Thanksgiving 2014...

We had such a nice Thanksgiving this year.  The kids were off the whole week and it was fun to have a break from the school routine.  Monday we did rotating stations (20 min each of puzzles, computer, and playdoh), grocery shopping, and family night.  Tuesday we had friends to play in the morning and sent the big girls to play in the afternoon.  I spent most of the day Wednesday getting my food assignments ready, so I kept the kids busy with rotating stations and more playdates!  I made 72 crescent rolls, a key lime pie, 2 pumpkin pies (all with homemade crusts), jello salad, and a sweet potato "souffle".  Yum. 

I met 2 of my friends early on Thanksgiving morning to go for a run in the nice weather.  We did a little over 4.5 miles and it felt great.  Then I hurried to get ready so we could get our family out the door by 7:30.  We made it downtown for the parade around 8:05 or so.  Dad, Tyler, Shad and Amy and their 5 kiddos beat us there and claimed a fantastic spot (although the street we were on didn't fill in for until the parade was close to starting).  It was cold enough for coats but not nearly as freezing as last year.  We had fun chatting and keeping the kids busy with races and relays while waiting for the parade to start.  It was a good parade this year.  My girls were especially excited to see Elsa and Anna on one float and a giant balloon of the Magic Schoolbus. 

 

Our whole family--we almost got everyone to look in the same direction...

The little girls sang a nice (LOUD) rendition of Let It Go before the parade.  It was adorable.

We went straight to Shad's house from the parade and enjoyed the day.  Carrie and Tyler met up with us there (Carrie did the Turkey Trot in lieu of the parade).  We ate our big meal around 1 pm, played games, napped, and watched the kids swim (too cold for me that day with the air at 60 and water at 78).  Carrie and Ty headed home around 9, but Dan and I and our kids stayed the night.  Dan and Shad got up early to play basketball and Amy and I got breakfast for the kids.  All the boys (Dan, Shad, Dad, Ty, and my stepbrothers Alex and Charlie) went shooting around 10 am.  The kids played and we swam again (this time the water was at 85 and I even got in!).  We enjoyed leftovers and headed home around 3 pm.  We came home and enjoyed some Friday night redboxes (one for the kids, one for us).  We were exhausted but had a great holiday! 
 
The babies' spot (Ellie and Jack)...

The 3 to 7 year olds (Molly, Brooke, Candy, Chloe, Megan)...

The spread...(delicious.  everything.  so so yummy!)

The 10-11 year olds (Hailey and Zach)...

And Megan's thankful turkey from school that made my heart happy.  "I am thankful for: my hose (house), my famly like my brother and sisters"

Look-alikes

Dan's Dad sent us some old photos of Dan as a young toddler.  And while I always thought Jack favored Dan, this proved it.  They are both pretty cute!

Dan is somewhere right around one year old in these pics.  That's his Grandpa Jack (our Jack's namesake) in the top left picture.  

Our little mini-Dan on his first birthday--Nov. 4, 2014

One Year...

One year ago we were sitting in a hospital room waiting to meet our sweet little boy.  It was love at first sight of that little bruised face and we have loved every minute of this year with him.  He is easy-going and happy.  He brings so much joy to our family.  I love watching each of his sisters interact with him.  A common fight in our house is over who gets to play with/sit by/hold Jack.  In the past few weeks especially, he has turned into a squirmy worm, wiggling off my lap and exploring anything he can find.  He has 2 teeth, eats anything he can gum, and loves to sleep with a binkie and a satin/soft blankie.  He is very ticklish (especially under his chin) and gets very giggly at night.  He loves to swing outside, take baths (which happen often since he is STILL spitting up!), and give kisses.  I can't believe it's his birthday already!

Our One Year Old:
Favorite food--bananas, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cheesesticks, yogurt, sliced apples (he gums it until is dissolves)
Favorite drink--Mom's milk!  but since he's almost completely weaned, he'll also drink cold whole milk and water
Favorite toys--any ball, push toys, remotes of any kind
Words--Mama, uh-oh, no-no-no (also wo-wo-wo like my grandfather used to yell to call us for breakfast)
Schedule--sleeps from 7 pm to 7 am most nights, naps from 9-11 am and again from 2-4 pm
Skills--crawling, cruising, going up and down the stairs, climbing the bunk bed ladder (aah!), opening cupboards and drawers (no attempts at walking yet)

Our sweet boy on his last night of infancy (Nov. 3, 2014)

Good morning birthday boy!  I came home from running at 6:10 this morning to find the girls in the kitchen singing happy birthday to Jack at the top of their lungs.  Love them.  

To celebrate his birthday, Jack got his first haircut.  I love those little wispy curls, but it was getting a little long!

And the comparison shot, a few hours after birth and this morning post-haircut.  It never ceases to amaze me how much a child changes from birth to one year.  I love this boy!