Turkey Day '11

Thanksgiving was in Waco with my family this year.  The day we left Justin did some yard work for me.  This boy always likes to give a helping hand.  I am so thankful for him.

 Helping feed Daniel.  Thankful for a nephew.

 Dimple darlings

 Puppet show

 Justin ran out of hands for all his performers

 The night before Thanksgiving we went to a Baylor basketball game

 Sic 'Em.  As always, Daddy is a good sport.  And after playing Whoonu (one of my favorite games of all time, up close to Rummikub) this past Thursday night with our Community Group, I learned that the color green is low on Derek's list of favorite things.  There was a mumbling of being overrun in the house with all the Baylor gear that keeps coming in.  I have no idea what he is talking about. I graduated from Baylor dental after all, which was bought out by, well, those dern Aggies.

 Daniel likes wearing green and gold

 And being held by Grandpa.

 Half time was up.  Justin was a part of the dunking contest.  Kids had to show off their moves to win the contest.  The goal was very short, and we had only practiced for this the day before.  Rule follower had a hard time being crazy when he knew the real way to shoot, as he stated.

 He got a shirt as a contender

 Thanks, Papa, for hooking us up to do this!

 G.G. came down for the day

 As did G-pa.  These two get serious on this game, as my grandfather is a believer in not letting people win, no matter the age difference. 

 Love these smiles.

 Love my sister-in-law.  Thankful for Elise.

 Family photo shoot for the Cmas cards

 Love this one of these two for my parents' card.  Need to print this for the house.  Even though now we would need to update it with more kiddos. 

 Thankful for a grandmother who can enjoy the next generation

 Trudy & Charles drove down for the day as well, so it was a full house and a great time.

 Post dinner nerf game.  Birdie knew that ALL the boys needed a gun

 Including Birdie

 The ambush

 Fiesty crew

Golfers about to go play 9 holes

 Then a quick football game with Elise's dad

 Protective gear for the nerf game

Thankful for family!

November in a nutshell

Feeling up for a brief post.  I would love to write about what's current, but need to stay in order, as well as I cannot be as frank as I would like with my current circumstances.  Come November I can let the cat out of the bag, and who knows, I might even be posting on 2012 outings.  Here's to hoping.


One of the last playdates at our old house before we moved in early December.  Had the Wilburns over and the kids made a mosh pit of pillows and jumped.

 We tried all sorts of combos.

 Even a mommy combo

 Celebrated a late birthday for Tom & Ryan

 Daddy somehow fell asleep in all the buddies

 Jaylen came and spent the night for the first time.  We picked him up from school in the middle of the week and then took him back to school the next day.  Avoided driving to where he lived, which isn't always safe, and is also quite a drive.

 He loved helping me make dinner.

 And watching football before bed

 Justin was "Spear Fish" during his Indian role play in the Thanksgiving Feast

 Justin at the camera

 Roxy blending in.  Where's Waldo?

Orphan Sunday at First Baptist.  We ate a meal that might be served at an orphanage

 Photos of 200 kids needing a home (a small fraction of the 147 million waiting!).  We took home a photo of a boy that looked like he was 8.  I was drawn to him.  We prayed if we should adopt him but didn't feel led to, especially after we realized he was 16.  Derek wasn't ready to adopt a child that we would have birthed at the age of 16 ourselves.  But we interceded in his behalf for a family to want him.

 The back of the shirts we wore

 So glad I stumbled upon this photo!  We played with the Morellos this past year and loved being with this family!