A Great Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great week! Audrey had the whole week off from school, so we got to sleep in until about 7:30 every morning (that's an extra hour for us)!! Randy worked every day but Thursday this week...so the kids and I just relaxed at home mostly, which was great since Audrey and I were both getting over a cold, and Violet was not only getting over an ear infection but was battling a head-to-toe rash due to (we think) her antibiotics for the ear infection (Audrey and Grandma Arlene are both alergic to penicillin, so we think she is too). Luckily, by Thursday everyone was feeling well and we spent the day with Randy's mom and brother. On Saturday we took a quick trip to Visalia for a family get-together coordinated by my Aunt Jane. With all of my cousins now being college-age or older and getting married or moving away, it was great to see EVERYONE there (minus one cousin and my parents, of course). We had a cake to celebrate my Grandma's 85th birthday, and after Grandma blew out the candle on her cake, my grandpa looked at her and said, "Just think Verlie babe, we started this whole mess." Everyone laughed, but I thought to myself..."Yeah, but they have raised us all up to know Christ as the center of our lives...what a great mess to be a part of". I think this last Saturday, I was most thankful to hear my Grandpa pray for our meal, in the same way that he has prayed for so many years..."Our Father in heaven, we pause again to thank you for the wonderful way that you provide for us..." and it always ends..."bless this food that it may strengthen us to love thee more and do thy will in a better way. Amen" I realized that when I pray with my kids every night before bed (if it is my turn) I always end my prayer with, "Grant us a good nights' rest; so that we may wake up, ready to love you and serve you more." May we enter this Christmas season ready to learn how to love God more and serve Him better!

Audrey's Thanksgiving Feast!

Yesterday we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast with Audrey's kindergarten class. Actually, all 4 of the kinder classes set up tables in their playground and ate lunch together. Parents from all the classes provided food (potluck style) and, of course, Audrey wanted to sign up for bringing the most important thing, the turkey. Isaac and Violet and I showed up to eat lunch with Audrey, turkey in hand. It was a fun time...Audrey had even made a hat and necklace for Isaac too, but he didn't want to wear them until he got home. Violet was content to just relax in her chair, enjoying her own share of the lunch (small pieces of bread and cooked veggies). Along with this big event, we had ANOTHER big event yesterday! Violet took her first forward steps! She's been pulling to a stand and taking a couple side steps recently, but last night she pulled up on one of the kitchen chairs and it slid forward a little. So she took a step forward to catch up...she pushed it forward a little, then took a step or two to catch up! Randy got out the video camera to tape her in action (so sorry, no still photos). She'll be walking in no time now! YIKES! Well, aside from these big events, we've had a relatively relaxing week. Most of us have been a little under the weather with sniffles...and Violet, an ear infection. But we've enjoyed the changing colors of the leaves and even a few sprinkles this past week too! We are looking forward to a relaxing Thanksgiving week. Audrey has the whole week off from school and we hope to be able to visit some friends and family close by with the "extra" time. Unless I don't post again, have a great Thanksgiving!Audrey and Baby Andrea in the rain!Isaac in his rain gear...enjoying the backyard!

Violet's Birthday Pictures

Violet's not sure what to do with her cake.I'm not sure I like this. Oh yeah, she likes it. She would have eaten all the frosting off if we'd left it in front of her for a long time.She liked the cake part too! She was so messy after her cake we had to change her clothes before she opened her presents.She loved her little piano from the Bergens!!Hey, what's in here? A Little People Circus from Uncle Kevin!!Of course big brother and sister wanted to help out some.Lots of tissue paper in Rocky's gift! What to do with all the extra? Throw it in the air, of course...or... make pirate caps. Arrr, matey!

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Violet's birthday through cards, gifts, and phone calls. Violet is truly a blessing to our family! Her little screams, smiles, and claps always brighten our day...she is really starting to show off her fun-loving personality! We thank God for Violet and pray we may have many more wonderful years to share with her!

Happy Birthday Violet!

Yesterday was Violet's 1st birthday... Happy Birthday! We celebrated the day casually with lots of hugs and kisses, the kids and daddy sang Violet a birthday song, accompanied by a little birthday jig, and we went to church as a family in the morning. We will have her actual birthday party tonight with some friends and family and I will post pictures in a couple days. So since I don't have any of those pictures yet...I'll post the ones from Halloween.

Audrey & Isaac doing some neighborhood trick-or-treating.
Audrey was Princess Jasmine, Isaac was Dash (from the Incredibles).Isaac and his buddy, Ethan, having some snacks at the church carnival!Our Audrey with Audrey Nicole at the carnival.Isaac, and Princess Violet with Daddy at his work for the hospital's Halloween parade.