Time to decorate!

Now that Thanksgiving is done, it is time to decorate for Christmas!!  It has to be done before the 1st of December because that is when all the advent calendars start.  It is a very big deal as to who gets the candy on what day.  Anyway, here we are getting the tree ready.

 

The finished product!

Last day with all the cousins!

After a week of playing together, Little Lena and Charlotta became friends.  We went to the park one last time and tried to catch them together for one moment--I think we got it!

 

Turkey Day!

Every year a few of us do the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning--a five mile run to benefit the homeless in Nashville.

 

 Here is our group of runners this year.  This is the first year that any kids did it.  Congrats to Skylar and Korrina for finishing!  Skylar, not being much of a runner, held Korrina up, but she did finish.

Later on, while the turkey was cooking and the boys were watching football, the kids made a great leaf pile to play in!

Nashville Zoo!

Today, we went to the Zoo.  The Nashville Zoo is a really nice zoo and we only made it through half!  We will definitely have to go back to see the other half!

 

Skylar's growing up!

After a long drive to Nashville yesterday, we needed to take it easy a little.  Skylar is learning her first adult board game, Alhambra, from her Uncle Wystan. She was pretty proud of herself for being included in the adult games.

First Day in Nashville!

We got in late last night after a 14hour drive, so we thought the kids needed to burn off a little energy today.  Everyone who had arrived (Wystan/Liz, Brad and us) headed off for a walk to the park.

Finally there!

 Cousin Conor.

 Charlotta finds nothing better than a swing!

Kellen loves his hat and tie so much that this is the third time in four days that he has worn it.

 An invigorating game of hand ball that I think only Brad and the kids know the rules to.

 Cousin Eoin napping while we run around!

Later that night, Skylar and I tried to stay up for Trefor and Korrina, but we failed and someone snuck in a shot of us sleeping (just found this picture on the phone today).

 

First Choir concert

Skylar had her first choir concert tonight and she realized that she does actually like it.  She has been complaining all year about how much she didn't like it and how stupid it was to learn a song with Latin words in it.  After tonight and putting it all together, she has decided that she likes it!

My little Rat Pack!

James played hookie from school today because he had a doctor appointment for his ankle in Sioux Falls and I had an appointment in Sioux Falls.  There was a little break between our appointments, so we went shopping!  He found these hats and ties for everyone and was so proud of them.  JT thinks they are going to bring the Rat Pack style back!