Friday, November 30, 2012

November 2012

November began with a bang as we celebrated Liv's 1st birthday, and it never slowed down!  We transitioned directly into a celebration of Justin's BIG 30th birthday, followed by much Thanksgiving celebration and preparations for Advent!

Liv just crawled right into this space after I had directed one of my sweet ones' meltdowns into thankfulness, otherwise I would have melted too! 
Lainie got her first EVER haircut at 4.5 years old:)
I introduced Lizzie to the wonder that is TCBY White Chocolate Mousse.  A date with this girl is a GIFT!

Leading up to Justin's Birthday, we had a 30 Days to 30 countdown.  Each day, Justin had a card to open that either told about a small gift or special activity.  This was really fun as the girls participated in many of the activities, both getting to take Daddy on a date- Lizzie to see Brave at the theater and Lainie to the Donut Shop:)  They also served their Daddy well in those 30 days, even cleaning his office one day!  The culmination of the countdown was set to be night with friends at a high speed gokart track.  Unfortunately, after we all got our schedules aligned, arranged for childcare and drove almost 2 hours away, the lights at the track turned out as we entered the parking lot, 30 minutes prior to their posted hours of operation!  We were told they just closed early since no one was there; AHHHHHH!!!!!  After another failed attempt at a place called Shenaniganz (where the carts went roughly 5 mph), we ended up at a place in Dallas that was still fun but not nearly what I had planned:(  Thankful though for a fun night out with 6 adults in one car for several hours of adult conversation and a lot of laughs!

My 30 year old LOVE!
FRIENDS!
One of my favorite gifts I gave to Justin- My friend Joy made our Wedding Vows fancy!  
You should definitely check out her Etsy shop!  
Dinner at Spaghetti Warehouse with the fam
My Cheesecake Making Assistant.  Butterfinger was the request this year:)

Lainie was the Shining Star on Super Hero Day at Preschool, where she saved the world with the Power Of LOVE (Celine Deon sang her theme song).
How can you not smile at this?!
Even Kelsey got a cape and a hair heart for this special day!


Thanksgiving fun began with Lainie's Thanksgiving Feast at school.
Elaine means "Ray of Light," and her Indian Vest said "Walks in the light"
I had tears in my eyes as I saw her wearing this, because this is our biggest prayer for Lainie, that she would grow to be a woman who walks in the Light of Jesus and shines for HIS GLORY!  We are already seeing glimpses of this light and have such great hope for what God has planned for this girl!


The girls worked super hard to memorize Psalm 100 in the month of November, and I was so proud of them for totally rocking it:)
You can see them Here

We were blessed to house hop to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family!
The cousins at Grammy and Pop's house!

Liv and Uncle GB bonding
My little leaf girls (a little earlier in the month when Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Trey were in town)


Liv loves snuggling with Aunt Cheryl
Uncle Trey... well we aren't so sure

Cousin Pics in Christmas Dresses!
 






A few other highlights...
     
We went to a special presentation at the Library by a relative of a Mayflower passenger!  Super Cool!
     
Liv found the favored spot of all my babes at this age!  Tupperware and plastic cups... FUN!
       
And we had a BLAST filling our boxes for Operation Christmas Child and praying for the sweet girls who will receive them.  Oh Jesus, capture their hearts, let them know your love!
(As a side note, it was after taking this picture that my phone disappeared for several hours.  I delivered the boxes to the drop off location and then had a horrible feeling that my phone had been packed up and sent away to one of our sweet girls!  Finally, my phone was found in our homeschool supply closest where Lainie had put it for safekeeping.)  
        
Our world may seem a little crazy and upside down most days, but we are thankful for all of the chaos and wouldn't change it for the world!

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