Thanksgiving, Vol 1

Our 13th year celebrating my Thanksgiving for my side of the family on the Saturday before. My sister and I love tradition and hold to it (sometimes too) tightly. For the past many years, Amy has hosted it at her house and she does an amazing job.

Work-in-progress and all, I'm so grateful for family!!

The birthday girl.

 2006 Club, looking shockingly old.

As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. ~Ann Voskamp

Project 365, Week 47

There have been lots of moving parts to our lives, as we warp up the sale of the other house, move offices, transition sports, and begin rehearsals in earnest. November always has me extra mindful just how very blessed we are. So grateful for life!

November 13

The kids had a day off of school and we ended up with just Avery and Amanda. They did homework at the office in the morning with us and then we went to lunch and did a little shopping. It was fun and different to just be the four of us.

November 14
I took a picture for my dog-crazy teens. These two hang out at my salon everyday.

November 15
My new do, that my teen has been urging me to do for many months.

The kids like to read in the corner of the kitchen, right on top of the heat vent. :)

November 16
Aiden had a bad experience at a basketball camp a couple years ago and has since sworn it off. But its something we think he'll enjoy and would be good for him, so we've worked through it together. After the second practice, he was feeling great about basketball and is so excited he's playing.

An amazing, full-arch rainbow! Aiden and Amanda hopped on their bikes to see if they could find the pot of gold at the end. :)

November 17
Everything is moving along with selling the other house, so it was time to clean our stuff out. Three stories of carriage house (with no place to put any of it)! It was a hard process sorting through old things, remembering times gone by.

My niece Madison was did a featured dance at a women's conference, right after Meredith Andrews lead worship. She is amazing in every way and loves to use her talents for God's glory. It was an honor to have my four girls there with me too. God had a special message for each one of us. 

November 18
There was a free fun run for the kids and Aiden and AJ did the 1-mile together. SO cute!!

Sarah and I were both sporting our newly acquired full marathon shirts, inspiring the next generation.

Later, Amy and Colombo hosted our side of the family Thanksgiving. Yay for cousins!!

November 19
Once again we took advantage of Sunday open houses and went to look at a couple. This house had many positives, including this amazing back deck. We continue to trust that God has just the right house for us, in just the right timing. In the waiting, he's changing my heart.

November's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Friday).

{Document a snapshot of your life & find beauty among the ordinary things in your day! }

I think this is the longest season I've had on my front porch in the mornings, but this was likely my last time being out there for a while.

We invited Amanda's entire soccer team over for a sleepover and she was excitedly preparing goodie bags for her guests.

SO cold, with 40 mi/hr wind gusts.

I bought what I hoped would be plenty of snacks and food for the group.

Amanda happily buzzed around the house, doing unnecessary cleaning and straightening all on her own. It was so sweet to watch her anticipating her guests.

Zip lining and swinging in the cold with the early arrivals.

Crowd pleaser. :) It makes me happy to be in my kitchen cooking and baking to bless people.

Shaun got home from the office, having just closed a deal and looking mighty fine. The only boy in a house FULL of girls. (When Aiden found out the girls soccer team was coming over, he made an SOS phone call to Pop, who rescued him from a houseful of girls. :)

Shaun and I sat and talked about houses and life while the girls watched Lion King in the other room and the older girls were at youth group. I love hanging out with him.

Nice group of girls! My heart is full when my home is full.

The teens/tween got home from youth group and we chatted while they designed bookmarks, leftover from the sleepover crew.

Project 365, Week 46

As I put the week together, I realized we had quite a mix of kids go through our doors. Just the way I like it! It makes me super happy to have my house full of people.

November 6

I ended up babysitting four nieces and nephews this day, which means a cousin party! Gavin actually stayed with us for several days while his parents were away on business. My favorite from the day...too cute!

November 7
Last Running Club day of the season. I'm so thankful for the sweet friendships Amanda has been blessed with.

This time of year, you have to be deliberate about being out in the daylight. We managed to get some fresh air and do some raking, too.

Gavin has these girls wrapped around his finger. He knows how to make them laugh and he knows how to get things from them. I wish the picture captured the beautiful laughter and silliness coming from this room.

November 8
Aiden prepared for the first frost of the season. He is an avid gardener, yet he won't eat a thing that comes from it. What a kid!

Basketball! Due to a scheduling issue, Avery and Aiden's team both practiced on the same court. I love to watch their healthy bodies run and learn new things.

November 9
Games are being pulled out more frequently now and we start to settle in for a long, dark winter.

November 10
We had most of the U12 soccer team sleep over. I heard, "wow...you are so brave" from most of the parents. I didn't see it as brave...the girls were easy and so much fun.

November 11
It was our first "quiet" Saturday in months and it was wonderful! Well, quiet other than feeding thirteen kids breakfast, sending most of them off and then picking up two more kids for a sleepover.

November 12
Morning Legos. :)

Avery had several big school projects over the long weekend.

November 12
Hanging with the sleepover friends. I think it was about 35 degrees, but it felt toasty in the sun. Not warm enough for t-shirts, but...kids!