Another International Thanksgiving

Last year, we were favored to sponsor some Canadians during the Thanksgiving season. We showed them how to commercialize the holiday :). The Canadians must have enjoyed it because they came this year as well (it also helped we blessed their 14th grandchild). The weather was fabulous during their stay and we did a few things to enjoy it.

First, to prepare them for Black Friday, we made them hike the 600+ stairs to the top of Amicalola Falls. Anya had me take 15 pictures of her on different rocks . . . I just post one for now :).

Next we took them to Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Then immediately to the lights at the Botanical Gardens. This was a bit of preparation for Thanksgiving Day--stuff ourselves with good food, then go out in the dark with lots of people. Fortunately, there wasn't a lot of waiting in line.

After the feast and shopping, we then spent a little time preparing Olympia for her blessing. Olympia's middle name is Joanne. She got to meet one of the 2 Joanne's she is named after. We tried to get some of this Joanne's goodness to rub off on Olympia. We think it is working.

In between all the shopping, we also got in some relaxing hang-out time at home.

The Beast Unleashed

This week Austria has not been having her afternoon nap. As you know, Austria is a very happy, easy going, obedient child. She's often patient and the peacemaker of our home. Really, every parent's dream! This week however, due to lack of sleep, her "Beast" has been up to no good. (Austria often pretends to be Belle.) When she took Olympia's blanket while Olympia was sleeping, I asked her about it. She responded, "Oh my Beast did that." When Anya was upset over something, she told me, "My Beast hit her!" The Beast also drew marker all over her arm and leg. Oh that Beast! So naughty. I suppose we all have one inside :).

Tummy Time

Ben probably has a much more interesting baby to watch now, but Olympia still tried to put on a show for him tonight:

Forever Halloween

Everyday is Halloween at our house. We all like to dress up and sometimes pretend we are someone else.

Daddy likes to dress up like a Canadian. Sometimes he even speaks like one, but rarely does he dress like one. He gets teased for wearing a coat when the weather turns "cold."

Austria is on a Belle kick. I usually get to be the Beast, unless Daddy is home. It's not a difficult role for me.

I dressed up as a runner one evening. THAT was a more difficult role. Especially when I was expected to actually run more than 200 meters . . .

Anya . . . well she does her own thing :). This particular time, flamingo.

And this child doesn't get to choose yet, and so though she spits up and has blow outs, she probably changes her clothes the least out of all the little girls. However, here she is pretending to be a GA Tech football fan (or maybe she really is one).

Humanly Raised

I opened a package of ground turkey a couple nights ago and was reading the label. One of the highlights about this meat is that it was "humanly raised". What does that mean??? They didn't catch the turkeys in the wild? Or are some turkeys raised by something other than humans?

We are working on raising a few little humans by humans :). Recently, we enjoyed a short hike with a few friends. Between the 6 couples, we had 17 kids under the age of 6. That's a lot of humans being raised by humans. (And boy, I am short standing next to John . . . )

(Yes, David, I think you are totally right, they meant HUMANEly--like as in they were nice to the poor birds, before they sent them to the slaughterhouse that is . . . )

Anya's Story for Her Grandparents

(And anyone else of course.)

Halloween Addendum

Thanks to my friend KH, Olympia will not look back and wonder about her first Halloween . . . Note WH's sweet belt buckle behind me. And yes, Olympia is wrapped up in John's hoodie. Eventually we were responsible and got her wrapped up in blankets :).

Halloween!

Pumpkin carving with Daddy:

Olympia and I observed:

Trunk or Treat: (No pictures of John, Olympia and I! What was I thinking??? John wore his moving shirt and carried around a floor lamp and a nightstand, Olympia and I went with the cowgirl theme.)

Anya found a few cows around . . .

Austria was not a fan of me taking her picture and tried to run off on her horse . . .

Trick or Treating:

These girls cleaned-up! Despite the fact they only went to 4 houses, they filled their baskets! I don't think they realize, usually you get ONE piece of candy per house . . .