Thanksgiving, and then some.

Ugh, I am so behind with my blogging. I have a million pictures I haven't shared yet too so I may have to post in another couple days to break it up some. We've been very busy around here and if I do sit down at the computer it's usually while holding Katy and typing one handed just isn't that fun, it takes forever.

A couple weeks ago Dexter took Chase with him and Dominic to get a real, big boy haircut. Before that He had always been getting his haircut by me, but I wanted him to have an actual haircut and not just a buzz. Chase did really well, I thought he would be scared at first but Dexter said he wasn't at all, and he looks so handsome now!

Wednesday before Thanksgiving I spent the day cleaning and getting ready to host Ricky's family at our house.  I wanted us to set up the Christmas tree while everyone was here so I re-arranged all the furniture in the living room so the tree could be in front of our window.  It looks so nice when we drive by at night and it's all lit up.

The other day we took these two bookshelves and turned them into one big bookshelf to make some more room.  I like them better together like this, now it looks like we have a lot more books too :)

Also the last time I posted, I said about how Ricky was fixing up the old chicken coup for Jenna to stay in.  Well he finished fixing it and we moved her out there and it was a total failure.  She was acting all traumatized and what not so she's back in the house with us again.  Her and Blondie kind of get along but it is annoying to have to constantly yell at Jenna to stay away from her.  Blondie is ready to pop any day now.

So Last Thursday, Thanksgiving, we had Ricky's family here for an evening turkey dinner.  Ricky's mom and sister brought most of the food and I made the turkey and rolls which was really easy since they were already made/cooked I just had to pop them in the oven to heat up.  Everything was delicious and we all stuffed ourselves.  After dinner the kids and I set up and decorated the tree and then we all had cheesecake and coffee and pumpkin dessert.  After dessert the guys went down to watch football and the ladies stayed upstairs and chatted and then played a game.  I didn't take a single picture the whole day though! 

Friday morning we woke up early and got everyone packed up to go to my parents house in New Jersey.  We got there a little after 10:30am and ate the most delicious brunch with everyone.

All the grand kids.

Chase and Naomi where two little partners in crime all day.
After we let our food settle a little we all went for a hike at a park not too far away.  Dawn and Kira stayed home so Kira could nap.

It was a bit chilly but we still had a great time.

Asher had gotten a little walking stick to use on the hike and Joanna, being the silly goose that she is, thought she would get her own walking stick too

Umm, a little big I think :P

Part of the hike was over this really neat floating walkway.   We saw lots of ducks and 3 blue herons.

I love this picture:

Who's that studly fellow?:

We got home and had fun hanging out together the rest of the day.  Joanna loved the dress up clothes,

Grammy read lots of stories,

a bunch of us played games,

And all of us had fun :)  Katy was a good girl as usual and slept a bunch.  I don't know how she can sleep through some of the things she does but I'm glad she can.

Dad went out and got us all Panzorattis for dinner.  If you are not from South Jersey you probably don't know what a panzoratti is.  Basically it is a lump of cheese and tomato sauce wrapped in dough and deep fried, who wouldn't love that?

(stuffing my face)
It was so much fun to be with everyone again.  I'm so thankful for my family and that we all love being with one another.

And of course I am very thankful for my little baby girl and that she is happy and healthy after all we went through in the beginning, she's perfect.

dreaming of turkey, flavored breast milk:

We didn't do a lot the rest of the weekend, just slowly cleaned up the house and tried to recuperate from all the busy-ness of the holiday.  Sunday we all drove up to Cabela's and walked around there for an hour, not realizing that it would be packed with people, but it was fun anyway.  The kids always like looking at all the animals there. 

Ricky had off work all this week for hunting season but didn't end up doing a whole lot of hunting because of the weather and I think he secretly likes being home with us ;)  Monday morning though he left at 3am to drive up to NY to hunt.  He spent the night at a motel up there but didn't see many deer during his time there.  He ended up coming home Tuesday around noon because of the rain.  Katy had a doctors appointment on Tuesday morning and he said she looks wonderfully healthy.  She's in the 75th percentile in weight and height, up to 10lbs 13oz- that's 3lbs from birth weight!  She's been sleeping so good too, lately she's been waking up only one time a night and last night she actually slept through the night!  It just amazes me to have a good sleeper, what an answer to prayer that is.