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Thanksgiving Family Photo 2011

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(Ila was in my tummy)

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Happy Thanksgiving Again!

 Today we had another wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house.  My mom for a few years now has hosted Thanksgiving on the Friday after Thanksgiving. 

 Here is my dad with one of  his older sisters, my Aunt Beverly.

 My parents set it up this year as a buffet.  My mom again outdid herself.  She makes the best stuffing and that's my favorite part of the meal. 

 My brother Todd and his wife Stephanie.

 Here is my Uncle Bob with Levi.  Uncle Bob is my dad's younger brother.

 My dad and Lulu.

 Here is everyone after the meal sitting around talking.

 Earlier in the day we came over to my parents house around 10:30am.  We wanted to spend the day with my parents.  Here are the kids having lunch out in the living room.

 It was such a relaxing day with my parents.  My mom and I did a little cooking together.  She read a lot of books to the kids.  They played and played. 

 Mark had some work so he did that at the kitchen counter.  Praise God for work!!

 My parents recorded the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.  So the kids got to watch that.  We also watched the old version of Miracle on 34th Street.

 Here we are earlier on in the day.  This is my parents home.  This is the home I grew up in since I was 6 months old.

 Lulu got to write out the names for the place settings.

 Her I am with Ila May, her first Thanksgiving.

 Levi and Ila both took naps today at my parents before all the guest showed up.  This is my old bedroom. 

 Here is Lulu bouncing around the house.

After we left around 8pm we took my Uncle Bob home.  Mark and I live 2 min from my parents home.  Uncle Bob and Aunt Tamar live 2 min in the other direction from us.  We are right in the middle.  Basically the same neighborhood.  This home is just down the street from all of us.  So festive!  

Happy Thanksgiving

Here is this years Thanksgiving picture.  It's always stressful fun trying to get the perfect picture.  Mark encouraged me this year to just go with the very first one I take.  So the top one is it.  I like that idea!  Back in the "old" days of film cameras we only would get one (maybe two) tries.  That's my new goal, the first picture is going to be what you see here. 

 This was just too cute for me not to post.  I love Levi and Lulu touching heads.  They just love each other so much.

 This year my brother and his wife Stephanie hosted Thanksgiving at their new house in Seattle.  It was a mix of my mom's side of the family and Stephanie's mom's side.
Yes, those are chickens my brother and Stephanie are holding.  No, we didn't eat chicken, we had a very nice turkey.  Todd opened up the back door and 2 of their chickens ran into the kitchen. The kids loved it.   

 Lulu and Levi got their very own table and could color on the table cloth (paper)!

 This is my cousin K.C.  We grew up together, she's 3 years younger then me and got married a little over a year ago.

 Todd and Stephanie did an amazing job hosting.  They had 3 tables set and made everyone feel so special with the details and thought put into the evening.

 My parents with Levi, Ila May and Lulu.

 Mark and Levi playing after dinner.

 The girls, my mom with Lulu and Ila May and I.

Here is my brother at the very end of the evening eating pie with Lulu and Levi. 

...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Johnny Jump-Up

 I finally got the Johnny Jump-Up out.  Lulu and Levi were both in this when they were babies.  Now it's Ila May's turn.  We hung it from the door jamb in Mark's office.  She seems to like it.

Sitting Around the Fire

 Around here it's been very cold.  We have not been outside in a while.  It's just too cold and wet.  I always forget about this time of the year.  The rest of the year we are able to enjoy being outside even if it's wet because it's not that cold.  So we have been playing inside a lot.  Lot's of coloring, projects, baking, laundry :) and fires!!!

 The past few evenings we have sat around the fire reading stories and eating popcorn. 

A Box

It's true, all they really want to play with is the box, not the toys.  

What I'm Thankful For...

 My refrigerator!

An older lady was asked what modern kitchen appliance would she hate to go without these days. She said "running water."  WOW!  Can you imagine? 

This week our fridge stopped working.  We woke up and the temp inside it said 68 and there was a smell coming from it.  Yuck!  We had to toss most things but also were able to freeze some and save the pickles along with other things.  Very thankful that not too much was wasted.

 Mark called Sears where we bought our fridge 6.5 years ago and today we had a technician come out to repair it!!  Last night we deep cleaned the fridge and freezer.  We figured it was a good time to do it since nothing was in it.

 Here's our repair man.  He gave us a time between 1pm and 5pm.  He showed up at 1pm!! My grandpa always said "if you're going to be audited make your appointment on Friday at 4pm." Well, I think the theory works with repair men too. Our repair man was quick and knew right away that we needed a new fan motor.  

 I'm thankful I no longer have to live out of our cooler.  It's been so cold here lately that just keeping things outside worked really well too.  So that is a blessing.

 I'm thankful for my amazing parents! My parents ran to the store for us the first night and bought us ice and some staples since we had to toss most of our things.  Thank you!!

 Ahhh, here is my fridge right now.  It's working!!!  Sort of bare but I'm thankful for my working fridge and our well stocked freezer.

A funny story about this fridge is that 6.5 years ago when we bought this house we had to buy a fridge.  We had seen the house with out a fridge in it and I was used to seeing the big void in the kitchen where the fridge should have been.  So the day we moved in I was at home waiting for Sears to deliver our brand new fridge.  Mark was at work and when the fridge showed up I called Mark crying.  I told him we needed to return it, it was just too big!  LOL.  The silly things we cry over.  I was overwhelmed with just moving and now my kitchen seemed too crowded now.  But actually it's the perfect size for us now.  I love it and with a growing family it has been great.  

Ivan Tom

Tonight we were out running errands.  We had a few stops to make.  Since Levi is doing such a great job with potty training, we had to stop when from the back seat we heard him yell "I have to go...." So we found a McDonald's and also got some dinner.  We found a table and sat next to Ivan Tom.  Ivan Tom was so sweet and was talking to us about our children.  He told us that he was one of 16 children and that he was right in the middle.  He encouraged us and asked us if we were Christians right after Mark prayed before we ate.  We said "yes we are" and he told us he was too.  Then we talked about church and the blessing that children are. He encouraged us to "train them up in the way they should go."  He then shared with us that he has 4 sons and his youngest son is our Senator Rodney Tom.  It's always neat to visit with people.  You just never know who will encourage you or who you might get to encourage. 
But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  Hebrews 3:13

Mark's Birthday

 Yesterday was Mark's 36th birthday.  I met Mark when he was 26.  I have almost known him for 10 years! We had a really nice day.  I made Mark a big breakfast, one of his favorites. Spuds, eggs with bacon and hot sauce all over it.

 We did gifts in the morning when Mark's mom showed up.  She spent the day with us. 

 We got Mark some fancy canned coffee drinks, 3 new ties that Lulu picked out (thrift store finds), PJ bottoms, some new chili paste and hot sauces, 2 books (thrift store finds) and some of fun things. 

 Mark's mom and step dad are now up in Washington for a while.  They own a warehouse north of us about 45min and they are trying to get it rented.  So until it's rented they are now living in their motor home in the warehouse.  We are so excited about that because we get to see Mema so much more now.  I'm sure we will be going up to the warehouse soon and Papa Tony will hopefully get to meet Levi and Ila for the first time.  God's plans aren't always what we would choose but we know that there is a plan and a purpose.  Papa Tony (Mark's step dad) has never met Levi or Ila so having them this close hopefully will be a blessing and answer to prayer.  We are praying that God would move mountains in that relationship.

 Here is Levi doing the happy dance as Mark was opening his gifts.

 Lulu helped make this cake and she put in the candles too!  This cake is from the Duggar's website HERE. It was very yummy. 

Here is Mark with him mom, Connie. 

Happy 36th Birthday Mark!

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11