Thanksgiving Parties

As we approach Thanksgiving, the parties all start and the holiday season truly gets into swing.  Addison's class had activities that the parents could come in and help with, so Amy took the time off to go and help - it was fun to put on a party for them!

Making a turkey out of snacks

The whole class with their thanksgiving photo props!

Our church also had an outreach program in which people would take shoe boxes and fill them with presents for kids in need - Addison and Amy went to the packing event in which we wrote notes to the kids and helped fill in any remaining nook or cranny with small gifts.  It was fun to see all of the boxes that will go out to and bring a smile to a little kid's face!

Happy helper

One of our favorite things at Thanksgiving is the Grodack thanksgiving meal.  They open their home up to anyone and everyone - and if you have come once, you're invited every single year!  It is always a ton of fun and we look forward to it.  This year there were almost 50 people!

And this year's gala was Lady Antebellum - of which Amy had no idea who they were!  But it is always fun to see all of our friends dressed up in their finest!  Amy managed to get into a dress from 2010 -- but let's be clear, there was pain with every breath as the evening wore on -- never was Amy so glad to get into the car and undo the dress on the way home! 

Heather and the Js

Reeves, Bergherms and Grodacks

And our long-time friends the Stewarts

Karis is as handsome as the day Amy married him!

In other random pictures:

Kaleb had a pathfinder camp out in early November

Big brother reading a story to his precious little sister - these two are so sweet together!

We introduced golfing to the kids over Thanksgiving - Zachary went on Karis' annual Thanksgiving outing and had a great time

Stephanie - a dear long-time friend was in town for work, so Amy was able to catch up with her over dinner at the Cheesecake Factory

Zachary and Blake helped Auntie Heather with her Adventurers class (although they were typical reticent teens!)

Zachary leading the group of Adventurers out in nature looking for leaves

At a birthday party, caught a picture of Addison and Victoria

Decade spirit date at school - Kaleb went as the Grease John Travolta version - looking good!

Zachary's team soccer picture with the trophy from NACA

Jennifer sent this picture from her Facebook archives - Evan and Kaleb are so cute - probably about 2-3 years old (Kaleb is in orange shirt)

All I Want for Christmas in My Two Front Teeth!

How can this be - but our little girl has now lost BOTH of her front teeth within a matter of days!  Amy had been hoping that the teeth would last through the annual family pictures but that was a no-go - especially with a little help from an anxious girl who was ready for those loose teeth to be gone!  

Both Alison and Addison lost teeth on this day, so now they are matching with no front teeth to be had!

So proud of herself!

At the beginning of November we also had Moms and Muffins at the school - which is just a fun opportunity for Moms to go to chapel and see their kids.  Grade 1 did a poem of "If you Give a Mom a Cookie" (Similar to the story of "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie"), so Addison had the chance to be up front which was really sweet to see her!  They had to dress up like a mom, so that was quite interesting to figure out how to make her look older - we did our best and she was sure cute, but not sure that she looked like a mom truly! :)

Isn't she cute!

First chapel Amy could sit with the boys

With the second chapel being for Addison's grade

Addison got to announce one of the song as well as doing the poem up front!

Afterwards, we went back to their classrooms where Addison had made a craft about Moms - so sweet!  Love you sweetheart!

Early November we also headed out for the Adventurer Campout at Kalaqua which is always fun.  This year we only stayed one night as Zach had a very early soccer game on Sunday morning.  We stayed in the A-Frame house with two other families, so that was fun.

For Sabbath lunch, Addison's class was in charge of serving haystacks, and they took their jobs of handing out chips very seriously! :)

Ready for some chips?

In the afternoon, there was lots of canoeing, spikeball and soccer playing to be had before heading into the evening where we had s'mores - yummy!

Two spike ball games - the men just love this game!

While the teens and tweens were out playing soccer!

Always love roasting marshmallows

Zach and Blake are never far from each other - these two have been best friends for 12 years!

We found an old picture of Blake and Zach together - best friends since the moment they laid eyes on each other! :)

Random pictures:

Kaleb did a project on the water cycle - he did a great job!

Fall Festival Time!

The fall of course has lots of fall festivals, which having young kids mean that we enjoy being out and about a lot!  They have also had some fun field trips, which we've tagged along on a few of them so we've enjoyed seeing some of Florida!

Addison had a field trip to Barberville Pioneer village, in which they introduced the kids to early settlers and Native Indians.  They had different stations throughout the grounds and we rotated through - it was quite interesting and well done!  One lady told a  Native Indian legend complete with hand motions that the kids did along with her - Amy found it quite engrossing! 

Making a clay pot

This gentlemen showed them how they cooked corn soup and gave them each a little bit to try - Addison was not brave enough to track it though!

But she did help at the station where you could help weave a rug!

And the petting zoo is always a hit!

Carding wool

Love spending the day together!

At church, we had several festivals in October that we didn't share earlier - first off starting with Pumpkin Fest - an opportunity to get together and play silly mixer games - always a hit!

They possibly were making up a game here - one never knows!  Duncan, Karis and Duncan's father in law Ron

There was a great turnout!

In the crazy twist of the game Hungry Hippo, four people were on sliding platforms with laundry baskets and a bunch of balls in the center - Amy agreed to do it - it is like a back bend keeping yourself straight on this thing - good workout! :) Alas, we did not win but it was fun anyway!

As an alternative to the Halloween trick or treating, our church has a Trunk or Treat festival, and it was a great hit this year complete with face painting and tattoos.  The Zs came back with all kinds of interesting accoutrements! :)

In other random happenings:

We did the responsive reading at church - Zachary was very nervous before we went up but he did great!  Kaleb read two parts, and was a champ up there!  Addison welcomed everyone - next time when she can read a little better we'll get her more into the mix

At a recent work event, Jonathan Isaac stopped by and everyone could take a picture with him - hilarious to stand beside someone THAT tall compared to you!

Kaleb had spirit days at church and went with crazy hair one day!