Thanksgiving Weekend

What an awesome weekend we had! I'm not sure we could have packed more fun into our four days than we did. We started with a great Thanksgiving meal at Grandma B's, with some aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then, we did some yard work for them.

Grandpa B. and Mom

Oh, those big blue eyes!

C and second cousin Zachary

Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Wayne

Then, we trekked to Muscatine, left the kids with Gram and Papa, and slept (for a few hours) at Mom and Dad's. We got up at 3:30 and went Black Friday Christmas shopping with Meg and T.J., and Mom and Dad. Chad was a wonderful asset to the team, as usual, by standing outside Target in line from 4:45 to 6:00am. As a result, we were all able to accomplish our assigned missions once we entered the store. Oh, what fun!

Friday afternoon took us back to Gram and Papa's house to celebrate Thanksgiving and Grandma Wee's 82nd birthday. Dianne fixed a delicious meal and used her fine china. We were extremely hard on her stemware...and she graciously forgave us. Perhaps the decorating help we gave her made up for it?

H and C

Next came helping Nana and Papa with their Christmas decorating. When we woke up this morning, our first significant snow had blanketed the yard. It was beautiful. The girls helped roll out gingerbread men, and the boys watched the train go round the tree. Chad was the lights man, and he does such a great job.

Some Faces

"Tains"

The room formerly known as our family room is now Geo-Trax land. I always knew we'd get them out again someday (after their several year hiatus). Chad and the kids built an elaborate track Sunday while Hayden was napping. When he woke up, his reaction was so cute. He now does not want to nap because he wants to keep playing with his "tains". We picked them all up yesterday, and this morning C and H wanted me to build a new track. Somewhere, from the shadowy places of my memory, came the track Carter and I built together over and over again when he was a train maniac. Mission accomplished....but I'm taking a picture of it before we clean up this time!

Married With Children

Last year at this time, I had two unmarried, unattached sisters and one married sister. Now, I have three married sisters! In one year's time, I have two new brothers-in-law and three new nephews (not to mention my new niece born on the Spore side). How much can change in such a short time! We have seen God's hand at work in awe inspiring ways in the last months...and we are grateful. Here's a picture of the new Bradfield clan. I think panoramic photos are in our future.

Halloween

Every year, despite the kids' elaborate plans, Halloween at our house is a last minute free for all. Grabbing a black t-shirt here, gray sweatpants there, Mom's eyeliner applied liberally to faces....and oh, the mess after it is all over! It was a gorgeous night last night, and we enjoyed our trick-or-treating more than ever before. Hayden was falling asleep in the wagon as we made our way down the last stretch to home. So now, the mess is cleaned up, faces washed, candy sorted, and we are left to remember a fun evening together.