Thanksgiving

We got back late on Wednesday night from the GWL and then I got up early on Thursday to start our Thanksgiving feast.  I brined my turkey this year and that was a first for me.  It was pretty easy and I will probably do it again the next time I make a turkey.  Cindy and Nate got to our house around noon and then Gina came about an hour after that.  We ate dinner around 2:00 and it was delish!  Then everyone helped me clean up which was so nice making clean up a breeze.  We did a Christmas craft with the kids.  They made an ornament out of a pine cone and decorated it with lots of pom poms and feathers and glitter.  They turned out super cute.

We visited and enjoyed each others company for the rest of the afternoon.  Gina and her family left and Cindy and Nate stayed at our house for the next few days.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving and I enjoyed spending it with my sisters.

The adult table.  Poor Tyler's face got hidden by my massive center piece!

I missed a picture of the kids table, so here are the kids watching a show

Maycee's first Thanksgiving!

Jaron loves his cousin Shannon!

The Great Wolf Lodge

While my sister was here, we decided it would be fun to go The Great Wolf Lodge.  We invited my sister, Gina who lives close by to come as well.  We headed to TGWL on November 22, two days before Thanksgiving.  We picked the kids up early from school and then met my sisters and their families at the Lodge.  We had such a great time.  We always have fun when we go to the Lodge, but this time it was even more fun with my sisters there.  The kids had SO much fun with their cousins and it was just great to let the big kids go off on their own and check in every now and again.  Shaylee was still too short to go on the slides with the tubes, but she had a great time just hanging out with the younger kids at the kids area and going down the big slides with her cousin, Lauren.  Jaron was actually big enough to go down those slides, but he wasn't quite brave enough to do that.  He stuck with the little slides in the kiddie area.  Maycee enjoyed the water and loved just putting her feet in the water.  By the end of the trip she was SO beyond tired.  Poor girl.

The kids also had a great time doing the Quest of the Magi.  They really enjoy that part of the Lodge.  I think they especially liked it this year since they are really into Harry Potter and they could pretend that they were wizards in his world.  Each of our kids have bought their own wands and then Pete and I just pay for the game each time we go.  We don't pay for Shaylee or Jaron to play the game because it is a little too much for them right now.  They just enjoy waving the wand and making the animals talk, and move and like watching the chests open and the gems glow and speak.  It really is such a fun part of the Lodge and worth the extra money.

We had such a great time with my sisters and their families and we are so glad that they wanted to do this with us.  I loved it and would love to do more big trips with my siblings.  It is so much fun and the kids have such a great time.  Thanks Cindy and Gina for making this the best trip EVER to The Great Wolf Lodge.

The big bucket dumping all of its water!

 

 

The kids playing in the fountains and water features

 

 

The little kids playing in the kiddie area

The big kids going down the big tube slides

 

Story time at the Great Clock Tower.

Shaylee and Annika shared Shaylee's wand.  Gotta love Annika's face!

Casting their spells!

All the kids gave Wiley a hug!

Happy Birthday, Miss Moo

 From This:

Just born

 

Six Days old

Two months

Seven months

Eight months

To This:  

In just one year!

 

I'm ONE!!!

Today my baby turned one!  I am so amazed with how fast this last year has gone by.  How in the world can my baby be one!  It actually makes me really sad because I just want her to stay little and be my baby forever.  I have so enjoyed this baby girl and all the little stages she has gone through.  She is such a joy and she has really made our family complete. 

Maycee at one is cruising around furniture and she has started to stand on her own in the middle of the floor.  I think she will be walking soon!  Maycee likes to say OOOOOOh and circle her lips.

Saying "OOOOOOOh"

She shrieks at the top of her lungs when she wants something and is not getting it (that's not so cute!).  She still smiles all the time and is so happy.  She is still nursing three times a day and shows no interest in stopping.  She eats almost any solid foods.  Right now she is really liking Macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, PB&J's, yogurt, goldfish, sweet potatoes and anything that is sweet.  She is wearing 9 months clothes and is starting to wear some 12 months clothes.  Her doctor appointment is on Monday, but when I stand on the scale with her she is just below 17 lbs.  She still only has her three bottom front teeth, four upper front teeth and one molar on her lower right side. 

She is so adorable!!!!

Her siblings are still head over heels in love with her.  They carry her everywhere, play with her and just love on her as much as they can. 

Happy Birthday, Maycee girl!  We love you!