Thanksgiving Weekend

Abby made this "thankful" turkey at preschool. Upon inspection Tess realized one persons name was missing. I found this sweet completed family turkey on our fridge latter that day! (and Jacob)

Since lots of family are coming into town for Jake's baptism in only one week we decided to go easy and quiet for Thanksgiving. It was just us all day. We watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I spent the day cooking, I am to much of a lover of traditions not to have all the usual thanksgiving food.  I made some cooking mistakes that I was glad didn't have to be shared with others. Lessons learned! Dan played with the kids and took Jake on a long bike ride through Little Bennett. We ate around normal dinner time and then put the kids to bed. It was a simple but fun day.

Of course we chose the coldest day of the month to go chop down a christmas tree! I love Graver's Farm and enjoyed walking around their decorated barn while Dan and the older 3 braved the windy cold to cut down this beauty!

Blue Spruce

I didn't realize how prickly blue spruce trees were or I would have asked Dan to chop down a different kind. I wore shoes, gloves, and a long sleeve sweater to wrap the lights on the tree. Because of our busy schedule and annual trouble with our lights going out mid wrapping them it took me 3 days to put all the lights on ( I also went and bought 300 more lights this year making the tree lit with 700 white lights).

This year Abby put the star on top.

The Big Eight

Jakes anticipated eighth birthday finally came.  He has been counting down the months and weeks ever since his first friend was baptized and joined cubscouts at the begining of the year. Finally it is his turn.

His morning started with breakfast in bed, Lucky Charms is always the breakfast of choice. We went to church where he was sung to and then the girls and I made him a "rainbow" cake with skittles and marshmellows on top.

When Dan got home from his day long of church responsibilities we ate Jake's choice for dinner, Stromboli and had cake and ice cream. While eating his cake the timer went off sending Jake on a
treasure hunt to find this....

Yes, he is the very proud owner of a bb-gun! Dan and I spent a lot of time discussing wether or not to get him this. Jake is an obedient rule-following boy who is totally ready for this responsibility. (It is his younger sisters I am more concerned about!) The bb-gun will be locked up in our gun case and only used under Dan's supervision.

Dan and I have talked a lot about how much Jake has grown up this year. It's crazy. My little boy is an excellent reader, can double knot his own shoes, showers on his own, rides a bike really fast, has a bb gun and is now a cub scout! I have a cub scout! Jake has enthusiastically completed one goal every day for the last week. On his first night of cub scouts I was excited for him but also felt kinda sad... from now until his final days of high school Jake will be going to the church once a week.

First night of cub scouts

My little boy is not very little anymore. Time, slow down a bit please!