Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was extra special this year because we also got to celebrate a very special birthday of Donna - the big 7-0!  We celebrated a few days early on Thanksgiving so we would have everybody there.  It was kind of Donna to host her own party:)

Cara and I had so much fun at the Hot Chocolate run that we did the Turkey Trot 5K the morning of Thanksgiving

Kristin suggested I try eating these uber healthy green smoothies  to help be healthier and help with my weight loss goals.  First day took about 30 minutes of prep after an intense trip to Whole Foods with my list in hand.  It will only get easier and it wasn't even bad tasting!  To a new healthier me!

Meanwhile, the kids baked and frosted a cake for Grandma Donna's birthday

Thanksgiving outfit picture had to be bribed and this was the smile I got.

Birthday hugs

Surprise balloons, presents and cake

Lila, Claire, Donna, Luke and Orrin

Looking in her new binoculars

Handsome boy:)  This kid melts my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It was not very warm the day after Thanksgiving, but Claire insisted on wearing a sundress all day, even when we went out.  When Dad and Luke went outside to put up holiday lights, she was running around outside with no coat on.  She's a crazy one!

Finally I think she got chilly

Then we went to the tree lighting in Market Square and after a long time Claire got cold enough that she allowed her coat to be put on.  We thought our "natural consequences" of her not wearing a coat and getting cold would happen a lot more quickly than it did.  

Saturday of TG weekend we went up to WI and had a playdate with the Yttre's and the newly-moved-back-to-the-Midwest Nolden's.  Great to have all these kids together!  Two of my bridesmaids and best high school friends.  We met at Andrea & Kevin's new house, they moved across town for more space, and it is beautiful!

Josie and Luke still are thick as thieves

My little goddaughter Kelsey is getting so big! Already 2 years old!

Eloise and Claire also stuck together like glue

The three amigas

Shelley & Rob's new house in Elm Grove is gorgeous

Kelsey and Claire playing with toys

They have a basketball court in their basement - wow!  Luke asked why we didn't have one - lol!

Decorating the Christmas tree with Grandma and Grandpa

Popcorn, movies and roaring fire - love these low key visits!

Matt dug out our old Nintendo set and games and we've all been having fun playing it.

It was just like riding a bike, getting all the old moves back!

Cold Front

After all this unseasonably warm weather, it was not entirely unwelcome to head into crisper temps and feel Fall for real.  Then 5 minutes of that passed and we all said, "how many days until Summer?"  Because Spring is a myth in the Midwest (in my opinion).   It goes from Winter to Summer with a few crazy milder days in the couple months that are supposed to be the 4th season.  I do love the tulips though, so there is a redeeming feature of Spring.  And Spring Break!  And my birthday!  Ok, I guess Spring is alright after all.  

ANYWAY, this week back in November was pretty fun.  We had a few social things and lots of downtime.  

Dinner and playdate at the McCarney's

Eloise's birthday party

Double date sushi and improv with Olga & Dan

Children's Museum outing - just Mommy & Claire - while Dad & Luke went to another bd party

She animal doctor'ed this bunny for such a long time.  Luke never has this kind of attention span at these types of places, so this was new for me.  

after the bd party Luke & Matt went geocaching

Low Key Fun

Matt went to Purdue to hang out with his friends in an RV (obviously).  They had a full tailgate set up and then attended the football game.  While he was gone the kids and I were quite social, with a Kellogg girls brunch in the city and then a birthday party in Kenosha, WI.  Fun times!  Matt was back Sunday morning so we still got a full day to hang out as a family, and while Claire napped Matt took Luke to fly his model rocket.  They had a blast, pun intended:)

These days at night, since she has had a nap and isn't sleepy, Claire will try to make me laugh while I lay with her.  She does these strange voices, and flubs her lips and says (like she's scolding somebody) "Stay still!  I'm trying to clean your teeth!!"  Then she cracks herself up.  I have no idea where she got that from, but it makes me crack up every time too.  On the 20th time she does it, if I don't laugh because I'm trying to get her to calm down and go to sleep, she orders me "Laugh, Mom!"

These Kellogg girls sure know how to procreate.  And we're even missing 3 kids due to illness, and there's one on the way!

Cousin Lila's gymnastics birthday party

Meanwhile, in West Lafayette

The RV was pretty crowded, so Matt chose to sleep in his car.  Chilly!!

Rocket man

Matt's grandfather's urn was moved so that when Grammy passes someday, she'll be next to Granddad.  They had a short ceremony for him that Matt went to during the week.

I had an offsite meeting at a vendor's office on the Mag Mile and the views were beautiful

Sunrise before my morning run

Mid year report time.  Claire is doing great.

Luke is also doing well in school.