A James Family Thanksgiving

So for the first time, in the 10 Thanksgivings Rob and I have spent together, we made dinner at our house. It was so great! Rob's parents, Bob and Terri, came in to town for the week to spend Thanksgiving with us. It was so fun and I am not sure I could have pulled off the meal without Terri's help. We started off the week at Broderick's school for his Thanksgiving feast. Here he is in his turkey hat that all the kids made...

Throughout the week we kept busy shopping and spending time with his parents. Thursday of course was busy with cooking and eating. We had our meal for lunch. Lunch was soooo good. Rob deep-fried the turkey, we had mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, baked beans and apple crisp for dessert. As we were cleaning up the dishes Rob started getting Christmas decorations out. He just couldn't wait! Here we all are (minus me) eating. Yes...I really did make everyone wear the hats. The kids had fun, that is all that matters!

Then we all posed family a family portrait...which I think turned out very nice.

Friday Rob and I got up and went shopping at 5am which I haven't done since before Broderick was born. We had a great time, found some great deals, and are now done for the kids. Friday night we went to the light display near by. It was beautiful as usual.

All in all it was a great week. Tomorrow back to work and school...oh yeah...my little

boy turns 5 too!!!!

A week of the Arts

Rob and I had a wonderful date on Sunday night. We went to see The Wizard of Oz on Broadway. Such fun! We used to see a lot more shows prior to having children, so when we get to go now we really soak it up. The play was great! What was even more wonderful though was having dinner without having to tell someone to take a bite of food, (Neither Rob nor I, especially not me, needs help eating.) or having someone interrupting a conversation. I love my kids don't get me wrong. But nights out with just Rob are precious. So then last night we took the kids to this ice skating show. It was a blast! The kids really loved it. Carys starting crying when it was over because she wanted to keep watching it. Broderick said he wanted to learn to skate like "those guys." We will see about that. Maybe hockey instead of figure skating. So it has been the week of finer arts!
Rob's parents are coming in town this weekend so we are also getting ready for that. I am super excited to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house for the first time ever. I have even been making fun crafts with the kiddos. (Those pictures will come later.)
I hope to have pictures of the new floor for you all by the weekend. Rob will diligently be busting them out over the next 2 days and then I will paint the baseboards. After this...I am in no hurry to do another house project for a long time!!!

Nothing Much to Post

Here are some fun pictures of the kids playing in the leaves. We haven't done this as much as we normally do. Maybe this weekend we will get back outside.

My mom emailed me and told me to update my blog. I was thinking it hasn't been that long, why is she asking me to do this! Wow...how did 10 days get by me already? It is this new job...that Diana is keeping me busy! Just kidding! We have been busy doing a lot of stuff. Rob has been hard at work on the floors, (pictures will be posted as soon as it is done), I have been doing a little bit of this and that. Which really seems like nothing, but I know I have been busy. Carys' eye is healing nicely. There may be a little scar though. Sad to think of that gorgeous face having a scar. Rob and I went to Broderick's parent/teacher conference today. I love, love, love his teacher. She really seems to connect with Broderick. At one point we were talking about handwriting and she said, "His name is so stinkin' long. I just tell him to write Brod." She said, "JJ just writes JJ and then he is off and playing and Broderick is still writing." It was very funny. I love his school and he really does well their. I can't wait for Carys to get to go their as well.

We interrupt this blog...

This lovey shelf pictured below used to be adorned with cute little holiday nick-knacks. Like, pumpkins, and a candy dish, and a jar that we would put our change in. While I was cooking dinner last night, the stove is right around the corner from this shelf, I heard a loud crash and then a crying 2 yr old girl. She pulled the shelf over and all the things came crashing down. The only thing I can figure is that she was reaching for some candy, just above her head, and the shelf tipped over.

Now, this lovely girl pictured below has a cut and black eye. This first picture was taken before bed last night. Doesn't look to bruised, right?
This picture was taken when she woke up this morning. A little worse wouldn't you say?
She is a tough cookie. She cried for a little bit, but was great about cleaning it and putting ice on it. As the day goes on it looks more bruised. I am very thankful she didn't get hurt worse.

Trick or Treat

The kids had a great time trick or treating and going to 2 parties. We went in our neighborhood trick or treating with friends, Chris, Tash, and Garrett. Then Jenny, Ben, Lane, Rowan and Beckett came over for a few minutes so the kids could see each other. Broderick went round and round about his costume. He went from Army guy to Knight (because Carys was a princess, he had to protect her). Then Wednesday morning he woke up and said he wanted to be a pirate. WHAT! We have costumes for all 3 of the things he wanted to be. I just couldn't believe he was changing his mind the day before. (Just like a man to be so indecisive!) When he came home from school on Wednesday he said his teacher was being and Army Girl, so he was going to be an Army Guy again. Whew! Thank you to his teacher!

Carys had her mind made up from the beginning. Even if I suggested other things...she always said, "no, me be a princess." I thought for sure this year she would not really have a clue.

Who was I kidding?
I love this picture of Broderick hiding in the the tall grasses. He kept making these "mean" faces. I think his costume was my favorite to date!

Oh yeah, one more thing...

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!!