November

The kids get Election Day off of school, so the three of us went and
voted.  Don't let C fool you, he was just trying to be cool;)

C started basketball in the 3rd-5th grade group - M and David are coaching again:)

C's art!

S's art!

S and Halle - we went to see Annie at the theater

C's class Halloween party

C(far right) on career day - lots of military in that group!

"Baking" cookies to take to Thanksgiving with us!

Clemson vs. USC game time

M helped him rock his ice cream!!

Had to get a picture of the shirt that C had the Clemson football
players sign before I washed it!

C gets nosebleeds ALL.THE.TIME, so he had surgery to
hopefully get that under control!!

We've been pretty busy lately, but not so busy that the kids haven't had a chance
to be lazy too!

Mountain Dulcimer Performance

Several of the 5th graders at S's school were given the opportunity to learn to play the mountain dulcimer and then were able to perform for the attendees of the Sr. Citizen's Luncheon.  She really enjoyed learning to play it and was very excited to get the chance to perform!  Unfortunately, today was also the day of C's nose surgery so I was not able to be there!  Thankfully, though, some of S's friends' moms took pictures and videos that they sent to me!  I hate missing these kinds of things, but S had a blast and they did a great job from what I can see and what I've been told!

Oh Christmas Tree

We have gotten into the habit the past few years of getting our Christmas tree the Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend, but it was really rainy on Saturday, so we ended up going to get it on Sunday afternoon after church, lunch, errands, etc.  We actually went to 2 different places before finding one that we were all happy with(growing up, we'd go to like 4 different lots looking for the "perfect" tree so this was a bit nostalgic for me!).  It is probably the biggest tree we've gotten and took quite the work to get it into the house.  Then, because it was so late by the time we got it up, it was another few days before we finally had a chance to get the lights on it and get it decorate!  But, we finished tonight and it looks soooo good and festive!!  Let Christmas season begin:)

 

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Some of my most favorite days of the year happen over Thanksgiving break!  I think the kids love it as much as I do!!

Wednesday we drove up, and decided to take I-40 again like we did last year.  It was a little longer, but we didn't run into much traffic at all!  I think the total drive time was about 5 hours or so!  We stopped, like last year, at our chicken and waffles restaurant before FINALLY getting to the hotel where the Garretts, Robin, Gigi and Grandpa were!  Oh happy day!!

Thanksgiving Day!!!

The hotel is ONE of the highlights of the trip!  Going up and down and up and down and up and down the elevators and then roaming all the hallways on the different floors for hours!  A child's dream - and the adults could have a conversation;)  Win-win!

C, Jack, Bo, S

Don't let them fool you - they are all nuts!

We had lunch at Chaney's where the boys played outside most of the day and the girls, well, they were so quiet I'm not exactly sure what they did all day!  But, it was fun for everyone and so so so nice to be with family!!!

The whole crew!  Missing the Eglintons, Walker and Warren:(

C and Bo were good little buddies the whole time! I wished we lived closer!

These beautiful girls, no matter the age difference, are always the sweetest!
Lucy, Kate, Mary Mac, S

Crafting!!  S, Mary Mac, Kate, Miles, Jack and Lucy

C, Bo and Fielder spent quite a lot of time going down the
steep(ahh!!) driveway on these things!

We are family!

Such an awesome outtake!

Friday, M and C got up as usual and went to Bass Pro across the street for Black Friday deals and scored fleece coats and a few other goodies!  We packed up and loaded the car and then met up with everyone over at the fish camp!  There was lots of warming ourselves by the fire(because it was COLD!), boat riding, football playing, watercolors(compliments of Jennifer), game playing and s'mores!  Good times, as ALWAYS, were had by all!!  At about 4pm, those of us driving home out-of-state said our goodbyes(the kids with tears in their eyes!) and got on our way!  We made it home almost before the rain started;)  Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite times of the year!!  We look forward to it each year and are sad when it is over - but there is truly no place like home!

Bo and C staying warm

Watercolor group

Dylan and C still standing... M, not so much... LOL!

C, M and Bo - it was a cold ride with lots of motor issues that had me in
stitches!

S'mores!!

Mary Mac and S inside by the fire after a long, cold
boat ride!

More Sewing

S is still LOVING sewing class!  They just finished dresses - super impressive!!!  They also had a little extra time and made some stockings:)

3rd Grade RMSC Field Trip

C's class went to Roper Mountain today!  It is, as I always say, one of my favorite field trips, but unfortunately, I had to work today:(  But, I had several friends that were there and his teacher sending me pictures of their adventures throughout the morning!!  He had a ball!!