Just playing around

 Micah decided he wanted to paint this morning.

What's a day without a dance party?  Love watching and joining  these two.  We sure do know how to break it down:)

Thanksgiving in Mansfield

 Micah sat right up in this chair and ate his little sandwich like a big boy!

Picture with Grandma Donough before heading out.  Glad we were able to get to both sides of the family this year.

Thanksgiving at Heather and Gary's

 Brandi and her family with sisters.  Steve was home with pneumonia though.

 The two kids tables, plus myself and Leah.

 Elli and I at the kid's table.

 The adult only table.  Brent joined this table when he was done working.

 All the great grandkids.

 Heather's family in front of their new fireplace.  So nice.

 We are all smiling!

 Mom and dad.

 Great grandma with my kiddos.

 Love that she is such an active grandma at 87!

 The Browns.

 Grandma with Brandi's family and Hannah.

The O'Connors.  Leah is pregnant with Ruby here.  Next year will be different again with another sweet member of the this family.  Stephanie is also expecting a little girl in February.

Kitchen Remodel Underway

 We started our kitchen remodel with new lighting.  We took out the old track lights and put in 5 can light.  We added one more light to the bar area, took out those cans, and replaced them with pendents.  We then put in under cabinet lighting on a switch.  Finally, Brent added rope lighting to the crown molding.

 Our kitchen is so bright now.

Sure makes cooking a lot easier when I can see what I am doing.

Honorary Coach

 ON Nov 22 I was honored at the home opener women's basketball game by my students Raegan Ryan.  She is a senior player on the varsity women's basketball team and captain.  She is not only an excellent played but a great student.  I have had the chance to get to know her this semester in two classes and she chose me as her honorary coach.

 She wrote some pretty great things about how I have been intentional in teaching and training and she wants to be like that as a teacher herself.  As they were reading these words, I was tearing up and she was saying over and over, "Don't cry, don't cry!"  What a sweet girl and a great experience.

 I got to be part of the pre-game aspects in the locker room, stand with the coaches, sit on the bench, head in the locker room for half time, and simply be part of what was going on.  It made watching the game even more fun.

Thank you Raegan for your kind words and for choosing to honor me on this night.  (This was also the night Raegan was awarded for scoring over 1000 points!)

Loves his Tools

 I got Micah a little gripper at the Dollar Store and he calls it his favorite toy.  He plays with it all the time and grips everything!  He told me that toy was going with him to grandma's house. (Frances Mustard who watches him on Tuesdays).

Brent has his drill down as we begin to do some kitchen renovations.Micah thinks it is his:)

Micah has also been carrying around his "measure" like all the contractors who have been coming in and out. He seriously loves tools.

1st Snow Day, Monday, Nov 17th

 We started by playing horse carriage.

 Since the temperatures were only around 30, it wasn't too cold to play outside.

 Micah learned to eat snow from Elli.

 Sweet girl getting ready to eat the snow in her hand. HA

 An attempt at a selfie.

 Snow angel

 Snow angel attempt

 My sweet kiddos.  I am a summer girl, but I cannot resist a good snow:)

 Elli wanted us to bury her.  Micah wanted to eat snow.

 Chase

 Chase you back

 Fall down

 Why not just play down here?

 Warming up with some hot chocolate in their new mugs.

We went out again a bit later with Emily.  We ended that round of playing with our first batch of snow ice cream of the season.  All said and done, we played twice in the snow, enjoyed some sweet treats and fun with a friend, and had a great day at home together with the 5 inches of snow.  She also had a delay the next day.  Fun start to the snow season for sure:)

The Twins' 4th Birthday Party

 They played a couple of games.  this one was a tossing games where they had to toss the ball in the buckets.  They also played a hiding game where they had to find the hidden lollipops.

 Balloon fun

 They were really serious about their gifts and were getting so excited as they opened them.

 We got them each a castle with knights, horses and princesses to rescue.

 Grandma got in on the fun as well:)

 Look at the concentration.

 They were so excited about their lollipop cake and couldn't wait to eat it.

 I LOVE those smiles as we were singing to them:)

 We also celebrated Gary's birthday.

 Oliver is a quiet one, but he knows how to get what he wants.  Adorable

I simply love how they were enjoying each other and the party, cake, and presents.  These little boys sure are special.  Love you two.