Thanksgiving 2015

This Thanksgiving was a little different.  In years past (as far back as I can remember) we have gathered with my Mom's side of the family.  My mom comes from a family of 7 and so there are several cousins and second cousins and 1st cousin once removed (you get the idea) that gather. Usually anywhere from 35-50 people gather.  Over the last few years that has started to be phased out and this year it finally was.  I wish it would not happen, but for a variety of reasons it did.  

Mark and I decided to still invite these guys up. My cousin Jason and his wife Cindy.  Then I also invited my cousin Lora and her family.  And then my sister, my parents and my Grandma ended up at my house as well.  So Mark and I hosted Thanksgiving for 18 people! 

Wednesday night the kids had a dance party in the basement! 

Upstairs we enjoyed soups and appetizers and some great beers! 

Thursday morning started early with a turkey in the oven at 7:00!  

The turkey was one by about 11:30 and then it was time to get all the casseroles in the oven, mash the potatoes, cook the rolls,  get the salads out, and so much more!  

Thanksgiving dinner included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and grave, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, broccoli rice casserole, green salad, jello salad, cranberry sauce, pumpkin dip, rolls, veges, and lots of great dessert (six different ones!) 

It was great to visit with Cindy for a few days.  We could talk for hours. 

My cousin Lora and her family came to town as well! 

Here are all the big girls.  My Mom and sister, grandma, and cousins!  

The little kids table + Lauren for the picture.  

The big kids table.  Crazy kids. 

Addison and Claire had a blast playing all day. 

I insisted on a few selfies with these girls.  I hardly saw them for the 3 days everyone was in town.  

Thanks for the smile Addison!  

After dinner was ready, it was nice to step back and see everyone enjoying the meal.  If you know me, you know I completely stressed about having everyone in my house.  I am completely OCD about my house...and I admit it!  It is still very new to me :)  But after everyone left and I got everything cleaned up again, it was nice to look back and know it was a great place for everyone to gather and enjoy the day together.   I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving as well! 

Now, on to Christmas!

Halloween 2015

Better late than never :) Thanksgiving is next week and I have so many things from this month I have not talked about!  

Addison dressed up as a Monster High doll and her headband was a huge success! 

Lauren was my hippy.  This is one of my favorite costumes yet :) 

They agreed to smile and pose for me...they know I will continue to annoy them for pictures until they do! 

Then I let them to their own thing...

I love these 2 :) 

Although this is blurry, I love her little personality.  Addison is the most photogenic kid and such a funny little girl.  She makes everyone laugh! 

Lauren is quickly turning into a pre-teen (although she is only 9.)  She is growing up right in front of our eyes...but she is such a great kid.  I adore her.  

This year, for the first time, there was a trunk or treat at the school.  Lauren found one of her BFF's.  

Addison found one of her BFF's.  The trunk or treat was awesome.  I got to stand in one spot, visit with other parents and friends, while my kids ran from car to car getting candy.  It was a perfect night. And, we got home to see the Royals up to bat in the bottom of the first inning. 

Halloween night started out at a neighborhood BBQ.  Addison found her favorite BFF, Jenna.  

Lauren found her BFF's, Lindsay and Lilly.  

I found my BFF, Denise...and Mark found someone with some beer...

Halloween in our neighborhood is awesome.  We all bring wagons to hold the coolers filled with adult beverages while the kids run in the dark streets from house to house.  Our neighborhood goes completely over the top with decorations and haunted houses and so much candy.  There was the World Series game 4 on Halloween night and several houses had the game on out front on a TV for all to enjoy.  We trick or treated for longer than I thought, then hung out at a neighbors house for a while watching the game.  

Once we got home, both girls dumped their candy out to see what they  had...

Lauren quickly joined Mark on the couch to watch the Royals win game 4 of the World Series.  

World Series Champions- The Kansas City Royals 2015

What an amazing season these Kansas City Royals gave us.  These last 2 seasons have brought baseball back to Kansas City and given our girls the opportunity to love the sport of baseball.  (Something I never had growing up.)  The past several weeks, and even the last 2 months, every game has been on in our house.   Sometimes more than one TV on in the house so we don't miss a thing.  Lauren has loved it.  Addison has not.  Lauren said this morning "what do we do now that baseball is over."  Addison said "yea, no more Royals."  

Monday morning I stopped at the gas station and picked up a newspaper for a little piece of history to never be forgotten.  I got 2 papers, one for each girl.  

Lauren loved watching all the games with Mark this year.  She loved going out to the stadium to watch the games.  Each morning she woke up she would get Mark's I-pad and go to you tube and look at the highlights from the game the night before.  Every single morning.  

This is pretty much how Addison felt about the games.  But, to her credit, when things were exciting she would be sitting right there with us clapping and cheering.  It was just the innings in between that were boring...sometimes they are.  I have to agree with her.  

Halloween night, after trick or treating, the three of us stayed up to watch the game.  

Addison fell asleep almost instantly when I put this blanket on her!  

Sunday afternoon we had the opportunity to see the Budweiser Clydesdales.  They were in the parking lot of a local restaurant for all to see.  That was fun!  The girls enjoyed it!  

There were 4 or 5 of these trucks to transport the clydesdales.  Seeing the clydesdales got us ready for the game Sunday night when the Royals finally took the crown!  

It was a long game, pitched really well by the Mets, and by the Royals for that matter.  However, Lauren could just not stay awake.  

Neither could Addison for that matter.  Addison slept on the floor for several hours until I took her upstairs and put her in bed.  Lauren took a little cat nap...for maybe 20 minutes and then was ready to stay up for the rest of the game!  

It was an amazing ending to the World Series.  Top of the 9th inning and we are down 2-0.  We scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th and that took the game into extra innings where we ended up winning the World Series in 12 innings with a final score of 7-2.  I have some fantastic videos of Mark and Lauren going crazy, and if I can figure out how to get them on here I will!  It was an incredible ending.  So much fun!  

I figured I should include a picture of myself as well since I was around!  Sunday night during game 5 at the break after the 8th inning I went up stairs to wash my face, take out my contacts, put on PJ's and crawl into bed.  Something told me to go back downstairs and not crawl into bed.  Good thing I did or I would has missed an amazing inning!  But, I told Lauren "no pictures of Mommy!"  

The parade was Tuesday and apparently it was amazing.  I did not go, but Mark did.  I did however walk down to Union Station before 8:00 and this was the scene.  6 hours before the rally was supposed to start.  It was an incredible atmosphere.  

This picture taken from the Kansas City Star shows the Liberty Memorial lawn during the rally.  Such an amazing sight to see.

Thank you Royals for giving our family some amazing memories this year through the playoffs and the World Series.  We loved every minute of this ride.  Can't wait till opening day next year!  Go Royals!