the lit tree with Daddy.  It doesn't get any better.

Kate and Jane

Alice dancing

Alice relaxing

Jane on Santa's lap.  She was the only one this year who would go near him.  The last evening of the month my mom invited us to go with her to a concert, during which they played movie clips too.  It was a fun evening.  We are ready for Christmas.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We had a bittersweet one.  We rejoiced at the chance to spend time together and eat good food, but were greatly saddenend by the passing of my dad's younger brother, Larry.  It was sudden and we all still miss him greatly.  I love my Uncle Larry!

 

The Christmas post will be coming soon