Thanksgiving 2013

Atticus and Harper were in town for Thanksgiving this year so John and I got to spend a lot of quality time with them.  We had the most fun!

Every year, the Gaylord Texan hosts a program or show called ICE!  The Johnson's go every year.  This year, they invited us to go.  So, we did.

Merry Christmas!  We all got our photo in the "present".

Afterwards, we went to the bakery where the kids and Ed all got a cookie the size of their heads.

I had to sneak up behind Harper to get a bite.

 

John and Allen.

Next stop - the show.  In order to go in, everyone has to wear these blue parka's because it's freezing in there, literally!

These ice sculptures are amazing. 

The theme this year was the Nutcracker.

There were tons of people all wearing the same blue jacket.  It was hard to keep up with the family.

The Johnsons.

Me and Chantal.  Harper looks like she's being swallowed up by her hat.

We double dog dared him to kiss the ballerina so we could see if his lips would stick to the ice.

The boys:  Drew, Atticus and Dane.

After the show, we had a sleepover at my house.  Mom, Atticus and Harper came to stay with us. 

Harper decided that we needed to put up my Christmas tree.  It was kind of late so we only put up the little one.

A lovely decorating job.

Me and Harper.

Atticus and Harper in front of the tree.

The weather outside was cold!  So, we turned the fire on.  The kids seemed to really like the fireplace.

The day before Thanksgiving, my mom brought the kids back over for another sleepover.  We all ran errands during the day and then Atticus wanted to do the go karts.  We were afraid it was going to be too cold but we decided to go for it.  Uncle John went first.

Then Atticus.

They took off like a shot.  Here comes Uncle John around the bend.

 Followed by Atticus.

Meanwhile, the girls were inside playing games.

Before we left, the boys wanted to go again and this time Harper wanted to go.  So she and I rode in a double cart and the boys each got their own.  We got to leave the chute first followed by John and Atticus.  I was trying to get the hang of driving the kart when the boys passed us up.  Harper screams, "Go faster!  They're passing us!"  I wish I'd had a camera.  She had the wind blowing in her hair and a big smile on her face.  In my defense, I had the peddle to the metal.  Still, we laughed and laughed.

I think we all agreed that the go karts were the most fun.

The next day was Thanksgiving.  John cooked the turkey.  Mom made the gravy.

 The boys were all outside playing football.

 James, Brendan and Atticus.

 Brendan, Atticus and John.

 

Harper did her own make-up.

 Lounging around after dinner.

Watching the game.  As usual, it was a great Thanksgiving.  I love spending time with our families.  Having Harper and Atticus with us this year was a bonus.

So here are the Andretti brothers coming out of the chute....

Phoenix - October 2013

As I mentioned, my sister got married this past weekend in Phoenix.  My mom and & I went out Thursday night so we could do girly things on Friday. 

We got this love note from Harper.  It was taped to the garage door.

We were goofing around in Harper's room.  Harper loves to climb all over Grandma.

The day of the wedding, we went over to my sister's and hung out with family until it was time to go.  I'm not sure what they're up to but here's Atticus and Uncle John.

Mom and John.

John gave the kids money as a treat.  He gave Harper $20 and she was so excited she had to show him what she was going to get.  She's showing him all the My Little Pony dolls and getting his opinion on which one she should get.

Marina came in from Florida for the wedding.  She was excited to spend time with the kids. 

Atticus was showing Marina how to shoot with the Nerf gun.

This was the sweetest thing.  Harper came running in and she said to John, "Uncle John, you're the best!  You give me money and you're nice to me."  Best $20 he's ever spent.

Tres and Marina.

All of us.

Harper is always up for a selfie.  I'm not sure where we were going but we were having fun.

We wanted Atticus in this one.

 

Marina and Linda enjoying a lovely beverage as they watch Tres get her make up done.

After the wedding, we all went back to my sisters with the kiddos.  Atticus' birthday is Friday so he went ahead and opened his gifts.  He got a rack to hold his Tae Kwan Do belts.

Harper wants to help.

I'm not sure what he got here but I'm sure it's something for him to build.  He's really good at that.

Another gift...

Nerf gun!  He loves those!  I can't believe he's already going to be 11.

Atticus and John watching tv.  Whatever it is, it must be good.  They are mesmerized.

And finally, Harper is reading.  Here's a snippet of her reading One Fish, Two Fish. Red Fish, Blue Fish to me.