Thanksgiving weekend was really nice. Unfortunately, Emil was still in the hospital from his back surgery, suffering some awful recovery set backs. We visited him in the morning on Thanksgiving before heading up to Wisconsin for our traditional bowling and gluttony combo. We enjoyed a great day after Thanksgiving (the first time in 10 years I haven't had to take a vacation day to have it off! Woo hoo for Abbott!!) with Mom and Dad and saw the animated movie Coco with the Mackus crew. Saturday we got our Christmas tree and spent a fun couple days decorating it and enjoying some just-us time.
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| My little turkeys |
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| Melissa about to get a strike |
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| the peanut gallery |
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| Mom and me - thankful to be there with her! |
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| Dinner at second-cousin Jan Casper's house |
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| Bryson holding down the kid fort in the all seasons room |
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| Sleeping in the same bed at G&G's house. They're so sweet when they're asleep. |
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| Breakfast out! |
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| Grandma & Grandpa picked this restaurant out special because of the fun pancake options she knew the kids would enjoy |
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| At the park - shielding each other from the chilly winds |
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| Top of the hill |
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| Dog park hike |
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| Helping G&G put up their Christmas tree |
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| Making Christmas cookies with Grandma |
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| Snuggling with Dad during a movie |
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| At Uncle Dan's after the movie |
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| Reading stories with Grandma. |
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| Back at home - making banana/raspberry creations |
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| The banana slice stack is always fun |
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| A little game we like to call "roll the half rotten pumpkin to your sibling" |
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| Picking out the best tree ever and best wreath ever from the Knights of Columbus. We know Emil will be back there helping us in the lot next year! |
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| Claire still really enjoys all of her ornaments. It is in her DNA. |
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| Luke's Polar Express train set from Santa last year was put away with the Christmas decorations so he was so excited to get to play with it when we took it out this year. |
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| Luke's year to put the super special angel on top of the tree. This is the angel that was my father's when he was a child, then on my tree as a child, and now on my children's tree. You know I'm all about TRADITION!!! |
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| Really fun last minute decision to eat at an awesome sushi restaurant with the kids. Matt ordered a lot of fish! |
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| Selfies with the phone |
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| Matt is still the designated hair brusher every day. |
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| Our tree looks so beautiful. Love love love this time of year. |
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| Waking up on Sunday to our awesome tree with the sun streaming in was quite a delight. |
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| The kids and Matt thought up very creative Magnatile houses that the train gets to break through. |
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| Christmas cookie time at our house, too! |
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| Silly face! |
