Thanksgiving 2013

Our long weekend began yesterday since the kids thanksgiving break started yesterday. Since the kids are not allowed to watch TV during the weekday, it slipped their mind that they really could because there is no school. I wasn't going to remind them of the fact especially since they played board games almost the whole day.

We started with pictionary. Even Little M was quite an artist.

The Twister game didn't last very long. The mat on the wood floor was quite tricky.

Then Big M taught K how to play chess.

In the evening, Fedex dropped off surprise goodies from my mother. The kids feasted on pretzel logs, which they gobbled up, and down caramel apples. 

Then we went to see some fireworks and some free donuts and hot cider. Our kids were quite excited about the fireworks.

Then today, Daddy joined the kids in a game of monopoly. His young but adorable accountant ran with his money and left him bankrupt. 

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast very much. The kids made the menu with me days ago and Daddy was on grocery duty. I cooked some food last night, to turkey today and will cook more tomorrow. I thought it would make more sense for us to prolong our feasting so that we can eat more of what was served instead of having a ton of left overs all at once. It think it turned out well.

Inspite of the some of the difficult health issues out family is faced with recently, we have much to be thankful for. At the end of the day, my family is what I am thankful for. 

Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving in Texas was pretty relaxed. Though it was a little bit of a shock since we've been spending Thanksgiving with the in-laws for so many years while in VA. I had a menu of what to cook, though it was quite flexible. I couldn't find something I need so I cooked something else. I still hadn't cooked my first turkey. The kids are still so young, I just cooked what we liked to eat. There will be time enough to establish a Thanksgiving holiday tradition.

Big M woke up vomiting. It was quite sad to see him so miserable, especially since he was looking forward to eating the pumpkin pie and the banana bread the girls and I baked. Thankfully, by the next day, Big M was on the mend. Little M was also sick. The week prior to Thanksgiving, he started with a runny nose and started coughing. Then he started wheezing. Since the girls were still recovering from asthma/cold and were still on the nebulizer, we decided to put Little M on it too. It helped a little bit, but he was still wheezing.

Yesterday, the doctor said Little M has RSV and has fluid behind the ears. He prescribed antibiotics which should start making him feel better in a day or two. One thing that is very striking to me is the way he handles this RSV. The twins being premature, the RSV was pretty tough even though they had the dreaded 6-month monthly course of RSV antibodies. For Little M, the RSV was only slightly worse than garden variety colds.

But even through the sickness, Little M has been surprising us this past 2 weeks. He has been crawling by pushing off with his feet for months, but a few week ago, he started crawling the right way on all fours. In a matter of days, he would crawl that way for a few paces. Than he started pulling up. A few days later, he was pulling up to a standing position. After that he would crawl and go into a sitting position. Pretty amazing.

It was near 80s the 3 days leading up to Thanksgiving. Then on the day of Thanksgiving, the high was 50 with lows around upper 20s. Crazy! One we have our AC on, the next we have the heater.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, I had my 20-week ultrasound. I was worried and excited...worried that something may be wrong with the baby, and excited at the same time. Well, we found out that we are having another baby boy!!! Both Daddy and I are excited that now we have 2 boys and 2 girls. Who could ask for anything better? This baby is a surprise, coming at what many would thing is a "bad time", being that Daddy has been unemployed since February. But we see this baby as a complete blessing. Being unemployed for this long is unfortunate, but with God's help, we've survived.

A long time ago, Daddy and I have told each other that there is nothing we can't handle as long as our family is together. Family is the most important thing there is. We can survive with much less, and still be happy as long as our family is taken care off. Due to a series of decisions we've made throughout our marriage, this time of unemployment could have been a lot more stressful and devastating than it really has. This is not to say that it has been easy on any of us, but we can definitely see the forest for tress. (Is that how that goes?)

Daddy has received 3 job offers recently, and 2 of them are viable. We are now just thinking of what is best for our family: Texas, or Northern Virginia. There are a few more hurdles to overcome: driving with 3 kids, moody pregnant Mommy, and a Daddy who has to deal with us all. But it's a task we would gladly undertake.

This Thanksgiving, we can't help but think of the never-ending things we are thankful for:

• Daddy's parents who have welcomed us with open arm,
• time the kids have spent with their grandparents
• time the kids and I have spent with Daddy
• being blessed with one more healthy baby boy
• a smart, highly independent, strong-willed son
• 2 beautiful, fascinating, smart, sassy daughters
  
• great and soulful, going on 13-yr marriage (whoah, that's long!)
• all the people that love and care about us
• and many many many more.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

the twins' 2nd Thanksgiving

The girls had fun at their grandparents' this weekend, though they are still weary of Nana & Papaw. But as long as the grandparents didn't try to pick them up, they were fine. Oh but they did enjoy all the food!

Thing 2 seems to be establishing a Thanksgiving tradition of making this exact same face. She started last year.

She is an expert at giving evil eyes, but she also has an innocent look.

Thing 2 studies the xbox. She wants to be a 'big girl'.

She thinks she's finally mastered it!

And finally conquers the xbox! "Who's your mama!"

Perhaps not. One must always be on a quest for knowledge.

a boy, his Papaw, and trains

There is no doubt that for Curious George, the highlight of this Thanksgiving season was his Papaw's trains. Equally enjoyed was his cousins' company, especially cousin B. Oh yeah, and cousin C's Leggos.

Turkey Coma

I wonder if there is a truth to the Turkey Coma. What do you think?

Being Social on Thanksgiving Day

Jojo was quite the social creature this Thanksgiving holiday. She just ate up the attention and smiled at everyone. You wouldn't know it with this picture, though. I pointed the camera at her and she got busy pouting her pretty little lips.

Katie, posing prettily in her burgundy dress, was quite the opposite. She studied everyone's faces and reserved her smile for mommy only. She has perfected a worried look about her, though it is not evident on this shot.

The girls taking advantage of the available free arms. Jo is quite animated, while Katie studies her Nana's face.

Checking Out the Ponies with Nana

Matty had a lot of fun looking at the Ponies with Nana.