Thanksgiving 2014 // Geoff's Birthday

This year, Thanksgiving fell on Geoff's birthday.  And…..he was supposed to work…but, thankfully, someone volunteered to work for him!

So we made him breakfast in bed.

I let him sleep in and the kids had already eaten….but for some reason…his food tasted better than their's, I guess.  Because they kept eating off of his plate.  Especially Nolan.

After breakfast…Nolan helped Geoff make Chex Mix.

And a little play time afterwards.

The night before…these 2 helped me make Geoff's birthday cake.

German Chocolate Cake!

 We went to Geoff's dad's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was such a treat!  We haven't spent a holiday with them in a few years due to our work schedules.  And what was even more special…was that all of my mother-in-law's children were there, too (some live out of state).  So…. the whole family under one roof.  We had a great day, but I didn't take any pictures.  Someone sent me this picture of Geoff blowing out his candles.

Counting my many blessings.

family Chrismtases

Since last Saturday...we have had 3 family Christmases.  I usually have to do a separate post for each one....but this year I was very lacking in taking pictures, so I'm able to fit them all into one.

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Christmas #1...and Gramma & Poppa's

Nolan & Granny

Granny, Gramma, & Nolan

Poor baby wants his Momma.  :)

Nolan was pretty good at unwrapping...then playing with the paper...then playing with the box that the new toy came in...then actually playing with the new toy.

Payton, Parker, and Grace waiting patiently (or maybe impatiently) to open their gifts.

Payton, Parker, Grace, and Nolan

Happy girls!

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Then last Sunday night we went to Papaw & Gran's.  I was a little better about getting pictures here....at least of almost everyone in attendance (Of course, I can never get everyone.  I'm missing my brother, Brian who was also at my mom's house the night before.)

This isn't my favorite family picture...but it is what it is.  Haha!  And I do love my family.

Kristin, Phil, & Payton

Dad & Kay

Aunt Sis & Nolan

Kasey & Anna

me & my baby boy  (I guess at some point I should have gotten one of me and the girls!)

Geoff and Grace....both being a little silly at the time

Kasey, Brian, & sweet baby Anna (the girls have 2 uncle Brians....one is my brother who is not pictured at all...and this Brian is my brother-in-law)

Papaw & Nolan

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Then there was tonight...Grandad and Mimi came over to visit.  Our kids (and us!) are a weeee little bit spoiled.

The girls were very excited that they still had presents to open.

Look at this face...pure joy!  Anna (from the Frozen movie) boots.

Grace is helping Grandad open his presents.

Nolan took a good nap this afternoon...and when he woke up, he got to open his presents.

Again...I was lazy and didn't get many pictures....but at least we got this good one of them with the kids!  Wish I would have done this at every house.

I know I say it often...but we are so blessed by having such a big family.  To be loved and to love so many.  Truly blessed.

Christmas at Grandad and Mimi's

We had a wonderful, but busy holiday season.  I know I have said it before- but each year the holidays just seem to get better with the kids getting older.  And me, too.  I feel like maybe the older I get, the more nostalgic I get.....and the more I look forward to spending time with my family.  Maybe because we all just seem to be busier....we see them less.  And so I really just tried to soak up our three full days of Christmas with our families!

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Up first.....Christmas Eve Eve at my in-laws.  We had both worked the days leading up to this....and Marilyn was so sweet to prepare everything for our dinner.  I brought nothing.  I felt kind of bad, but it was such a gift and blessing to me {and Geoff, too!  Ha!....he helps out so much with these like this since I usually tend to over commit}.

I am tired and, alas, trying to write a few posts tonight so I make sure to get all of our Christmas happening in....so I will try to keep the words few...

Geoff reading Parker's card to her...

Grace is a present-opening pro!

Big sis was sure to check out what lil sis was getting...

Grandad was creative with the boxes he used to wrap their presents.  ;)

This really deserves a whole blog post of its own....Grace's love for the princesses.  I know most girls do....but I just can't seem to get over how much her one-year-old (I know she's almost two) self really loves the princesses.  She knows all of their names and most of their songs.....she sings right along with them just like her sister.  You see- we didn't really get into princesses this early with Parker because she was the first....she had to develop the like on her own, per se.  But Grace thinks she is 4 and it blows us away how much she can do.  And maybe Parker did this much....I don't care.....I love that it still amazes me and I hope it always does.

My camera was too slow to focus....but "Seeping Booty" is her favorite.  We have to sing "I know yoo!" (aka Once Upon a Dream) to her to bed every night.  So anyway- she opened this and gave off the biggest most sweetest smile....and then kissed her {which is the shot I actually got}.  I am serious- it was so sweet.

And then she just gazed at her....and didn't let go of her much the rest of the night.

This is a gigantic princess art/craft box.  Yeh....this has 500+ pieces that come in it!  Thanks, Grandad and Mimi!  ;)  Hahaha.

All of the food was delicious....great cheese ball, then salad, homemade bread, and a pasta dish that I cannot think of the name for the life of me!!  Frustrating.

We watched Mulan while we were there.  "Reflection" is currently one of Parker's favorite songs, but she had not seen the movie, I don't think, until this night.

And, of course- didn't get a picture of our little family (not this night or the 2 that followed!).


More to come....