Thanksgiving Brunch with Aunt Mel & Friends

Aunt Mel invited us over for brunch last Saturday morning and it was the perfect morning.  First of all, she made a grits bar.  Who does that?  Aunt Mel - and it was ridiculously fabulously amazing.  She had shrimp, chicken, veggies, cheeses, all kinds of goodies to dress up your grits and lots of other yummy food.  Rachel and her babes came up for the morning and it was so great to get to see them too!  It was a blessed way to end our Thanksgiving week!

Thankfulness

Wednesday night we headed to the mall on our way to celebrate thankful day with the Siak/Cannons. Ella got to spend her birthday money at build a bear, we waved at Santa, and browsed around the bookstore. The next day the guys watched a lot of football while Mary put together a delicious meal. It was such a relaxing couple of days and I am so thankful we got to celebrate with family!

(Sadly I only took the one picture of the guys watching football, I left my big camera at home!)

Ella's Thanksgiving Play!

What a treat for my little indian to have not one but both of her grandmothers here to witness her debut in her Thanksgiving play at school (Uncle Jesse, Daddy, Mommy, Luke, and Noah even was able to get out of his class- came too!).  It was a SUPER special day because they woke up with Nana at breakfast - then Uncle Jesse and Granny got to eat school lunch with both of them.  Ella did wonderfully in her play.  And we are all so blessed to have both of these women in our life - my kids have the best grandmothers!

How do I choose

** Disclaimer - if you you receive a Christmas card from me - prepare to have the suspense of our annual family picture ruined.

Joey knocked it out of the park (again) when he took our latest round of family portraits.  It was a beautiful fall day at the Carl Sandburg house when we posed for these shots.  I LOVE them all.  So how will I choose which one to send to everyone?  Hmmmm.....

6 years ago

My goodness how our life is so much richer and better - all because of you my Ella Grace.  Today marks six years since you came into our family.  What an awesome ride we have been on having you!  You are so fun.  So passionate about life.  Funny, loving, and you've got your daddy wrapped around your finger.  You are strong.  You are smart.  You are absolutely beautiful.  This year you started kindergarten, had your first trip to the hospital, went on several vacations, crafted and colored your little butt off, tried a whole bunch of new things...  I hope and pray that this next year will be full of Gods blessings and grace.  You are magnificent my Ella girl.  I'm so glad to be your mom.  Happy, happy Birthday!!!

Ella's birthday party!

Tomorrow my girl will be 6 years old.  I can't believe it.  Saturday we gathered with family and friends to celebrate at Kid Senses, a childrens museum in Rutherfordton.  It was such a stress-free, fantastic location to have a party.  After an hour in the party room the kids played and played and played.  Some of Ella's best buds got to join us and that made her day even more special.  It was a fantastic celebration to kick off Ella's 6th year!

Awkward Family Photos: Halloween Edition

 We have a tradition of going to my friend Kims street for Halloween.  She has the best street to trick or treat on!  After some soup to warm up our bellies, we headed out!  It was a lot of fun.  And it took the kids forever to fall asleep from the massive sugar rush when we were done.  Note for later:  3 pieces of candy before bed is entirely too much.

++ Every picture I took that night was borderline terrible.