these kids...

Taken a couple of weeks ago post-nap:

It's milk and Elmo instead of beer and football, but still...typical man.

And sister:

She's gotten quite skilled in her coloring. This was her picture for Aunt Katie and Uncle Ben's anniversary. She worked on it for days. It had to be just right.

She wanted me to take a picture of her dancing with Mollie. I know this one is out of focus, but she took it and I like it:

Girl's best friend.

There's this new trend in the playroom...

It involves taking all the toys from near and far to make a "car". I am not sure how this is a car, but she is very diligent in her organization. Mollie ends up being a prop - er, passenger (that's her in Hannah's chair). Joseph is just an innocent bystander.

But a very cute one when he's happy. We are glad that we've had more good days then bad days the last week.

Though we didn't expect (or get) much in the Georgia game this year, we still cheered on the Jackets. 

if at first you don't succeed...

...try again. Right?

I really really wanted a picture of the kids in their smocked turkey outfits my mom got for them. I love the orange corduroy. They've actually worn them several times, as I try to take advantage of every opportunity with themed clothes, but I never got a picture. And so, that was my mission today when we got home from church. I started in the backyard. Only Hannah would cooperate.

Mollie totally photo bombed. She decided she was going to be in the pictures, too. These girls love each other.

This is all I got of Joseph by himself. He literally just passed right in front of my camera. I'm surprised it wasn't completely blurry. Man on the move.

Then Daddy got home and we decided to move to the front steps.

We tried...

and tried...

and tried...

to get a picture of both of them.

Daddy dangles his keys.

This is the best we got.

You get the idea at least. The one thing these photos do capture is where we are right now. We don't stay still unless we are asleep...and even then we don't stay still.

a happy thanksgiving

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! We spent it at home in Sandersville - always nicer these days to not travel. My mom and brother, Will, came in town and it was pretty low-key.

Hannah and Meme made a squash turkey.

I forgot to glue the eyes on, but you can figure it out: the squash is the head, sparkly leaves are the feathers, etc.

Hannah and I set the table. We collected the acorns a couple weeks ago, baked and piled them into the dough bowl which has been sitting in the middle of our table with acorns hanging from the chandelier as fall decor.

Should've taken a picture of the full table with food, people and all, but at that point we were hurrying to sit down and get kids fed. Chef husband made a few things (like the yummy squash casserole and sweet potato souffle), Meme did appetizers, turkey, and oyster dressing, and I even did a couple things (including onion and goat cheese tartlets). We were given a delicious caramel cake for dessert.

Morning wagon ride:

...love the blowing kisses at each other.

Joseph got sick and we had to take off the turkey outfit, but he rebounded.

He's still on antibiotics, but between the teething, the ear infection, and a rash all over his torso, we are feeling for the little guy.

Today and yesterday have been the best days he's had in a while. Now that the tooth that was taking its time coming in (his third two-year molar) finally has, we are hoping he (and we!) can have a little bit of a break. Unfortunately, we have all been under the weather...stomach bugs, coughs...I randomly lost my voice. Yes, we are the sick house. But, we pulled all the Christmas boxes out today, decorated the playroom tree, and are in the spirit!

saturday before last

We spent the day at home, playing, watching football, and dressing up.

We picked the very first lemon from our tree. {I gave this Meyer lemon tree to Joe for our 3rd anniversary.}

One thing I have learned: it takes a while once you see a lemon for it to mature. I am not a very patient person, but they are worth the wait.

There are more lemons coming.
 

Aunt Karen and Uncle John, Hannah's godparents and our dear friends, came through town. We had dinner and got to catch up. We miss them!

The following day, Joe just preached a sermon about committing ourselves to God in our faith and through our gifts and service to the church. He talked about how too many of us over-schedule our lives. I know he was referring to being so busy that you don't having anything leftover and lose sight of your priorities. But, I'm taking that as a clear sign that the pastoral family needs to practice what we preach! We have been so busy... Is it possible to slow down now that it is Thanksgiving and the Christmas season is upon us?

This holiday season will be better. I have decided that I am going to not procrastinate, take care of things that need to be done/bought, and organize my time so that we can enjoy ourselves. I might end up over-scheduling a little, but I'm going to try. I want the holidays to be fun - full of family time and making memories (and not about stress) - and be about what it's suppose to be about.