Leaves

So we don't have any big trees at our house so we really don't ever have many leaves for the girls to play in.  Down the street at the neighbors house there are several large trees, so now at the end of November there was enough in our yard to make into a big pile for the girls.  Mark mowed one last time last weekend, mainly to get all the leaves up.  Before he started he did this for this girls...

They were thrilled and super excited. 

And this is what happens when Mom is inside, letting the kids play on their own in the backyard (which is fine with me!  They are safe in the backyard.)  Mark rolled his eyes and said "why aren't you watching them..."

Who needs to watch two girls that are having fun playing in the leaves? 

The Night Before...

Wednesday night before Thanksgiving day is almost better than Thanksgiving day in my eyes.  As a kid we always had the Wednesday night party with all of my Mom's family.  Aunts, Uncles, and tons of cousins.  The Wednesday night party has changed in a lot of ways (it is not nearly as crazy as it used to be) but it is always still a party.  It might be a little smaller than years past, but still a lot of fun.  Having small kids Mark and I have not made it to the party in years.  This year we decided to make it happen.  After work we headed out to Lawrence to stay at my Uncle's house and enjoy the night before Thanksgiving. 

My Aunt Jeannie is always an amazing host.  She had a taco bar for the adults, and hot dogs over the fire for the kids.  She also had all the helping for smores, yummy :)  We enjoyed drinks and lots of laughter around the fire.  Oh, and a lot of howling coyotes. 

Addison enjoyed her hot dog as well. 

It was a beautiful night, not a cloud in the sky.  Addison and Luke were looking at the stars. 

Lauren and Fairlyn were hard to find most of the night.  They were off running and playing all night. 

Again, my amazing Aunt also had hot fudge sundaes for another dessert. 

The kids loved it!

I am cracking up at this guy....

my cousin Jason.  LOVE HIM.  He is so crazy, just like his Mom.  The life of the party and always keeping us laughing.  He always has a great story to tell.  I have really enjoyed having him and his wife Cindy and their kids, Fairlyn and Morgan, at Thanksgiving the past 2 years.  Such great memories. 

I have to share the story of this little one at bedtime.  We brought the sleeping bags for the girls, but Lauren decided to sleep downstairs in the kids room with Fairlyn and Morgan.  Those 3 laughed and talked until about 10:00 and then finally fell asleep.  They were up shortly after 6 ready to start the day.

Addison was another story.  She finally fell asleep around 10:00 as well.  We stayed up a little later watching the KU game (Mark later than me) and we finally went to bed around 11 or so.  Addison woke up at 1:00 and was wide awake.  She messed around in the room playing with her animals, covering them up, uncovering them, climbing on the bed, climbing off the bed, going to the bathroom, putting on Lauren's boots and walking around, and doing this over and over and over again.  This went on for 3 hours.  Yes, 3 hours in the middle of the night.  She was wide awake.  Mark and I kept taking turns trying to get her to sleep, both of us dozing off here and there.  Finally at 3 I told Mark to go to the car and get the DVD player.  That at least kept her quite until 3:30 or so and I think by 4 she was finally back asleep.  Again, I was dozing in and out.  When Lauren came upstairs around 6 Mark was sleeping on the floor with Addison and the DVD player was still running...what a night. 

Addison was up for the day around 7:30 and I was too.  I let Mark sleep a little longer, as I knew he needed it.  Overnight trips away from home and your own bed can always lead to sleepless nights and very tired days, but the memories created over the Thanksgiving holiday make up for it all.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving Day 2011

It is the Merritt Family tradition to spend Thanksgiving out in Lawrence with all my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.  Well, not all of them, but several!  We had close to 40 people at Thanksgiving this year.  

More photography by Lauren.  Great pictures. 

As a kid the BEST thing about Thanksgiving was hanging out with all my cousins.  With 6 Aunts and Uncles I had lots of cousins to play with every Thanksgiving.  Now, Lauren and Addison have that too, and they love it.  Theses are some of the second cousins at Thanksgiving that the girls had fun with

Look at that table of food.  Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, green bean casserole, corn casserole, broccoli rice casserole, cabbage, sweet potatoes, vege tray, fruit tray and several cold salads, jello's etc.  Then tons of desserts.  It was all so good!

My cousin Miles joined us, which was fun.  Aunt Annie from Philly was in town and was able to get Grandma to come along as well.  We had a great visit with all of them. 

Crazy cousin Jason and my parents.  He has not changed a bit.  He was one of my funniest cousins as a kid, and well he still is.  His wife Cindy and their kids were so much fun to have a Thanksgiving.  Lauren played with Fairlyn and Morgan, and Addison tried her best to keep up with them. 

It was such a gorgeous day outside.  Mark and the guys played basketball.  Lauren and Farilyn ran around outside as well.  We played Apples to Apples after dinner.  Addison took a nap (she was so tired after the sleepless night she had before) and Sophie just hung out watching everyone. 

The passing of the family quilt. This quilt was made in 1999 and given to my Grandparents.  Each year it goes to another female member of the family.  Cousin Jason, well actually his wife Cindy, had the quilt this past year.  My Aunt Diane (Jason's Mom)  passed away several years ago, so Cindy took the quilt in memory of her. 

This year it was given to my Aunt Annie.  We were so glad she was able to make it this year.  She was married to my Uncle Morgan (who also passed away several years ago.  My Aunt Diane and Uncle Morgan were very young when they passed away.)  Annie was quite surprised and honored to have the quilt. 

The Merritt siblings (minus Jon, who is out in Denver and could not make it.)  Aunt Renee, Uncle Marcus, and my Mom.  They are the reason for the Merritt Family Thanksgiving tradition and I am so happy they have kept it going all these years.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is always such a huge event.  The girls have so much fun with all the kids around, Mark loves my extended family, and I love visiting and catching up with everyone. 

Wordless Wednesday

Top Eagle

Needless to say we are so proud of her.  Lauren earned the Top Eagle award at school for the month of October.  She had her name called over the big speaker throughout the whole school.  Way to go Lauren! 

Circus

Several weeks ago at the Pumpkin Patch Lauren won tickets to the circus.  I totally forgot about it until Friday night when I heard an advertisement on the radio.  When the girls woke up Saturday morning I told them I had a surprise for them.  I told them they had to have good listening and behavior for the morning in order to get the surprise.  That threat worked wonders. 

Here they are, ready to go.  They had no idea where we were going!  It was just me and the girls.  Mark stayed home to watch Nebraska play. 

I was actually very impressed with the Shriners circus.  We have taken Lauren to Barnum and Bailey circus in the past, and actually I thought this was better.  Maybe becasue it was held at the Midland Theater and there is really not a bad seat in the house since it is so small.  We sat in the upper level, front row and center! 

There were several acts that the girls enjoyed.  These included the hula hoop girls, flips on the trampoline, little poodles doing tricks, human cannon ball, camels and horses, and many other things. 

They had more fun than I thought they would and I am really glad that I took them.  And I got away with only spending $3 on popcorn.  I told them no junk before we arrived!  I packed sandwiches and chips for lunch and took in some bottled water!  I know Lauren was having fun because she was laughing and clapping and following along with the show.  I was not sure about Addison because she did not show that same emotion.  She just sat on my lap the whole time.  She did not get bored, and was completely mesmerized by the show.  We stayed until the complete end and Addison started crying because she wanted to stay longer.  She wanted to watch more.  Lauren wanted to come back that night for another show.  Needless to say, they loved it!

Addison

Not a lot going on around here.  Just some cute pictures of Addison to share. 

Homework

So Lauren got sent home with her first "big" assignment on Friday.  She will be the starfish of the week this week.  She had to make a poster all about her.  She was so excited that she wanted to get it all done Friday night after dinner.  She loves to do her homework (lets hope that lasts!) 

There are several parts to the poster.  You could draw, write, or find things out of a magazine. 

This is our family.  Mom, Addison, Lauren, Dad and Zoe. 

Lauren's favorite things (or at least the things we could find in our magazine choices.  I only had People magazine and Parents magazine laying around):  basketball, turtles, gummy bears, oranges, ring pops, cupcakes, books, strawberries, jelly beans, dog, cat, ponies, butterflies, flip flops, and Carrie Underwood (upside down!)

Her three wishes:  to stay in the green zone (at school, good behavior=green zone.  Last week was not a green zone week!)  Daddy to be a basketball player (I have no idea why?) and for Zoe to go out to dinner with us! 

When Lauren grows up she wants to be a nurse.  AWESOME! 

The things Lauren does not like:  ants, frogs, broccoli, and pony tails (I thought that was funny.  She dislikes pony tails so much that we had to find a picture of one.) 

Here is her picture.  I am glad she chose to have a real picture rather than drawing one of her.  I think this makes it so sweet.  And, that picture was taken on the Ferris wheel on Navy Pier, so she could talk to her friends about that. 

I am sure she will love sharing it with her class all week.  Yea for Lauren, the starfish of the week!