Thanksgiving

It is wonderful how holidays still bring families together despite the miles and the schedules.  I am grateful that we still make the time for each other.  Over the years I’ve found that we laugh the most with our families, and that is something to look forward to every year.

This Thanksgiving was relatively laid back.  We spent our time at my parents’ house, and had 70+ degree weather on Thanksgiving day allowing us to get outside and have some fun.

Bria helping rake the last of the fall leaves.

Bentley sitting in the huge pile that was made.

Both girls in the pile.

Grandpa blowing the leaves off Bentley while she was swinging with Uncle C.

Aunt T trying to stay clean.  Uncle C made sure she had a few leaves on her later.

Bria cuddling with Uncle N, during the parade I think.

Bentley helping me with something in the kitchen, while Grandma and Aunt D did the real work.

All the leaf dust made Bentley quite congested.  Now that we are home she has so nicely shared it with me, but she seems to be doing a lot better.

Holiday Cheer

We had our first snow of the season on Saturday and the girls couldn’t have been more excited.  As soon as Bentley saw the snow she kept saying “Winter Outside”.  I didn’t know that she understood that snow and winter went together.  The girls, especially Bria, spent hours outside in the snow despite the cold. 

Each one played their own way out in the snow, so it was hard to get a picture of them together.  The large snowflakes made it hard for the camera to focus on the girls in the pictures.

With the first snow, being gone for Thanksgiving, and wanting to have the Christmas decorations up when we get home from Thanksgiving, we decided to decorate our house for Christmas yesterday.  Again, the girls couldn’t have been more excited.  David and I got the tree out and put together, strung the lights, hung the stockings, and wrapped the garland on the bannister.  The girls wanted to hang the ornaments on the tree, so we gave them some the non-breakable ornaments and their ornaments and let them hang them how they wanted.  David and I hung our own ornaments after the girls had all of theirs’ up.  Now when we get home from Thanksgiving we can turn on all the lights.

Bria trying to look Christmassy in her own way.

Bentley with some extra Christmas stockings on her feet like socks.

The girls deciding who should hang each ornament on the tree.

When Bentley comes out of her room from naps and in the morning, she says excitedly, “Christmas time.”  I also enjoy the cheer of the holiday lights on the dark winter nights.

After church yesterday, we had a Thanksgiving potluck. We don’t want to miss the special time to be thankful for all the blessings God has given us, or let Christmas excitement overshadow Thanksgiving.  Both holidays, however, are something we should remember and celebrate all throughout the year, not just on the days that have been set aside for them.

Twin Cities Weekend

This last weekend, we took a long weekend to visit David’s and my sisters in the twin cities.  The girls played with their cousins and my sister’s new kitty, and we had some time with adults and to do some Christmas shopping.  We thought the drive would be a bit long for the girls, but they actually did quite well (better on the way home than on the way there).  We had good time with both our families, but it still felt short.  The holidays are coming so we can see both of them again very soon.

Bentley with cousin L playing in the hide-a-bed where David and I slept.

All the cousins getting ready for bed.

Bentley wondering why cousin L would put himself in a timeout.

Bentley and Bria still trying to play with the kitty even after they wore her out.

Bria and Bentley at Uncle C and Aunt T’s apartment.