Thanksgiving 2013

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week (month).  It feels like holidays are more like weeks or even a whole month around here.  For the whole month of November the kids and I have been working on their thankful tree.  It has been fun to hear about all the things they are grateful for.  The night before the last day of school Aubrey and I made pumpkin spice cookies for her teacher and for Carter's school potluck.  I love how she wanted to write Ms. Stapp a note to go along with the cookies.

 The preschool party was fun and so nice that I didn't have to plan it, ha!

 Michelle and Carter! They LOVE each other! They do everything they can to make sure they get to sit together at snack time.  Carter reminds me everyday that Michelle is his girlfriend!

I got to volunteer in Aubrey's class 2 times in the past 2 weeks.  The first time we made turkeys and the second we played a Thanksgiving day game.  I love feeling involved and getting to know her friends and teacher better.  It was fun picking her up and seeing her all dressed up.

This past week off of school has been fabulous!!!!!! I love having my little partner in crime home.  We spent most of the week staying in our PJ's until 11 or 12.  We played lots of Thanksgiving games, did lots of art projects and watched lots of holiday movies.  We also set up all our Christmas decorations, as you will see in a future post.  Nana came down one of the days so I could go into work.  We also went to the movie Home Alone at the old fashion theater down town on Wednesday.

Thanksgiving morning we woke up and did our annual tradition of watching the Macy's parade and eating cinnamon rolls.

 I was very excited that it was my families Thanksgiving Day turn this year!!! After the parade we packed up and headed for the mountains.  It was such a nice relaxing day with Nana, Papa, Titi, Gaga and the 4 of us.  Nana got the kids a cool DIY bouncing ball kit.  They enjoyed working on that with Papa and Gaga.

We took some family photos.

 The kids brought up their costumes and put on a show for us it was adorable.

 Dinner was amazing!! I loved every thing! The turkey was the best part! 

 Our family!

 Aubrey and the turkey leg!

 After our wonderful meal we vegged out on the couch for awhile and then enjoyed the wonderful home made pies by Titi.  After pie some of us decided to venture out to do some black Friday shopping.  We were not going for any specific deal but it made since to go out since Nana and Papa could baby sit and we could get a jump start on our Christmas shopping.  We stayed in Sonora that night.  The next morning we woke up and got ready for our travels to Stockton to celebrate with the Supinger side.  When we first got there we jumped right into eating and it was another amazing meal! We are so lucky to eat like Kings and Queens two days in a row.  Uncle Brian and Aunt Angie rented a huge jump house for the kids so that is where the kids spent most of the day.  All the ladies got to sneak away for a little shopping trip to downtown Lodi. 

 When we got back we celebrated 5 cousin birthdays and enjoyed dessert.

It was a fun couple of days for sure!! It was great driving home Friday night and thinking we still have a whole weekend ahead of us.  We took the kids to the movie Frozen today which was so much fun.  It's hard to believe that our Thanksgiving week is almost over and we are jumping right into Christmas celebrations and traditions! What an exciting time of year!!!! I'm so very thankful for my entire family on both sides.

Proud to be an American

The week before Veteran's Day a Field of Honor was put up at Merced College.  All the flags were amazing and the kids loved driving by and looking at them all.  They would bag me to take them to look at the flags everyday.  One day after school we went and looked at all the flags and read the stories about people that have and are serving our country.

Tuesday the 5th was election day.  I thought it was a great learning opportunity to take the kids with me.  Surprisingly Aubrey was very interested.  Election day was special to us because my boss Stan was reelected Mayor for a second term.  That night we went to his campaign dinner.   

Aubrey's teacher finally called and I got to volunteer in her class room on Wednesday.  I helped the kids make their turkeys for the class room door.  It was great I LOVED it! I felt so happy to be in her class and it was wonderful to see her teacher teach.  I really appreciate all she does with the kids.  It's amazing how much they are leaning.  Aubrey is already writing sentences and is doing great with her sight words and is starting to read.  Her math is outstanding which it was before school thanks to dad and her coloring/art is fabulous and I like to take the credit for that.  On Friday Ms. Stapp asked if I could arrange for Mayor Stan to come in and talk about the flag with the class.  He is a retired Marine and since it was almost Veteran's Day it was a perfect day to have him talk.  I got to go and watch and then Stan, Spencer and I all had lunch with Aubrey after.

Also on Friday Titi came to visit.  We had so much fun hanging out with our favorite Titi.  We got to watch lots of movies, shop and eat out a lot, so much fun!  The kids and Titi made the BEST chocolate cake from scratch on Saturday.

Monday morning before the parade we did a little art project.

Last year I pretty much jumped right into Christmas stuff right after Halloween so this year I'm trying to slow down the Christmas excitement and really focus on Thanksgiving and teaching the kids about it.  I have had fun decorating.  Carter has been asking if we are going to have a party ever since I hung this banner. 

It has been fun hearing all the things the kids are thankful for.

All ready for the parade!  Aubrey made this hat and flag at school and the teacher asked them to wear it to the parade.  She was very excited.

Aubrey marched in the parade with the Girl Scouts.  Carter and I were going to tag along but when we got there I asked Kendall if her mom was walking and she said no so then Aubrey tells me that she doesn't want me to walk with her either and that she was a big girl, that was harsh!  I guess I have to remember that she is growing up.  

The parade was huge and I felt naked with out my little girl.  A few times I was worried and nervous not to be with her but she was in good hands and I tried to just sit back and enjoy the parade with Carter.  We ran into my good friend Wendy and her daughter Carrie so we sat and watched the parade together.

Oh the joys of a parade right at nap time!

Well Miss Aubrey was on the other side of the group when she walked by us so I didn't get a picture of her walking on Main Street.  After she walked by Carter and I ran to catch up and walked with her the last part of the parade.

I thought this was a cute activity they did in class:

The parade was wonderful.  We are so thankful for all the people that have and are serving our country! Thank You!!

After the parade we came home and Aubrey got the flu, so not fun!!!!  I have got to have her home the whole week which is the plus side.   

My Birthday

I was one lucky girl to not only have a weekend birthday but for it also to be the longest day of the year.  It was day light savings so we got to set the clock back an hour that day.  It was fun to have an extra hour.  The most wonderful part of my birthday was waking up to the two cutest kids ever and my wonderful hubby on vacation.  The kids both made me beautiful cards and were very excited for me to open my gifts.  It was fun opening my gifts in the hotel room.

 After we opened gifts we had breakfast and then went in the hot tub.  After packing up we did a little more shopping and then had lunch at Panera Bread (so excited for the Merced one to open!). We then went up to the Sacramento Temple.  It was so beautiful up there on the hill. I love taking pictures and this was a great place to play with the new camera.

 We then meet up with my family in Stockton at my favorite restaurant, The Spaghetti Factory.  My family makes me feel like a real princess on my day and I love that!!!  They spoiled me like crazy! 

Such a perfect day!!! I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful, loving, great family!! I had an amazing birthday weekend!! Thank You all!!