Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I love getting together with family and friends, eating together, watching the kids play and having it be the beginning of the holiday season. I never feel that I have to really think about what I am thankful for on Thanksgiving. I start every day reflecting on what I am thankful for and all of the beautiful things in my life. It starts each day when I hear Jackson coming down the stairs in the morning, Aubrin calling for me to come and get her, Todd and I talking about our day as we get ready for work, talking to my mom on the way to work... the list goes on. Thankful is what I feel every day.

This year we spent our day at Todd's parents. It was nice to have most of the family together. Kaye made a great dinner and we all ate way too much. We didn't see my side of the family on Thansgiving, but we spent time with my parents the day after.

When we got home we read Elf on a Shelf and prepared for the arrival of our elf Harry. Aubrin could hardly contain herself that Harry would be at our house when she woke up. Jackson was excited as well, but knew another set of eyes would be watching him:)

Happy Halloween...all month long.

Jackson and Aubrin were both sure about their costume choices in early September. Aubrin knew that she wanted to be Belle and Jackson wanted to be Superman- the one with muscles. He said maybe the costume with muscles would finally make him weigh enough to sit in a booster rather than a car seat. (He really wants to join the 40lb club)
It seems that we spend much of October celebrating Halloween and going to many festive events. There are too many events to write about but a few were Boo Bash in Milford, classroom parties and of course Halloween night.
Boo Bash this year was CRAZY! We got there early to get a spot in line. This was the first year that Todd was in town to join us. It seems that each year it gets busier and busier. At one point we didn't move for 11 minutes. The kids were both over waiting in line, so we decided just to walk down the street and look at all of the costumes. We ended up running into many of our friends and their kids. Then we headed to the Burger Joint for dinner. We thought it would be crowded, but most people were still walking in line for candy.
Both of the kids had Halloween celebrations in their classrooms. I was able to go to Aubrin's the Thursday morning before Halloween. She was so excited to go in her costume. We spent our morning making crafts and eating snacks.
Todd was able to go to Jackson's Halloween celebration and parade on Halloween. Jackson was excited to be in the school parade and especially having his dad there to watch. He also spent his afternoon doing crafts and eating snacks.
I rushed home from work to get the kids dinner and dressed in time to go out trick or treating. Jackson and Aubrin had a great time with their neighborhood buddies running around and getting candy. I thought Aubrin would only last a few houses, but she lasted over an hour.
The kids came home picked out the candy they wanted to keep and put the rest on the counter for the Halloween Fairy to take.
When the kids woke up the next morning they found their treasures from the fairy. I wasn't sure we would have the fairly come this year, but a few days leading up to Halloween I heard Jackson and Aubrin talking about what they were hoping the fairy would bring them. It made me smile that it was something they were looking forward to.

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

It's hard to believe that my dad turned 60! 60 is in no way old, but I'm not sure how my dad is 60? I feel like it was just yesterday that we had his 50th surprise party.
It was great that Erin and her family could come home for the weekend to spend time with the family and celebrate my dad. We kept the birthday celebration low key, but surrounded him with what is most important to him~his family.

On Sunday we headed to the cider mill in Plymouth. We got there a little early, so Jackson and Aubrin walked around a bit and checked out the sites. I was so happy to see Erin and Jayson pull in with the kids. It always fills my heart when I see my sister and of course her whole family.

Once we were all there, got all of our hugs in, we headed to the hay ride to head back to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkins. As soon as we got off the wagon Jackson started running all the way to the other end of the field. He had a strategy to find the perfect pumpkin. He said that everyone always looks towards the front, and that he was going all the way to the back where no one goes- smart little guy. Aubrin and Emerson were just running holding hands and giggling the whole time. Will was on a mission with Jayson and Erin to get his pumpkin and my mom and dad were soaking in every second of having the whole family together.

After pumpkins we headed to see the animals and then have cider and donuts. The weather was beautiful so we took total advantage of it and stayed and played outside.

After we headed back to mom and dads for a simple lunch and cupcakes. The kids played games, the guys watch football and the ladies were able to catch up a bit.

All of the kids were so exited to sing happy birthday and blow the candles out with grandpa.

It was a wonderful celebration of my dad and our family. Happy Birthday Dad!

As always as we left it was a sad good bye to my sister and her family, but it was a day well spent.

Zoo Trip

Today we thought it would be a great day to go to the zoo. When we went to the zoo earlier this summer, both Jackson and Aubrin were disappointed the lions were gone because a new habitat was being built for them. We were finally able to get back to see them today. It was a bit chilly, but we bundled up and headed out. We were excited to see that the zoo was decorated for Halloween. The whole front of the zoo was lined with pumpkins, scarecrows everywhere and different displays made out of pumpkins and gourds. It was very festive for this time of year. Of course we headed straight to the lions. It was nice that we were able to get so close. Jackson and Aubrin were happy to see them back. After that we enjoyed the rest of the animals as well. It was cool out, so many of the animals were out. It was also feeding time for many of the animals.

Aubrin rode on a carousal for the first time. She has never shown an interest in them before especially because I can't go on them (motion sickness). Todd talked her into going and she loved it.

On our way home we stopped at grandma and papa's house for lunch and a short visit.

Field Trips

This week Jackson and Aubrin both had field trips. On Wednesday Jackson went to an apple orchard with his class. Todd was able to take the afternoon off to go with Jackson and his class. Todd was one of the drivers for the trip, so he took Jackson and another little boy in his car. When they got to the orchard they went on a hayride, had a short tour of the facilities and had cider and donuts. It was a short trip, but a perfect length of time for a first time field trip. It was also a good chance for Todd to meet some of the parents in the class and some of the new friends Jackson has been talking about.

On Thursday Aubrin had a field trip to Spicer's Orchard. My mom was able to take Aubrin on her trip. Aubrin was so excited for her first field trip and she was excited that her grandma was taking her. Aubrin went on a hayride, picked an apple and a pumpkin, had donuts and cider and played in the play area for a bit. She had a great time playing with all of her new friends and of course Tessa. Aubrin was thought it was an added bonus that Cassie was also on the field trip.

It was a great first field trip of the year for all. I felt horrible that I couldn't go on either, but most importantly, Jackson and Aubrin both had a great experience on their trips.

Festivals and Fire Trucks

Over the past couple of weeks we have been trying to enjoy the sunny days. A few of the days have been cooler, but others we can still get away with wearing shorts and flip flops. Todd had his annual baseball golf outing so the kids and I went to a fall festival at Hess Hathaway park. There was so much for the kids to do. Of course we headed straight to the farm. Jackson and Aubrin each got a cup of food to feed the sheep, goats and ducks. Feeding farm animals is a little piece of heaven for our babes. Then we headed to the hayride. It was a nice 20 minute ride through the woods. All of the leaves were changing so it was a very pretty ride. Jackson and Aubrin were on the look out for deer and squirrels. They also had a barn full of crafts and a nutty storyteller woman that all of the kids seemed to love. For the fact that she was talking about animal poop seemed to keep all of the kids attention. On our way to the car we picked out our first pumpkins of the year!












We've also visited the White Lake Fire Department for their open house. They had all of their fire trucks and ambulances out for the kids to climb inside and explore. Jackson thought it was great. Aubrin couldn't get past the firefighter dressed in his gear. It was very scary for her and she was a kola bear on the front of me. Once we went inside the garage there was am old fire engine and Aubrin liked that one because all men dressed in gear were out of sight! The kids munched on a few snacks and we headed home. Once we got home we decorated outside for Halloween! We love fall!

Fishing

A few weeks ago we spent some time with the Campau's fishing. Jackson and Aubrin had a great time. So over that past couple of weeks we have spent many evenings at the pond at the club house. It is crazy the amount of fish that the kids have been catching. Just as Todd gets one fish off the hook and throws it back in, another one is being caught. Jackson actually caught one that was so big that it broke the pole! It has been a great way to spend our evenings as a family.