Turkey Day and Beyond

We surprised my mom and dad for their 40th wedding anniversary by showing up for Thanksgiving dinner at Nat's!
There were just a few other people there as well.

We all ate on china and drank from crystal goblets.

How fancy is that??

The food was deeelish!! Thanks Nat and everyone!


Nicole and Bree

Most of the gang...Jake's reaching for the bubbly...

Nice bunny ears, Uncle Stan!

How dashingly handsome are my single cousins?

And they play Pinochle!

Grandpa teaching Emily how to play Pinochle.

Amber takes a break from G-ma's tutoring to say cheese!

Jeff taught Bobby and Katrinka, then I jumped in for the first hand.

Bobby and I smoked em!

G-pa and Sawyer

Jer, Jeff, Dad, Denys, Gerald, Jenine, Max, Nat, Stan, Curt, Mindi, Me and Mom

The next day we went to see the play,

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas", to celebrate my parent's big 4-0.

There was a song from the play that basically summed up the experience:

"It's the thought that counts".

Love them!

Dinner at El Toritos. Exquisite!

I have the best family ever and am so glad we got to spend Thanksgiving with so many of them!!

Here's a picture of the drive home.
Our kids kept begging us to stop so they could get out and play in it.

We passed at least a dozen accidents, so we didn't stop!
I think a future snow trip is definitely in order though!

Pre-Thanksgiving Day Festivities

We stopped by Jer's parents house before Thanksgiving and had a great time. We had an early Thanksgiving feast and played some rowdy games.

Luke and Bree lovin on Makayla.

Bree could not get enough of baby Conner.

Bree, Conner, Kaylee and Dillyn

Luke trying to pick up Dillyn.

We spent the afternoon at the observatory.

Note the Hollywood sign in the background. Such tourists!

Makayla has the best crazy face of all!

In the basement.

Jupiter is shining right through my face.

Jake just finished doing a space project at school, so this was especially fun for him.

Jake and Tyler discuss if Pluto is really a planet...

We strike a pose in front of the beautiful LA smog, I mean skyline!

Twinners

Triplets. We didn't even plan it.

Luke and Kaylee rock out on the stairs.

The amazing Jaimee with her 3 adorable kiddos!

So lucky to have such a fun and wonderful fam!! We love you guys!

Vampires

New Moon. 5 fine ladies squeeze into Heidi's super hot (& tiny) red Fit. Heidi laughing her head off as the vampire rips the other vampire's head off. Paige and her kiddie treat. A man yelling random comments about loud laughing and showing someone the exit. (Pretty sure he wasn't talking about us). And then the daughter and her mom...well we better not even go there.

Sarah, so glad you solved the "when can we fit this in" problem! Completely genius!

Zoo

Luke meets the dragon.
The kids watching the elephant's grand entrance.

Stopping for a bite to eat. Sarah and Paige are missing because Paige became deathly ill and Sarah took her to meet Justin.
Zoo just wasn't the same w/o them!

The tree fort has to be the best spot at the zoo.

Ahhh dirt!

Tate-a-riffic

It was Tate's birthday, so we partied with him at the Train Park,

which I think may be the coolest park ever!
Happy 6th, Tate!

Breanna loves Lydia!

I'm thinkin we've found a new spot for future birthdays. What a cool place!

Veteran's Day

Sarah and Georgia

Lovin those moon boots, James!

a little white trash

Scoutin out treasures.


So adorable.
Ava is gently nudging Luke to remind him that the driver's seat is her spot.
It seems like just yesterday when we were out at this same place and Ava was just tiny and sitting in her bouncy seat and Luke was loving on her.


Luke LOVED riding!


Except when it wasn't his turn.

Take me! Take me!

Now that's more like it!

I loved how he just snuggled back into our bellys as we drove him around.

Heaven.

Sarah made the most divine oatmeal cookies which made the kids so happy (me too!)

Love Macie's lollipop!

Georgia and Macie were sooo nice to let Jake and Bree ride as much as they wanted.

And they always let them drive. Such sweet girls!

We are so lucky to have such awesome friends!!

This is actually the day before at the school's Veteran's Day Assembly. Jake and Bree both sang in it. Jake's friend, Jordan, sang the most amazing solo. He did an incredible job. It was a great tribute to all our veterans.

Check out Jake's angry scowl. He said it was because he had to sit by girls.

Oh theTorture!