Candyland and a Visit!

Laney and Zsaz came to visit after Thanksgiving and we spent a couple days hanging out! The first day we all went to see Candyland and walk around PG and then went back to the grandparents house for pizza and games. We met up the next day too for lunch with Alex and Nikki but I didn't get any pictures! 

 

Thanksgiving!

I used to stress about hosting Thanksgiving and I realized that now that we have so much more room I am so much more relaxed! We've also been doing it so long now that we kind of know how things are going to go, even though there is always some sort of snag or surprise...this year the turkey was done two hours early! Thank goodness Pat noticed the timer in the turkey had popped up because it would have burnt if we had waited for the clock timer to go off! We ended up covering it with foil and putting it back in the oven on the warming setting and it was perfect by the time we ate. We tried a new recipe this year for brining the turkey and I think we'll continue to do it! We ate, watched some football and played some games and we were all tired and full by the time everyone went home!

Prepping the mashed potatoes

Griffin was hiding in this cardboard scratcher for awhile

Pat decided the walls needed to be touched up

Done!

Waiting for family

Tablescape

Place setting

Yum!

The guests!

I don't know how this happened but I had to take a picture!

Me and the kids

Naptime!

What we are thankful for! I love that friends and family participate too, it's so fun, funny and touching to see what people choose to write

 

Soccer Banquet 2

One more soccer event! This truly is the last thing! We got to see Owen honored at the Fall sports banquet a couple weeks ago and what a great wrap up to his high school soccer career! He was acknowledged for the awards he had already received at the GCSSCA banquet and also for being a 4 year Varsity player, SWC honorable mention and the coaches award. Owen's coaches chose him to receive that award for being a great example and a player to look up to for his soccer skill as well as how he treated people and his commitment to the team. I was so touched they chose him!

Convention!

Paige had her first convention of the season last month-Wild! It was a long Sunday for her but at least it was only one day and we just had to drive downtown. She missed Owen's banquet because of it but I know she was having fun with her friends and learning from new teachers!

On the way downtown

Ran into an old dance friend!

Me too!

Arden helping Paige with her number

Waiting for warmups to begin the day

 

Soccer Banquet 1

Owen and some of his teammates got invited to the Greater Cleveland Scholastic Soccer Coaches Associated awards banquet! It was a nice honor to round out a great senior year. He was named First Team Greater Cleveland for Division 1 and also received academic honors for maintaining a high GPA while being a school athlete. We're so proud of him for achieving both!