Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Max!

It was pleasant weather for a walk earlier today.

Max knows what a pumpkin is, although he can't say the word.

Looking at the neighbors' horses and playing in the dirt.

Spent some time walking and playing, but I also did some of the cooking for our two meals today ...

The sweet potato dish was made entirely from one sweet potato from Dad's garden.

Brian was on call for his work today.  Curled into the fetal position:  "I hope they don't call me ..."

Maya looked especially nice today ... eating a lollipop here.

Joe said he had "Thanksgiving" on his list of things to do today.

New rule today:  Gabe loses a dollar every time he throws a hissy fit.  And no earning it back.

We went to the Lewandowskis' house for Thanksgiving #1, but Max was ready for a nap the moment we walked in the door.

By the time he woke up from the nap, Thanksgiving #2 was already well underway.  (So, he sorta missed both of them this year.)

Nathan at dinner.

Munch, munch.

What a beautiful morning and afternoon.  Luckily the good weather held up for our outdoor meal.  The cold front blew in as soon as we finished!

Misty Lane construction.

I'm having some problems with Max's schedule.  He took an unfortunate second nap yesterday and then kept me up till 1:30 a.m.  But woke up happy this (late) morning, as you can see here!  He held this position (complete with smile) calmly for quite awhile!

Remember our old house?  Of course you do.

Pretend you are walking into the garage through the open door ...

Now you're inside.  That doorway through the back wall is new.  Walk through it ...

... and there's a new patio area there.  If you keep going straight you'll see ...

Where the swimming pool/garden used to be.

Mom and Dad sold the old house to a friend, and Dad is helping him add on to it.

The old back door and sun porch.

The wall upstairs where we used to write our heights when we were little.

The dormer window from circa 1999.

The ugly old carpet is gone.

Out on the old balcony (which has no railing at the moment).

Joe went with us to see the construction, since he was off school today.

An exceptionally organized boy, Joe made a to-do list for himself on his day off!

Max asked Buddy for a ride on the "dadoo."

Then our cousin Paul, whom I've not seen in years, came over with his wife and their 8-month old daughter Ellie.  She's gorgeous, and I think she looks just like a little bitty Grandma Hazel.

The grasshopper.

Today Max discovered grasshoppers.

Gabe caught a big one in the carport.

Reaching out, getting braver ...

Not sure if he wanted to touch it though!

Trying to make it jump to entertain Max.

Gabe showed Max how to tickle its back legs with a leaf.  (Grasshopper in the air here.)

He did it!

After it rained he wanted to bend down and dip the drawstrings of his pants in the puddle.

He wound up getting down on his knees to accomplish this and got his shorts all wet.

"Do you wanna change your pants?"  [vigorous nod]

Gabe had a bad night of insomnia last night, and now there's a hole in the wall in the room where he and Daddy were trying to sleep ...

I have chosen a new anti-cancer diet plan (from the lady who did Crazy Sexy Cancer), to begin after Thanksgiving (and after I finish reading enough of the book to understand it)!

Everyone already knows I'm crazy.  Now let's try sexy and on a diet.

Funny faces.

The kids were making funny faces today!

The babies started it by accident ...

And then, of course, the older ones joined in without any cajoling.

Joe has one more day of school before his Thanksgiving break!

Gabe is ready for a break too.

Today I found myself saying, "Gabe, if you're writing the word 'stupid' on your paper instead of solving that problem, you're losing a dollar for the day!"

Here's the picture he drew of Krillin.

Photoshopped into his last pic of Kid Goku, per his instructions.

Thought I had forgotten how to do it, then remembered.

Max gets excited when Joe comes home from school.

"Doe!!!!"

Gathering rocks to throw in the pond.

I guess the turtles are hibernating, so now we're throwing rocks instead of bread.

Taking a ride behind the tractor.  (Max and Nathan both look a little nervous being babysat by siblings instead of adults.)

Fun for all!  (Including the adults, who all got a breather.)

Goodnight!