Our Thanksgiving

I can't believe that Thanksgiving was a week ago. And how is it possible that today is the last day of November?!? This time of year goes by way too fast, sometimes I feel like it zooms by and I can't even slow it down to enjoy it. Haha! Well I better get started before another week goes by...

This year we decided to skip the holiday traffic jams and enjoy the holiday here at home. It was super low key filled with couch snuggles, traditions, yummy food and unfortunately a sick kiddo.


This is my go-to Thanksgiving Day menu, with orange cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and deviled eggs and artichoke dip for lunch/appetizers. We do not hold back on turkey day. ;0)


If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw that the kids helped out with the food prep Thanksgiving Eve on my Insta-stories. However, I didn't share these pics of Rory helping with the artichoke dip. For some reason the kiddos said that the soup mix that I use in the dip smelled bad (it didn't). Rory's trying not to breathe, while Rian is holding her nose. Rian ditched the kitchen shortly after. Haha!!!




My Thanksgiving morning tradition! Orange cinnamon rolls, coffee and the parade!!!


Because you always watch parades resting your chin on someone's head?!?


The kids loved all the balloons this year!


Sister love :0)


Traditional deviled eggs were good, but deviled eggs topped with bacon for the win!


Our table is all set. And yes I have the kids sit in different chairs. Kiddos, food and cream-colored chair don't usually mix well. It's my version on a "kids table".


Rian's turkey placemat. They were colored in 2015 and they still represent the kids' personalities so well.


And Rory's.


Yum!


So no surprise here that my kiddos don't like Thanksgiving food. So I made them turkey hot dogs made to look like turkeys with carrots/tomatoes and apple feathers. Rory thought these were funny!!!


So thankful for them! Can you tell which kiddo is sick???


My sweet boy!


Rian ended up on the couch during dinner after throwing up her first few bites. :0(


It all started with Rian taking two naps that day and spiking a fever earlier in the afternoon. This routine of nap, fever, throwing up (only when she tried to eat), repeated for 5 days.


And while Rian rested on the couch, Rory face-timed with his cousins in California. And when an eight year old face-times with a nine year old, you end up with photos like these on your phone. HAHA! I found this on my phone, a blurry pic of the kids' bunk beds at my parents' house...


...while my mom found this on her phone, which my nephew was using to face-time on.


And since my kids don't like pumpkin (shocking, I know, right?!?), they Rory made mini whoopie pies with chocolate cookies and whipped cream for dessert.


And Randy and I had cream puffs and pumpkin pie. This is what happens when you put your pie in microwave a few seconds too long. But nothing beats a slice of warm pie!!!


A late night family photo to end a thankful day!


I am so very thankful for my family here, near and far. I know I'm incredibly blessed and I'm grateful everyday for the love of family.

Rory's birthday is up next, so to be continued tomorrow! Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo
-aMie

November Living

Life lately has been a bit of a roller coaster, to say the least with Thanksgiving, Rory's birthday, family visiting, sick kiddos and life in general. And boy it feels good to finally sit down and work on the blog. So like every November, we've had a lot going on and I've decided to split it all up into a couple different posts. I did a post at the beginning of the month, but I forgot to link it, so if you missed it you can read all about how I prepped for this month here.

The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving were filled with tons of fun and family time. And I can't believe that this cute guy was only a few weeks away from turning 8 years old.


His class created some chalk art at school. I've been told that his drawing is a Pokemon character, but I have no idea which one. Honestly, Pokemon characters, games, shows, etc. just confuse me. So I trust that the drawing is the cutest Pokemon ever drawn! HAHA!!!


When your sister wants to jump in on your picture!




Rory's class earned a pajama day at school as a reward for being good students. Rian however did not, but wanted to join in on the fun. It was pretty awesome when we got to pick up that day and her friend (which is the younger sister of one of Rory's friends) showed up wearing the same Rainbow Dash pajamas. (By the way, this is Rian's new pose. I told her to pose like this when she was Batgirl for Halloween and she has decided to stay with it!)


Making sugar cookies with these kiddos. I got the recipe for the cookies and cream cheese frosting here. They are now mine and Rory's favorite cookies!!!


And this is why you crack the eggs in a separate bowl. I guess Rian doesn't know her own strength.










Snowmen...


...that turned out like BB-8s. Either way they were delicious!!!


Homemade cream cheese frosting. So good!!!




Visiting Rory at school for "Lunch with the Ones You Love".








I was challenged by a friend to post on Facebook a black & white photo everyday for 7 days that represented my day, no people, no explanations. So this is what a week looks like for me, or at least that particular week.














And this little sweetheart turned 13 years old on the 20th.


Yup, sharing blankets doesn't go over very well in our house. They are the definition of sisters.


Some Frosty Paws ice cream to celebrate Pinky's birthday.


Always drawing and coloring.


I think it's time to create a reading space downstairs for the kiddos.


Rory is completely obsessed with playing baseball. Fall ball just ended, so he is getting ready for spring.








Our little fielder.




Chilly night, warm snuggles


So Rory is learning about the dangers of what happens when you "crowd the plate". But he took a ball to the thumb like a pro. He went out the next day with Randy. (I know it's hard to see in the next pics, but his thumb swelled and was bruised.)












About to get their jump on at a friend's birthday party. I love this kiddos so much!!!


Randy's plate of spaghetti and meatballs...


...that Pinky was willing to climb on the table for. She is NOT allowed on the table ever!


Just in case you were wondering, she did not intimidate Randy into giving her some. Nice try Pinky!



Thanks for stopping by for a quick recap of our weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. I'll be back (hopefully) tomorrow with our day of thankfulness.


xoxo
-aMie