November

My kids are really sensitive to the sunlight in the car, so we have sunglasses for both of them that stay in the car.  I had to smile when I looked back and saw them both asleep with them on.

 In the beginning of november, we were lucky to have Derrick's parents come visit us again.  It was so exciting for our kids.  They were talking about it weeks before they came.  We went to the dairy and the zoo. I don't have pictures of the zoo though, how sad. :(  The Indy zoo is really a good one!  We were pretty impressed.  They have a dolphin show and a really fun baboon exhibit.  They were interacting a lot when we went.  I saw a mommy hug her baby, lots of little ones playing, fighting, and chasing each other.  I even saw one throw up (It was really really really awful.)

So anyway... the diary.  Everyone fell asleep in our van on the way up there.  Just ignore the fact that my daughter is always picking her nose in pictures.  What am I going to do with that girl?  

 We stayed here for Thanksgiving and I cooked again.   We had some friends come over, and we both made half of dinner.  I can't believe I didn't get a picture!  It was really delicious.  I am really grateful that we have met such good people here.  We have some friends that feel like family, and I'm so grateful that we have people like them to spend holidays with.  

We never went to bed that night... sort of a little repeat of last year.  We went to Toys R Us that night to start our black friday shopping.  We finished at 7 in the morning and came home.  Exhaustion is the only word that comes to mind.  I slept until 4:30 that evening, and then went to bed at 10.  I was a little sick and I just made it worse by staying awake and out in the freezing cold.   I think it was worth it because I got a few really great deals, but I will sure try to avoid it next year if I can.  

I wanted to decorate on Saturday (who am I kidding, it was all I could to to wait until Thanksgiving was over), but Derrick thought it would be a good Sunday activity.  I set up our big (free) fakie, but I still haven't put ornaments on it.  I think next year Hayden and Halle will be big enough to help me make some salt dough ornaments, and I will have more time and money to put into it.    For now we just enjoy the lights.  I let the kids decorate the three little ones however they wanted.  Well, I did have to move things around a little because with 5 ornaments on one branch the trees kept tipping over.

 Hayden is really into Christmas this year.  Here is Christmas decorating through his eyes.

The kids love this little people nativity set we have.  I let them play with it, but when they are done it goes back on the shelf.

 And Hayden insisted that all his other little people needed to join them.  Silly kid.

 Halle is just cute.  What else can I say?  She gets really excited when she's talking to grandmas on the phone.  She might not say a whole lot to them, but she always has a big smile.