Taylor Thanksgiving

We left Wednesday afternoon and headed to Northampton County to spend Thanksgiving with the Taylors.  The kids were so excited to be at PePa and MeMa's house.

 

 The kids had a good time playing with their cousins (and Uncle Mason)!

Ella thinks she is such a big girl "holding Jodi"

 

Thursday morning we got up, did some cooking and got dressed in our turkey shirts.

I am so thankful for these two!

 

We headed to lunch at GiGi's House.  After lunch Ella and I took a nap and the boys worked around the farm.  Then we got dressed for our annual picture.

 The whole Taylor clan

 Our annual picture on Thanksgiving

 PePa and MeMa with all the grandkids

This is how most of them turned out - getting 5 kids to sit still and look is tough :)

 Our family

 

 Ella and Mema being silly on Thanksgiving night - Ella wanted MeMa to lay with her and suck her thumb and Mema did just that.

 

Thursday night we left the kids and guys about 8:30 and headed to get some black Friday deals.

  Jessica, Leslie, Mitzi, and I heading out to shop, and talk, and eat and have some fun!  We got in at 3:30 am and went to bed to catch a few hours of sleep before the kids woke up.

 

Friday morning we spent some time hanging out at GiGi's House

 Reading books with PhePhe...

 ...and playing Rook.

 

Saturday morning we got up and headed to the Conway Christmas Parade

 All the kids bundled up for the parade

 Best Buddies and Cousins - Caleb and Cole

 Lena and Ella talking while waiting for the parade to start

Me and my babies

 

After the parade we went to lunch and to meet Evan and Mitzi's new puppy, Jazzy.

We headed back home on Saturday night after a wonderful weekend of hanging out with our family.  We have so much to be thankful for!  We are blessed!



Thanksgiving Fun

Ella had her Thanksgiving party at school on Monday. 

 Here is my sassy little girl in her turkey outfit.

Here is the pilgrim girl that greeted me when I went to pick her up from school.

Caleb's thanksgiving party was on Tuesday and they were having a feast. 

We were assigned to bring biscuits and Caleb enjoyed helping me cook them.

Here are the Pilgrims and Indians that greeted us at the feast

 Each Indian got to pick out their own Indian name - Here is my little Indian "Leaping Lizard!"

He was so happy he got a green feather on his hat.

 Caleb's Thanksgiving Mat at his place setting with his turkey hand print.

Caleb and his "feast"

 Pilgrim Pierce and Indian Caleb at the feast

Trying to get a picture with "Pretty Pony" but she was too busy enjoying the feast!

Caleb and some of his buddies at school.  Katelyn was still enjoying the feast :)

Here is Caleb with the pilgrim boy he made.

He is getting so good at writing his name.

 

We just love their preschool and how they do things for each holiday to make it special for the kids!

 

Tonight at church we attended the Pre-Thanksgiving Service. 

Caleb and I were asked to be a part of the multi-generational bell team. 

It was a team of all ages and mostly kids with their parents or grandparents.

Here we are in our debut performance

I loved getting to do this with Caleb. 

He did such a good job ringing the bell when Mrs. Tammy put up the card up with purple on it.

 

We have so much to be thankful for - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

 



Christmas Shopping Fun

I worked at church til lunchtime Saturday and then me, mama, and Melanie took off Christmas shopping.  I wasn't feeling 100% percent and had no voice but we managed to get alot done and have alot of fun!

Here we are before we headed out...

 This sweet little boy went with us and he was such a trooper.  This was after he had a major blowout in his diaper so he was hanging out naked for a little while :)  Caleb and Ella didn't go because they know too much these days and Santa had to shop without them so they would have some surprises!

We didn't get home til almost 11:00 pm but here are our bags so I'd say we got alot accomplished.

Packing Party

Tonight our church had its annual packing party for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  We had pizza and Christmas goodies and packed boxes!  It was alot of fun and we are happy to have packed 144 boxes, that is 144 kids that will get to hear the Gospel!

Helping Mammy pack her shoeboxes.  She packed three boxes - one for each grandchild.

 Caleb coloring a picture and filling out a page with information about him for the little boy who will receive his box.

 Ella helping Granddaddy fill out information for the little girl who will receive her box.

 Taking a break for some hot chocolate!

 Caleb with his crazy eyes drinking his hot chocolate.

 Praying over the boxes - love these precious ladies!

 These cuties helped us pack boxes! 

The whole crew that was there.  What a fun and meaningful night!

Things They Love

Caleb loves his Gator.  Every time we play outside he wants to ride it. 

Here he is riding his gator in the garden

 

Ella likes the Gator too but she is not a good driver yet.  Caleb decided he was going to teach her this week and here is what he came up with...

 He got behind her in the bucket and steered the Gator while she pressed the pedal.  Pretty smart!

 

Ella loves her babies!  She carries one or more babies around all the time lately!

 One day this week I went in to get her from nap and she had all her babies tucked in her bed.

 

Ella also loves looking at the pictures on my phone.



This girl loves technology - computer, phone, Ipad.  When you asked her what she wants for Christmas, she says "a puter".  We will have to see what Santa can find!

 

Weekend Recap

This past weekend was pretty low key for us.  Caleb and Corey ended up going to Corey's parents house.  Caleb had a ball at Pepa and MeMa's house.  He loved playing in the woods, riding the golf cart, eating ice cream sandwiches, helping on the farm, and collecting eggs from Mason's chickens.

 

Me and Ella stayed home and did a little shopping around town on Saturday with my mom and I bought my first Christmas present!

.  I had a Girls Night Out Event with the Youth Girls on Saturday night.

 

Me and Heather with some of the girls from youth group.

 

When Corey is out of town I usually let Caleb sleep in the bed with me. 

Since it was just me and Ella, I decided to let her sleep in the bed with me.

Here she is all cuddled up - doesn't she look sweet?

 

Well, she was not a good bed partner and neither of us slept well so it may be a while before we try that again.

 

Ella does not like Caleb being gone.  She woke up on Sunday morning and asked "Where's Caleb?".  I told her that he was still at Mema's house.  She said "I not like him there...I want him back!" 

I am so thankful they love each other so much (most of the time anyway :)) 

They just hugged and hugged when they got home Sunday night.

We were both glad to have our boys back.

 

Caleb was so sweet and wanted to sit with me on Sunday night. 

I said "What are you doing buddy" since he rarely sits still in my lap. 

He said "Just hanging with you since I hadn't seen you in a while". 

I think he missed us too!  Love that boy!

 



My Little Turkeys

Today Ella's teacher sent me a picture of Ella in her turkey hat that she made at school.

 

 I sure do love this little turkey!

 

Her teacher says that anytime she asks Ella to smile for a picture she always smiles right away and says "Cheese".

 

When I saw Ella's picture in her turkey hat, I immediately thought of a very similar picture I had of Caleb in the same turkey hat when he was in the 2 year old preschool class.

Here is Caleb in his turkey hat at 2 years old!

Love this little turkey and can't believe he is not so little anymore!

Veterans Day

The kids were out of school today for Veterans Day.  Karen called and asked if we could join them at Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Jaxson's birthday and of course we said YES!  Caleb LOVES Chuck E Cheese and says it is his favorite place ever.

Here are the kids having fun...

 ...the boys loved the car game.

 ...and the girls loved the water game

 ...and riding the boat.

 Caleb loved the ride where he went up and up.  (Ella tried it but she was not a fan).

 

After the kids played games for 2 hours at Chuck E Cheese, won some tickets and got some prizes, we headed to Chick-fil-A for some lunch and more playing.

 

And what is lunch at Chick-fil-A without ice cream???

 Jaxson, the birthday boy

 Caleb

 Ella enjoyed hers!

Yummy Julianne!