Thanksgiving

It has been a very cold week, with lots of light (and not so light) snow.

A picture of the living room sans curtains, a but with our new couch!

 Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in the morning!

Gluten free cookies made by Abby and Hope. They tasted just like the "real thing"!

Ready to eat!

With our "holiday family", the ones we have celebrated Thanksgiving with for over 18 years.

The kids are all grown up. We are missing the oldest "kid" this year, as he is in medical school back east.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

We painted the dining room and living room last Sunday. Not a drastic change, from tan to off white, but it feels fresher.  We also are moving things around, putting the living room curtains into the dining room and hopefully sewing new curtains for the living room.

It looks like it will just be twelve of us for Thanksgiving this year.  That means we'll be able to fit everyone around one table.

Abby pressed leaves from our Maple out back to decorate with earlier this fall. Now we just need to purchase napkins and candles and wash all the dishes and serving pieces. And cook all the food.

Jacob's 18th Birthday

Jacob has loved the "Inside Out" movie, so we made that the theme for his birthday celebration.

He received the main character plush figures, among other things.

Below, expressing the emotions of the characters...

And the cake, made and decorated by Abby.

When Hannah came by a few days later, we gave her the birthday gifts for her 23rd birthday, which included this Rudolph onsie. Because nothing says "Merry Christmas" like walking around in a deer suit.

Pictures from Abby's phone

Abby's Handiwork

This summer Hannah had to dress up 50's style for work.  Abby made up a 50's 'do for her.

Abby also had to dress 50's for an event at her work due to the launch of a doll from the 50's (American Girl). 

And here we have Hope, who was just minding her own business on the couch when Abby came along and fixed her up.

Going to the Fall Festival at Church

Pictures from Dad and Judy's visit in July

Dad took Jacob and Hope to Pike's Peak while Judy and I went shopping (and Abby went to work...)

At White Fence Farm for dinner before heading up to Breckenridge for fireworks.

Trying to take a nice picture with Grandpa while your siblings are photobombing in the background.

Rinse and repeat. I have several similar photos of their antics.

And here they are trying to look busy or innocent or something.

Dad and Judy in front of the Breckenridge restaurant where they had their first date.

Brian taking a selfie while Abby is taking a selfie, too.  Waiting for the fireworks to start by taking grainy photos of ourselves. It's a new world...

Snagging pictures of Hannah from Jessalyn's Facebook page

Hannah and her Thorn buddies went camping for their "get to know you" time.

The new Thorn crew.

With Daniel and Jessalyn this summer.

Hope's Birthday Adventure

For her 14th birthday, Hope wanted to go horseback riding.

She found just what she wanted at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

And because that was so much fun, she is now taking riding lessons!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

We have enjoyed reading this book on Thanksgiving this week.  I love how it explains the competing views on what was the first Thanksgiving in America (and the first Thanksgiving celebration wasn't the Pilgrim and Indian feast, although that was an important historical event).  The book details how the holiday came to be celebrated nationally and details regional and historic differences in the way it is commemorated. I'm so glad our library had this book for us to discover this year!