Thanksgiving 2007

Thanksgiving Dinner 2007

Thanksgiving Oatmeal!

Could not resist posting this picture.  Matt and I LOVE when Ryan makes this face.  The boy has so many funny facial expressions!!!  He is just very expressive and knows how to get a laugh.  My sweet, sweet Ry guy.  If you look closely, you will see Sarah, the hermit crab, out of her shell on the blue piece of paper.  I hate to brag on my own pets, but she is the most social crab I have ever known!

Movie Night at the Wells' with the Brister boys.  We watched Meet the Robinson's and ate LOTS of popcorn (actually, only the Wells' ate lots of popcorn :))

Here we are halfway through Thanksgiving Day and it has already been wonderful.  This morning we all had some Thanksgiving turkey and then had fun watching the Macy's Day parade on TV, going for a walk, and gardening outside.  Thankfully I had done all my prep work during naptime on Wednesday so I had time to spend with the family this morning.  The only hard part of the day was keeping the kids from eating.  They are used to lunch at 11am so waiting another hour was difficult, but mommy was able to distract them.  We had a yummy menu of slow cooked turkey breast smothered with cranberry sauce, traditional stuffing, carrot souffle, wild rice cranberry bake, green bean amandine, and cranberry walnut bread.  We rounded it out with a ginersnap-pumpkin ice cream pie and pumpkin pie with whip cream.  Okay, I admit that the ice cream pie was not that great.  Matt told me not to do it, but I could not resist since it sounded delicious AND it was somewhat low in calories.  Even Madeline was not too keen on it and that girl has a SWEET tooth!  As I closed her door for naptime, she said, "Mommy, please don't ever make that crust again".  She was referring to the gingersnap crust on the pie.  I will make it up to my family by making them the most delicious apple pie this weekend.  From now on we will be sticking to the traditional apple and pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving!

We all had dentist appointments this week.  Poor Daddy has three cavities to be filled, but he has to wait until January 1. . .renewed FSA funds.  Madeline did GREAT.  This was her second time at the dentist.  Though all night she kept telling us that she did not like what the dentist painted her teeth with (it was a fluoride treatment).  What a cute and clever description.

Oh my, almost forgot.  We had to have the kissing conversation with Madeline and her sweet friend Chase yesterday.  Matt heard them upstairs playing and talking about kissing on the lips. Quickly, I called them down the stairs and told them that kissing is very special and that we only kiss people in our family.  Later that night Daddy told her that if any boy wants to kiss her, he has to first ask Daddy.  Madeline asked if even Grandpa Steve had to ask Daddy.  Very cute.  Needless to say, Mommy will follow Madeline and friends upstairs when they decide to play in her room.

Have not yet decided if we are heading out on Black Friday.  There is a great deal on a big George Forman grill and Mommy REALLY wants a big food processor since her blender broke yesterday.  We'll see. . .

Poo Poo in the Potty

Guess who had his first poo poo on the potty.  Our little Ry guy!  I was so encouraged by this that I decided to put him in big boy pants yesterday afternoon.  He stayed dry for hours with Matt and I continually asking him if he had to use the potty.  Of course minutes before our Bible study started I was sopping up pee on the carpet of the family room.  The difference between Madeline and Ryan is laughable.  When Madeline pee peed in her panties for the first time, she sobbed and from that point on she kept her panties dry and was potty trained in weeks.  Ryan's reaction was quite different.  Actually, there was no reaction by Ryan.  It was Daddy who noticed the stream falling onto the carpet and ran him into the bathroom.  I have a feeling that we have a ways to go, but oh well, it was worth the shot!

Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys

Daddy comes home today. . .yippee!  To pass the time this morning we did some arts and crafts.  Madeline made an elaborate turkey out of toilet paper rolls while Ryan made a hand turkey with an eye and smiley face.  I'm realizing that at this age Mommy does most of the work when we do these projects, but I love it and it's fun watching the kids enjoy their accomplishment.  If you look closely at the picture, you will see green all around Ryan's mouth and cheeks.  Coloring the hand turkey was not enough!  He thought that he also needed a festive look!

We have an eventful couple days ahead of us.  Tonight we watch the Brister boys. . .Jason, Chase and little Lance.  We are excited, but know it is going to be a blur of activity (Roxann watched Maddie and Ryan for our anniversary and they are celebrating their anniversary tonight).  I have a feeling we will spend a lot of time in the basement throwing balls and kicking things and just having fun.  Tomorrow morning we head to Raleigh's Christmas parade. The temperature is supposed to be in the 30's!!!  Family bonding at its best.  And tomorrow night we head to the mall for the tree lighting.  The Wells' love activity and being with people.

We just returned from a trip to the Morrisville playground.  My favorite part of taking the kids to the playground is watching them play together.  They have so much fun chasing each other and colliding as they slide down the slide.  There is nothing more heart warming than hearing them laugh with each other.  Of course, our time was cut short when Madeline took a stick swing to the face.  It was an accident, but still not good!  I wonder who will end up with more scars at the end of the their childhood. . .Ryan because he is crazy or Madeline because she is often the recipient of Ryan's crazies. :)

This picture was taken from the waist up because the little guy is starting to sit on the potty. :)

Grandpa and GG Come for a Visit

The Wells' have had a whirlwind of a week. Daddy traveled all week. Grandpa came to visit on Wednesday and left Friday morning. And GG arrived Friday evening and left on Monday morning. It was wonderful.

The more Matt travels, the more I am realizing how important it is for Ryan to have Daddy around. He really needs someone to rough house and wrestle with, and I just don't do it like Daddy. Though Ryan is one of the joys of our souls, we have been struggling daily with disciplining him. He is adamant about exerting his independence and telling us no. Little does he realize that Mommy and Daddy are far more stubborn than he! Though Matt and I grow weary of disciplining him we are pressing on, knowing that the future fruit far outweighs the present momentary struggles.

This morning, right after Ryan woke up, Matt called me upstairs to ask me about a large water mark on the carpet. I was perplexed by it and touched it. It was warm!!! That of course only means one thing in a home with a toddler in a diaper. . .it was pee-pee. I pulled Ryan toward me and realized that under his half zipped pj's was a diaper that was only half on. Thankfully Matt noticed the spot before we noticed a smell!

Madeline and Ryan enjoy some special cuddle time with Grandpa. Clasped in Madeline's hand is Jasmine's head. Grandpa gave her a Jasmine doll that has not left her side since she got it on Wednesday. Jasmine is even taking baths and having her hair french braided. Ryan, of course, has a ball obsession.

Ryan and Madeline both took terms listening to Grandpa's heart. It is fun to listen to since his metal mitral valve makes an audible clicking sound.

Madeline enjoys a sweet hug from Grandpa. Of course, Jasmine is right by her side.

Ryan is usually a bit slow to warm up to people, but he remembered GG as soon as she walked through our door and he could not get enough of her all weekend. As we watched Dora the Mermaid movie, Ryan cuddled close to GG. And GG loved every moment of it.

GG is the most energetic "30" year old I know (she of course would die, yes have a heart attack, if I shared her actual age)! Ryan and Madeline had so much fun with GG. Saturday was so fun! We started the day at the Durham Life Science Museum. We had a great time looking through all the exhibits, playing in the wooden forts, petting the animals, and watching the bugs. This trip we learned a very important lesson. . .turkey's have VERY sharp beaks. If one doubts that, just ask Madeline about her finger's encounter with the turkey's beak. After the Museum, we headed to Costco for luch. . .GG and Mommy LOVE Costco for lunch. Next we toured Duke and drove through UNC and ended the evening at the play area at the Steets of Southpoint. It is always so fun when my mom comes to visit. I always get sad watching her drive away, even though she still gets on my nerves every once in a while (I know you're reading this mom :)).

Here is Madeline with the webkin that GG and Grandpa Steve got her. She loves it and is enjoying taking care of Owl (don't ask me, I have NO idea why she named it Owl, except that at the Museum we saw owls). On Sunday we had some girl time. The three of us went to Jason's Deli for lunch and then did a bit of shopping. Jason's Deli is Mommy and Madeline's favorite place to eat because of the free frozen yogurt! Madeline also loves the root beer. I cannot get enough of my sweet girl. She is so loving and so stinking funny. She knows how to joke and how to make Mommy and Daddy laugh, and I mean really laugh.

Birthday Party

Thank you Ms. Stacy!  Wouldn't you know that our camera broke the afternoon of Ryan's birthday.  Thankfully, Ms. Stacy brought her camera to Ry's birthday bash and took some pics.  

This is our friend Jackson who turns 3 in a few weeks.  Ryan is captivated by Jackson who also is ALL boy and is a constant blur of activity.  I love his facial expression in this picture. . .maybe he's the one who left the dent in our wall. :)

This is Ry's friend Nate.  He took one hit and decided baseball was not for him.  Given his potential height, we are all banking on basketball anyway.

Ryan LOVED his Elmo cake.

Mommy did not prove to be a great batter. . .eventually Mommy tore through the hole in the top of the pinata and let the candy spill to the floor.  And can you see what Daddy attached the pinata to. . .an extension cord.  Ha, ha.

This is Madeline and Mr. Jamie.  Too bad this is not a video and you can't watch Madeline's head reverberate as Mr. Jamie bats at the pinata.

The kids LOVED this noise makers.  Unfortunately, I gave them out right after cake so you can imagine what spewed out the end!!!

City of Oaks Half Marathon

I have again been bit by the running bug.  On Sunday I ran the Raleigh Half Marathon and it made me excited to possibly do another marathon in the future.  It sounds crazy, but it is such an adrenaline rush to run with thousands of strangers and to cross the finish line.  My favorite part of the race was hearing Matt cheering for me and looking over to see Maddie and Ryan on the sidelines.  I am so grateful for my sweet family.

Here are Maddie and Mommy right after the race. 

Here's Mommy with her boy and a plate full of goodies.

It's the whole family!  Since I left the house before 6am, Matt got the kids ready and brought them to the race.  It was so cute to see Madeline with her uncombed and undone hair and Ryan wearing the same clothes from the day before! :)

Here are my sweet friends and running partners Amanda (left) and Anna (right).  I was SO impressed with their runs, as we had not trained on hills and they kicked butt, keeping pace like the hills were nothing!!!  Anna and Amanda and their families go to the Bridge Community Church with us, and we are so grateful for their friendships.  

Madeline and Ryan LOVED the free bread from the Great Harvest Bread Company (so did mommy and daddy)!

Here's a picture of the three of us.  We are all exhausted, but so grateful to be finished!  So ladies. . .how about the full marathon next year???

Happy Treating Day!

It was so fun to watch the kids enjoy getting dressed up and go from house to house collecting candy.  Though Ryan's vocabulary is still limited, he QUICKLY learned how to say "trick or treat".  It was fun to share this memory with the B's and Flynn's.  Nate was Leo, little Emmy was a cat, and sweet Anna Kate was a cow.  That little girl stole my heart last night.  She has such a sweet and happy disposition.  And Christy and I got some special talk time on the step while passing out candy.  I wish I had pictures of them to post!  

Maddie poses for a shot with Daddy before beginning her race!

Do we live in the best neighborhood ever, or what???  Every year since we have moved in, we have had a Halloween cookout.  The kids play in the cul-de-sac, while the parents enjoy some connect time.  Of course, our conversations are always short because of a little voice calling for mommy or daddy, but it is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.  Once darkness hits, the kids get all costumed up and start trick or treating, and the dads put on loud music, sit in folding chairs, and hand out candy.  Oh, if you look closely at this picture you will see Matt pitching and Ryan batting.  The boy loves balls and loves hitting things, so for him, there's nothing better than playing baseball!

Look there's Blue.  Oh wait, it's Ryan.  The boy is obsessed with our Elmo Jack-O-Lantern.  He loves pointing to it and looking at it.  He is especially intrigued with it in this picture because of the lit candle.  He has probably just finished saying, "What dis?".

Here's Madeline with her bag ready to start trick or treating.  Though she went around with friends, Matt tells me that she continually ran ahead of everyone anxious to get to the next house as soon as possible.  And though the night was chilly, she refused a jacket in order to display her beautiful ballerina costume.  Already she is realizing that fashion comes at a price. :)

Guess who took this picture?  Madeline.  She has become quite the photographer, always wanting to get her hands on the camera.  These are our dear friends Nate and Becky and if you look closely, you will see that Becky is about to have a baby!  Upon leaving, her poor feet barely fit into the shoes she was wearing when she arrived.  The Lord has definitely blessed us in our relationship with Nate and Becky.  We love them and are so grateful for their friendship.  And I cannot wait to get my hands on little Elizabeth Jonathon. 

This is Ry Ry on a sugar high.

Can you tell that we have just told them that they can eat a piece of candy?  What else would elicit such joyous smiles from the faces of a 2 and 4 year old?

Here's Madeline sitting with, or should I say guarding, her bag of treats.  When she got home we told her that she could pick out one piece of candy to eat.  Meticulously, she looked through each piece of candy, making sure that she made the best decision.  I wonder if she would have made a different decision if she had known that Daddy was about to loot her bag once she was fast asleep.