Happy Thanksgiving {2011}

As  it has been for the past seven years, Thanksgiving was a busy day. Unlike the last few years, it was actually relatively calm and I didn't feel rushed trying to squeeze all the family in. That is one of the main things that I am thankful for this year.

We started out with Kel's side of the family. Nana and Papa (thankfully) made the drive to us this year from Bakersfield. They arrived bearing gifts. New clothes for the boys and donuts for all. We then made our way over to Hometown Buffet and met Kel's sisters and brother in law for brunch. The boys loved it! C actually told me "No" to pineapple and "Yes, lope!" to cantaloupe. Choosing their own desserts and the 4 2 Icees each that Kel gave them was just the icing on the top.

After brunch, Nana wanted to go to our favorite park to take pictures. This is where most of the pictures of the day will be from as I forgot my memory card during brunch, my batteries ran out at the park, and I left my camera at home when we went to my parents. Oh well, at least I have a few from the beginning of the day. C and D did not really want to take pictures though (who could blame them with me as their mother) so the majority of the time was spent at the playground trying to burn off their sugar high from the Icees.

And running up and down the hills.

Of course, being the person I am, I attempted to get a family picture with my boys.

And one (or two) pictures with Nana.

After the park, we went to my parents house for dinner. I love my parents' cooking. Especially the green beans, mashed potatoes, and my mom's fruit salad. After dinner, Aunt R and Aunt K convinced C to do some laps to work off some of the turkey he ate that day. I think he did twelve laps before he and D turned my parents' living room into their very own WWE fighting ring. (Aunt R, if you read this, can you PLEASE send me any pictures/video that you took?). We ended the night with the annual Clark Holiday Poker tournament. Which, surprisingly, I took third place!

Wordless Wednesday

{Flashback Friday}

This isn't the best picture of me. I look like I hadn't slept in weeks (which I hadn't), I needed a hair cut (or at least a better style), my eyebrows needed a wax (which they usually do a week after I have them done), and who doesn't love a double chin (don't answer that).

Regardless of how crappy I look, this is one of my favorite pictures of C when he was a baby. My favorite picture has to be the one that Kel snapped the minute C was back in my arms after being cleaned off, which I posted here. I loved how he was instantly my cuddlebug (hence the nickname Buggy). This was actually taken on November 16, 2009, so just over two years ago when he was three weeks and three days old.

Thankful Tuesday

Today I'm thankful for my partner in crime. And for the ten years that we've had together. And the two boys that we have together (but that's a whole different post).  And I'm grateful that after all that we've been through, you are still the one I fall asleep next to at night and wake up to in the morning. At least when we aren't kicked out of our bed by C and D.

I love you.

" We are all a little weird and

Life's a little weird,

And when we find someone whose

Weirdness is compatible with ours,

We join up with them and fall in

Mutual weirdness and call it Love."

~Dr. Seuss

Walking Donut Wednesday

I try, sometimes unsuccessfully, to get the boys out of the house and down to our local donut store every other week. Boys love the prize at the end and I love the energy they burn while running walking down the street.

Today we added an extra stop to our route so that we could pay a bill. Halfway through our neighborhood, C decided that he'd rather walk with his brother than sit in his stroller. How did he let me know? By standing up in his stroller (while moving might I add) and demanding "Mom out! Walk!". So like any good mother I let him run the last 300 feet before we hit a major street. This time I remembered to buckle both straps in the stroller.

After our short stop to pay the bill, and a long walk against  the wind, at which time our donut money almost flew away, we finally made it to our highly anticipated destination. Normally, C has donut holes and D has a sprinkle donut. However, this time C was very insistent that he be just like his big brother and ordered a yellow sprinkle.

While I got in a mini photo shoot, the boys devoured their donuts. And showed me that they knew what our lesson of the week meant. Sharing. Whether it be their donuts or their water, for once the boys had fun with each other and I enjoyed getting them out of the house.

On the way home, D decided that he wanted to push C in the stroller. Once we were on our street, I allowed D to take the reins and he ran with them. Literally. He was having a blast until he ran into the bushes. Then he let me drive C and he ran the rest of the way home. It was a great morning... minus the wind.

Mornings like this make up for the days that we had today. Let's just say that I'm happy that tomorrow will let us all start fresh.