Thanksgiving...without photos!

I didn't take my camera to any Thanksgiving festivities this year! It wasn't exactly on purpose either. We were pretty busy Thanksgiving morning and I forgot it. So, you'll just have to imagine it in your mind as I describe our day.

We got up and had some breakfast around 8:00 AM. Following that, we watched the Macy's Day Parade which is my favorite part! My kids enjoyed it too.

My in-laws were down and staying with my sister-in-law, so we were heading there for lunch. I started cooking some side dishes to go with the turkey that they were preparing. We finished up a little later than I had planned. We arrived around 12:30 at their house for lunch. We ate shortly after getting there and visited until 2:00 PM. I headed to my parent's home with the girls and visited with my family until around 7 PM. Bruce and his parent's got there around 5. We nibbled a little, but were still pretty full from our HUGE lunch!
We headed home shortly after coffee and relaxed for the rest of the night. The warm weather didn't really feel like Thanksgiving, but it's Florida...it's not going to get too cool anyway.

Overall, we all had a great day. We saw family, met a few new friends, and ate way too much. So the season begins!

The Pumpkin Patch

There was a small pumpkin patch in town at the beginning of October. We took the kids to let them pick out a pumpkin. The activities were too young for Madison, but Emmalene had a good time.

They also had a couple picture stages for you to take your own photos with a fall background. This photo was taken with Madison and Emmalene in front of an old tractor and scarecrow.

When I look at this photo, it makes me realize how small Emmalene is!

Bruce walked around the park with Emmalene and she found this bear statue. She was quite interested in touching him.

Emmalene was mesmorized by the people and all of the pumpkins! She would stand and stare at the different size pumpkins and try to pick up a few. She would then stare at all of the little kids running around. So much for a little mind to take in!

Emmalene kept going back to this pumpkin, the one with the UGLY spot! We convinced her to leave it alone.

Madison saw a couple of friends that she knew and visited with them. Emmalene had a good time running from one area to the next and we all enjoyed a day out together!

My Pumpkin Creation

I saw this pumpkin idea on the new site Pinterest. Basically, you trace anything onto the pumpkin and then glue on buttons. I couldn't find the color buttons that I needed so I used beads and traced our last name initial. I tied a black ribbon to the stem.

Halloween is my least favorite holiday, but I thought this was classy take on decorating for this time of the year.

Youth Night, Kix, Pizza, & Jazz Shoes

No...none of these topics go together, but I wanted to get several photos posted fast. So, the first grouping is from a sleepover. Mark came down to go with Madison to a Youth Night Movie at church and decided to spend the night. We pulled the twin mattress out and the kids piled on to watch another movie when they got home. Cousin sleepovers...can you have anymore fun?

Emmalene took her bowl of dry Kix and put them on the floor while she played with her toys. Snapped these photos while she was on the floor.

Madison had a friend over the night, Camille, and we had pizza for dinner. This is a cute photo of the girls.

This was Emmalene's first time having pizza. We cut off the bottom half and gave her the top triangle. She munched away and had fun listening to the girls giggle because that's what girls do...giggle! :)

Emmalene loves to wear our shoes, especially Madison's. She slipped on her jazz shoes and pushed her grocery cart around the kitchen.

Madison's Sky

Madion loves to take pictures with my camera. She looked out the window last night and saw this beautiful view. She grabbed the camera and headed outside. Before she left she said, "Mom, this is picture that you'll never forget." She's right, it's perfect. When you look at something like this, you get a small glimpse at what a wonderful creator we serve. Only God could paint a sky this beautiful!

The Perfect Accessory

Every girl needs a black purse. It completes an outfit for day or night. As you can see, Emmalene loves sporting her black purse with the simplest wardrobe choice - a Huggies diaper.

Emmalene loves to play with purses, bags, anything that allows her to hide treasures inside. We find all kinds of things when we clean up the dress up stuff.

Although not a perfect match with a brown sandal, but it works perfectly for an afternoon of play.

Crayola Magic

While Madison is working on homework, I have to find ways to keep Emmalene entertained. If I don't, she finds her way into Madison's book bag or trying to climb up in her lap while she's working. So, I tried crayons the other day. I sat down with a page from a coloring book and gave her 4 crayons. We colored together for a little while until Madison needed by help on a homework question. I walked away from Emmalene to help Madison and when I came back this is what I found:


Emmalene left her own "mark" on the world...well, kitchen wall. I know this isn't behavior that we should congratulate, but we're talking crayons - not permanent markers. With a little scrub from one of those white eraser cleaners, it was gone quickly.

As you can see, Emmalene was pretty proud. Again, not a good habit, but a moment that will soon fade from our memories as she grows more and more each day. Isn't this what it's really about...remembering the small things!

Dorothy (AKA Emmalene) & Her Ruby Slippers

Emmalene loves to play with shoes. We've been looking for the dress up heels for little girls, but haven't been able to find them anywhere. Grandma decided to help us search, but hasn't had any luck either. However, she did find these adorable red glittery slippers that are a couple sizes too big. Emmalene loves them!

In this photo, Emmalene knew I was trying to get a closer shot of her foot only and she lifted up onto her toes. Too cute!

She wears them with everything! Even without shorts :)

Even without clothes entirely!!

She loves to watch herself walk in them. She almost walked into the wall while trying to watch her feet.

A little tap dance move!

She turned around while I was photographing her so that I could get all the angles!

A true accessory for any fashion...red ruby slippers!

Jewelry is a girl's best friend!

Madison played with costume jewelry when she was younger. She loved to dress up. She thought Emmalene would enjoy playing with some of the larger pieces so she got them out for her.

When Madison put the rings on Emmalene, she held her hand out for all to see. When she put the bracelets on her, she wouldn't put her arm down. She kept her arms up in the air to keep them from sliding off. So, since then she walks around the house with her arms up when she's wearing the bracelets. Beauty is pain!

Way more pretty than the Hope Diamond!

Emmalene was mesmerized by the colors and loved the rings!

Arms up...keep those bracelets on!

Emmalene loves the jewelry, but isn't as excited about keeping her hair up. As you can see, the hair bow is gone and her hair is flying free!

Ingredients for an Afternoon of Fun

Ingredients for an Afternoon of Fun:

1 pillow pet
1 clothes basket
2 blankets
1 little sister
1 older sister

Directions:
Place one blanket in basket. Place basket on top of other blanket on floor. Place one little sister in basket with pillow pet. Have older sister pull little sister around the house. Yield: More fun than you can imagine and lots of giggles!

Shower Cap

Emmalene came walking out of my bathroom the other day wearing my shower cap and I grabbed my camera. Too cute!

Mom's Bed

I can remember crawling up into my parent's bed when I was young. It was so warm and cozy. I remember the "biscuit" quilt that my mom had on her bed. It was heavy and soft.

Madison and Emmalene crawled up into our bed to watch TV and I snapped this photo. So cute! Just two sisters enjoying some snuggle time together.

Mark & Madison's Last Summer Get-Together

Madison had lots of friends over this summer. She saved her favorite's to have over once more before school started. Mark of course is a boy and doesn't quite fit in with the girl get togethers. So, we saved one final day for him for a cousin sleepover.

Emmalene absolutely adores Mark. She crawls all over him when he lays on the floor. When he sits on the couch, she's busy sitting on his lap and wanting to do whatever he's doing.

The kids swam together, played the Wii, played outside, played inside...just plain played and had fun. These photos were taken during one last snack before Emmalene headed to bed and Mark and Madison enjoyed a late night movie.

Mark and Madison are both heading into 7th grade. They weren't looking forward to going back, but one last fun get together should hold them until Labor Day!

A New Braid

I saw this idea on a website for a braid. I tried it on Madison and she loved it. She wants to try it on the days that she has P.E. She thought it would help keep her cool by keeping her hair off her shoulders and by looking cute at the same time. All girls know that it's really about just looking cute!

Father's Day & The Edison House

On Father's Day, we headed down to the Edison House in Ft. Myers with Grandma and Grandpa. It had been a long time since I had been there and had been talking about it for a long time. My grandfather was lived in Ft. Myers and I have always loved to visit.

The Edison House was running a special for dad's and we decided to take advantage of it. We took lots of pictures (too many to post) and enjoyed walking on the property. I remember being able to actually step into the homes, but due to new rules in place you have to enjoy the view from the entrance doors. It was still neat to see everything again. It was very hot though so we ended our tour about 2 hours after we started.

Here are a few photos that I pulled from at least 60 photos:

My dad being silly trying to get Emmalene to laugh at him.
Bruce enjoying a moment in the shade.

Emmalene and Madison under the shade tree.

A view of the entrance onto the estate.

Madison and Emmalene enjoying time with their dad on Father's Day.