Thanksgiving Play

Addie was the "star turkey" in the Thanksgiving play at school.

Her classmates did such an amazing job and the props for the play were - just awesome.

The turkey hat that just wasn't meant to be.

We couldn't get the hat to stay on her head for anything!

Even right in the middle of the play, she brought it over to me and told me to take it home.

Apparently she was all done with it!

She patiently sat and watched while her friends did their parts of the play.

They were - SO cute!

A rare moment in full costume!

She couldn't resist a wave at the camera.

Star turkey - sitting at the dinner table with everyone else.

Mrs. Heather was so proud of Addie!

Addie was all about the deer!

Addie helped her friends get ready for the classroom Thanksgiving lunch.

She was so happy to be such a big helper and loved all the activities of the day!

Addie did so good and she was so proud of herself.

It was wonderful to be able to see her having fun and being right in the midst of all of her friends.

We truly have so very much to be thankful for!

The Best Big Brother - Ever

Uh-huh

THIS is what an amazing big brother looks like. 

He stepped in to care for Addie's baby, so she could have a break. 

Veteran's Day

Republished.


It is Veteran's Day

and 

no words can express the pure love and gratitude that I have for my favorite veteran's.

No words can express the honor or pain and no words can express the selflessness involved in their actions.

Thank you to all of the men and women, past and present who serve and protect this great country we live in.

My Dad 

My oldest brother

and my youngest older brother.

My oldest brother was able to spend time with us after the wedding.

It was a rare opportunity for us to catch up and one story blended into another until we found ourselves talking about our family and the role each served in the military.

My dad was 48 when I was born and 28 years separate my oldest brother and me.

There is a lot of family history that I was never privy to.

From WWII to Vietnam to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, my family was there.

One of the most fascinating details I learned is that my dad's brother and my aunt's boyfriend was on the 

U.S.A.T. Dorchester, widely known by the story of the Four Chaplains.

My uncle made it back home, my aunt's boyfriend, did not.

I have always known that the men in my family were tough, with iron perseverance, but that story just reaffirmed what I already knew.

Thank a veteran today.

Your kind words are more powerful than you know.

Being Happy

Addie doesn't have the opportunity to ride in Julien's Jeep very often, but absolutely loves it when she does. 

We look for opportunities, even if it's just going down the street for dinner. 

When Addie found out she was getting to go for a ride, she ran to find a container, filled it with her baby, a pacifier for the baby and all the necessary essentials for the baby,

She then stood by the door waiting for Julien. 

She is a sweet, sweet girl!

Not to mention...how very sweet Julien is and how fortunate Addie is to have him. 

We can't even see her over the dash!

Blurry little hand waving at her Daddy!

She was looking at Julien for his approval to exit the vehicle.

Which meant, he had to get out and go around and get her.

She didn't let any of us think for one second that she was riding anywhere but in Julien's Jeep for the trip back home.

Refusing to make eye contact until Julien unlocked the door...

It doesn't take a lot for them both to be happy - and most often, it's the times they are together.

Halloween 2015

Despite the rain, everyone had a fun Halloween!

Maybe not everyone...Rudy was very disappointed in his costume this year which was all my fault.

One Size Fits All apparently never met Rudy

and

I failed to go back and get him something else.

Everyone, and I mean everyone, was in the Halloween spirit.

Addie was refusing to have her photo taken, so I bribed her by telling her we couldn't go pick up the cake from the bakery until she smiled for the camera.

I have no shame.

Donuts make life better

and

makes this sweet girl very happy.

and THIS - makes me happy.

Back from the bakery with the cake, so I had a much more compliant child on my hands!

Addie just adores having Gabi with her and she stuck by Gabi all night long.

Steeler's Fans.

Trick or Treating - it starts at home.

We headed out right before it started to sprinkle.

It took Addie a good ten houses or so before her anxiety dissipated and she started having a great time.

Now, that's what I'm talking about!

Pictures are blurry - because by this point, the rain was really started to come down.

Aunt Nonna and Gabi were Addie's "go to helpers" - she loved having them with her.

I was trying to get a photo of us all - literally soaking wet.

Yet total photo bomb - thanks Julien...

They look like they should be setting off down the yellow brick road...

I love this kid!

Just Us.

Pumpkin Carving

Addie and I made pumpkins and bats for the door and I let this sweet little girl make them just the way she wanted to.

That included adding a monkey sticker to the bat - which made her very happy.

In keeping with doing whatever anybody wanted, we also managed to fit in a night for lots of pumpkin carving.

Surprisingly, Addie's favorite part was scooping out all the seeds.

Like most everything else, she took her job very seriously.

Rudy wasn't about to miss out on a thing and after being booted from every chair at the table, he decided to stand watch from the top of the trash can.

I am just truly thankful we were able to do all the fall activities that we missed last year.

It's the little things that make me so happy!