Project 365, Week 46

This week was fun as we got the first snow of the season and kicked off the holidays with wrapping presents and eating food. I'm so thankful for the gift of family and also for the small moments that often go by unnoticed but add up to memories later.

November 12

It was discovered that teeth-brushing maybe wasn't happening exactly as it should, so I got involved. Youtube has a collection of fun 2-minute songs to brush your teeth to. :)

Aiden and I have been doing a Sudoku puzzle or three before bed. I adore him in his PJs.

November 13
Taco Tuesday. Amanda takes great pride in putting her plate together.

November 14
Apparently she worked in the kitchen quite a bit this week. :)

November 15
First snow of the season, Winter Storm AVERY! :) The kids were beyond excited.

Amanda got us all into the hot tub, while the snow was coming down hard. Crazy! And fun. :)

November 16
Hanging out on the couch in his bathrobe reading a book.

November 17
We gathered together first thing in the morning to put our Samaritans Purse shoeboxes together. The girls were so excited about helping, the boys were so excited about wrestling. :)

Super sweet cousins.

At noon we headed to my sisters for my side of the family's Thanksgiving. Amy and Colombo always  do such a nice job hosting and making everything perfect. It was a lovely day of being together. My SIL said one things she loves about the family is that we do a lot of laughing and there was plenty of it around the table.

J was at a horse show and K was at work. We are blessed.

Just as we were sitting down to eat, Maddy walked in a surprised nearly all of us! She's been in California since September and leaves a big hole when she's gone, so we were so thankful to get that time with her and hear her stories.

2006 Club

3/4 of the 2009 Club

I took the cousins out for a group shot, telling them dessert was being withheld until they cooperated. ;) I stare at this picture and wonder how in the world they are all so big!

I try to explain to my kids that what they have with their family is very unique and special and rare. The fact that they have SO many cousins close to their age, who they love dearly and see often is not common-place. On this day, they played with 18 (eighteen!!) cousins, who they get along with and adore. Amazing.

The two eldest boys could not stand by and watch the younger guys innocently, peacefully chopping away at a snow bank....they were compelled to go out and start a snowball fight. :)

November 18
A recently vacated apartment, so we spent a couple hours airing it out and making it presentable enough to show. The kids worked hard, mostly, and got rewarded with a little cash. And after showers and a quick dinner we took them to see the Grinch.

Classic. Civil Engineer is a definite possibility for Aiden. :)