Thanksgiving "Van Slyke" Style

After tearing the family room apart the other day our furniture was all over the house along with the computer that I use to download pictures.  I still haven't figured out how to do it on the laptop...someday!  So I'm a bit behind and am trying to play catch up.  The next few days will be posts of things that went on during our Thanksgiving break.

Friday was spent celebrating Thanksgiving with my side of the family at my parents house.

What was on the menu?
...turkey, wild rice, stuffing, corn, rolls, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, fruit Kool-Whip jello salad, raspberry jello, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin bars...another day filled with yummies!

Who was there?
...our family, my parents, Julie, Kevin, Isabelle, my Uncle Dave (my Mom's brother), my cousin Tricia (all the way from Texas), and my cousins Rochelle and Kayla (Tricia's kids)...so nice to see them again!

Isabelle, Isaiah, and Ava playing together before lunch.  Why does Ava look so old in this picture...my baby is turning 5 on Thursday this week...is that even possible? 

Daddy and his loves

Ava and Miss Isabelle playing some tunes together

My cousins (their Mom is Tricia) Rochelle and Kayla...so I guess that makes them my 2nd cousins.

Rochelle...aka RoRo...with Ava.  They brought up toys for the little ones and Ava got a Fur Real Puppy.  She loves it!

Isaiah showing off his new Lego boat kit.  That kid loves Legos...Isaiah and Andy went right to work building this!

Tricia and her girls

My Mom, Dad, and my Uncle Dave (he lives in Cedar Rapids)

Me and my lovely sister Julie

My wonderful hubbie and me...how cute are we?!

Julie and Kevin...that picture turned out so cute...it deserves a frame!

When anyone from our family comes to visit it's just known that a trip to Jordan Creek Mall is in order...it's just a given.  So off we went the next day.  Yes the kids went to Build a Bear...AGAIN!  We got a few Christmas gifts...but spent most of the time chasing after Mr. Isaiah and Miss Ava.

What's Christmas without a visit to Santa.  Both kids have always been shy and unsure when it comes to Santa...bring on the Easter Bunny and any other dressed up character...but Santa...he's not liked so much.  But let me tell you that it's improved over the years!  Here they are with me telling Santa what they want.  Isaiah said he wanted a dump truck...even though he has about four already...and Ava said she wanted a puppy...again we have one real one and tons of stuffed ones.  I'm glad they were at least brave enough to share one thing they wanted.

Kevin and Isabelle joined us

They did get near him a little bit for a picture.  Santa gave them a coloring book to take home after their visit.

Another Jordan Creek tradition...dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  The table was so long...it was hard to get a clear picture.  I've probably said this before...but their crabcakes are to die for!  I should have listed that as one of the things I was thankful for.

Bootles...Isaiah was hiding behind her.

Ava wanted a picture with her Mommy...Smile!

Another Thanksgiving come and gone...but both days of celebrating were wonderful because we were able to be with our families.

My Three Happy's:

1) The amazing evergreen smells coming from our real tree, wreath, and Scentsy burner.  I LOVE that smell!

2) Tonight we made lots of sugar cookies.  The kids love cutting out different Christmas shapes.  My was our table filled with flour!  I even used a huge cutting board to roll the dough on but the flour ended up everywhere!  Go figure!

3) Let's see...17 days of school until Christmas Break...but who's counting!