Thanksgiving in Minnesota

 On Friday, I had to work. John stayed home with the kids and built Legos and just enjoyed being home with the kids. I had a nice, steady day at work. I got off around 1:30pm and then headed to the gym before going home and packing and heading to Minnesota. 

We left home around 3:45pm with a very full car. We stopped to fill up in Windom, and then we stopped to drive through the light display in Sleepy Eye. We were pretty impressed with the lights, and the kids really enjoyed it. 

We got to my parents' house around 7:00pm, and we had a great supper of homemade soup and grilled cheese. Elliott opened his gift from Grandma and Grandpa (a power ranger sword) and the kids played while we played some Sheepshead for a while. It was nice to spend some time with Mom and Dad before everyone was there and the craziness started. We played Sheepshead until around 11:00pm, and then we called it a night. 

Saturday was the Thanksgiving celebration. While mom and dad got things ready in the kitchen, I got the kids outside to burn off some energy and play catch with a football. It was actually pretty nice outside, so we stayed outside playing for a good hour. Eventually John and Grandpa joined us, and even Ryan for a little while once he got there. 

After Rachel, Carlos, Elena and Emily arrived we ate dinner. It was another delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings. I brought a huge Pumpkin and a huge Pecan pie, buns, and some beer and wine. We all ate too much good food. We passed the afternoon with some games and cards, and I made some time to play with the little kids as well. Elliott opened a couple more gifts, and everyone enjoyed the day. 

We did make it outside again in the afternoon to throw airplanes with the kids, and to throw the football around again. It felt really good to get up and move around, and the kids really enjoyed the activity. 

Toward evening, we ate a light supper, and then everyone went home. We enjoyed just sitting in the living room visiting and relaxing until we were all too tired and went to bed. 

Today, we started off with church at Emanuel (we haven't been there in a long time!). Then after church we stayed to help decorate for Christmas. We hung up the lights, set up the tree and decorated it, and helped clean up afterwards. Back at mom and dad's we made a french toast, egg, and sausage brunch, and then we packed up to head for home. 

We had a really good holiday weekend, but it is really nice to be back at home. I missed my home. We got home around 5:00pm, and then unpacked, did laundry, made lunches for school tomorrow, did piano lessons with Emma, did some reading, and now we are finally relaxing after the kids are in bed. What a weekend. 

This next week will keep us busy as well. I have three late shifts, and mid-week Advent services start this week, and a couple church meetings for John and I. We will not be bored. 

However, I am loving all the Christmas lights and music going on right now. We are totally in my favorite time of the year!!

Sheepshead with the family 

Grandma with her Grandkids 

Tea Party Fun 

Sutton Thanksgiving

 On Thanksgiving Day we headed to Brookings to Dennis and Jenny's house to celebrate. Katie was there with a couple of college friends, Andy, Emily and Malia were there, Jim and Barb were there, and Sharon and George. 

We spent most of the morning at home watching the Thanksgiving Day parade while the kids put together Lego sets that Elliott got for his birthday. The parade was really fun. The kids always enjoy the big balloons and the beautiful floats. 

We got to Brookings around noon. I brought my strawberry salad again, and some wine. We ate at around 12:30, and had a great Thanksgiving Day meal. There was way too much food, but it was really good. 

After the meal, we watched some football and played Sorry with Elliott. Then, Bingo, the main event, occurred. Dennis really got into it again this year and called bingo with a cowboy hat on. Oh, and he had prizes again this year. Out family came away with Vanilla pudding pack, Spam, and then Elliott won a $10 Hy-Vee gift card, which totally made his day. 

We played around 7 games of Bingo, which was plenty. After that, the adults visited while the kids played with some new toys. It was a really nice gathering. We left at around 5:00pm, and then just enjoyed a quiet evening at home while watching a little football. 

In a flash, the day was over. I had been looking forward to Thanksgiving for a couple weeks, and just like that one of our celebrations was over. The holidays always seem to be such a blur. 

Elliott Turns 7.

 It's been a big week around here. Elliott had his friend birthday party, his first sleepover, and then he turned 7 years old. 

On Tuesday (the day before his birthday), it was the last day of school before the holiday break for Thanksgiving. So, we had his birthday party at Skyzone after school. Elliott was so incredibly excited, it was cute. 

I was there alone with 10 kids for a little while, and it went pretty well. I got all 10 kids checked in, got them their socks, and then at 4:00pm they could start jumping. All the kids had a really good time. They jumped and played hard for the full hour. Elliott invited all the kids in his classroom, and only one kid couldn't come, and then Emma was there as well. John came and joined us around 4:30pm. 

At 5:00pm, the jumping was over and we went into the party room to eat pizza and cake, and then open presents. The kids were loud and rowdy, but overall everyone did really well and had a great time. 

Elliott begged to have some friends overnight, so Rory and Jacob came home with us and spent the night. Overall, it went pretty well. It was very loud in our house, and the boys didn't go to bed until after 10:00pm, and they were up at 6:00 am, so that wasn't the greatest. But we survived, and Elliott had the time of his life. 

Wednesday was Elliott's official birthday. I had the day off, and after dropping off the boys, we enjoyed a nice morning at home. At noon, we met Jim, Barb, Katie, and John at Azteca for a birthday boy lunch. The food was great, Elliott opened his gifts, and he even got to wear a sombrero and have Happy Birthday sang to him. He was living the good life. 

The rest of the day was busy as well. After lunch. Elliott got really tired and I convinced him to take a nap. While he napped, I got my Strawberry Salad ready for Thanksgiving the next day, and cleaned up the crazy house. In the evening, we had Thanksgiving Eve service at church. The choir sang, and then we had a nice Thanksgiving Eve service with our favorite hymns and lessons. 

Side bar: Poor Elliott was really confused when he woke up from his nap at 5:00pm, and we had him change for church and it was dark outside. He thought it was the next morning, and he yelled at us that he didn't even have breakfast yet. It was pretty funny. Then we told him it was still his birthday and he couldn't believe it. 

Elliott is now 7. I truly cannot believe that. Where does the time go? He is really stretching and getting very tall. He is by far the tallest first grader. He is doing really well in school. We had parent teacher conference a little while ago, and he is doing great. There are some minor things he could work on, but his math and reading and behavior in school are all really good. He makes us very proud!

Elliott's likes: Pokemon, Minecraft, Youtuber videos, Mario, stuffed animals, snuggling, telling stories, crafting, reading with mom or dad, doodling, 

Elliott's dislikes: zipping up his coat or wearing a hat, when life is "unfair", Emma touching his things without his permission, being teased-especially by dad

These are just general things that Elliott is into right now. He is a pretty sweet boy most of the time, and he interacts very well with others. He is not shy, and he is good at asking for what he wants. He is really wishing for a Nintendo Switch this Christmas and he gives the best hugs ever. 

Happy 7th Birthday, Elliott. Please don't grow up too fast. 

Enjoying the Chris Stapleton Concert 

Trans-Siberian Concert 

Last night with a 6 year old 

Sky Zone fun 

Birthday fun!

Birthday time at Azteca 

Happy 7th Birthday!

Catching up on fall activities

 Here we are, in the middle of November already. Once again, our days are crazy busy and the weeks are flying by. In early November, we had Fall fest at school, so we made some baskets, served some chili, and enjoyed socializing with others. 

We have been enjoying some Christmas crafts and have gotten into full holiday spirit. We have all of our Christmas decorations up, the tree is up and decorated, and I have Christmas music on 24/7. I love this time of year. Poor Thanksgiving gets kind of overlooked, but all this Christmas stuff makes me happy. 

The kids have been busy with homework, school, and just general busyness. Yesterday, they went over to Liana and Andrew's house to play for the afternoon, which they loved. And then we went to a Stampede Game. John picked up some free tickets from the radio station, so we all got to go for free which was pretty awesome. It was a fun game, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The Stampede lost 3-1. 

This next week is going to be a killer. We have two concerts this week, a full busy work week, and then Elliott's birthday party next week along with Thanksgiving. Oof-da. I'm excited for all the family time, but these next two weeks are going to be crazy. 

We are getting into the holiday season, and things are going to be more and more busy and crazy. Today, Katie is over here watching the Vikings with us before we eat some brisket chili and cheesecake. I attempted some Instant Pot cheesecake, so we will see how that is. And then John and I have a Chris Stapleton concert tonight, and Katie is going to watch the kids and put them to bed. John and I are going to have a rough Monday morning, but it will be worth it. 

Later this week, I won tickets to the Transiberian Orchestra tickets, so we are going to that concert on Thursday. So, that is our crazy week. 

Here's to the holidays and concerts. 

Meng stole my phone and took some selfies at work 

Veteran's Day program at school 

Go Stampede