Giving Thanks

Thankfully ... our first Thanksgiving (as hosts in our own home) was a success! 19 adults, 8 kids and 2 dogs all enjoyed one another and the amazing turkeys Mark cooked - especially the smoked one, yummy! We were especially thankful this year to have a few new additions - Mike, Ashley and Mabel Bland (Melina's new in-laws) as well as John, Elizabeth, Ashton and Aiden Cowie from St. Louis. Here are quite a few pictures from the day/night, as well as a few from the cookie decorating party the girls and I went to on Saturday. We hope everyone had as lovely a holiday as we did - there is much to be thankful for this year and always.

Mark, the proud chef

My table decor - thank you Kristine for all your help crafting 24 turkeys!



Melina and Matthew arriving early to help set up



Nora and Aunt Elizabeth



The lovely Sallas girls



Mom and her biggest fans



Nora and Mabel at the "kid table"



Evie the big girl - did I tell you she's on day 9 of panties, no diapers!

Mom and Evie at Tim and Kathy's Thanksgiving evening

Evie at the cookie decorating party - she was very serious about her work

Nora, on the other hand, was silly and messy as always!

We'll Miss You Park!

It won't be long before our park days run out for good. Every day seems a tad bit colder; the fireplace is on more, we're heading out for hot chai teas instead of iced ones. The girls and I are resisting this move into winter as much as possible. This week, we discovered a new park and, even though we were the only ones there, enjoyed it for as long as we could stand the chill. What will we do when winter really does show up to stay? Please, please - I need suggestions for good indoor activities! Until then, we'll keep bundling up for the park. Is it too much to ask for warm weather on Thanksgiving? We'll have 19 adults and 10 kids at our house and a little outdoor action for the kiddos would really help!

 

Costumes, Candy, Cousins & More

Favorite picture from the weekend - Nora looking oh-so-cool in her shades and fairy costume.

All the great grandkids/cousins (and Mom too!)

Evie and Breanna trick-or-treating at Great Yiayia's

Angelina and Breanna

Evie reuniting with her BFF and neighbor, Phoebe, for a night of trick-or-treating in the neighborhood

The girls made it to at least 15 houses and loaded up on candy!

Evem Nora scored some candy - you can imagine what a mess she was!

If you can't tell, the girls are fairies - thank you again Reen!

On Halloween Eve, we went to the farm for the last day of the season. Even our cousin Laura joined us!

Here's Evie with one of the cows. Or is that a donkey? You tell me Mom!

Evie with Jordan, Breanna and Angelina at the farm

Evie riding her very first horse - we lied about her age never thinking she'd actually do it! What a big girl!

Mommy with her friends at a party on Saturday - after the girls left with their Yiayia! Thanks again!



The girls with Klaire and Reece. Mom made their outfits - didn't she do an awesome job?!