The Post About Thanksgiving

As I mentioned last week, the holidays feel a little strange this year because for the first time in 5 years, we aren't jumping through hoops to get 'home'. Therefore, Thanksgiving seemed to appear out of nowhere because there wasn't a huge build up before showing up to my mom's on Thursday morning. Of course, it was still awesome, and the two hour car ride was so much better than packing our life for 3 weeks to trek across country. 

(Side Note: we actually had a big family dinner the Saturday before Thanksgiving with all my brothers and my two younger brothers' girlfriends. It was one of those nights where we ate too much, stayed up too late and laughed a ton. Of course, I didn't take a single picture in those 24 hours, but if I can include it in what I am thankful for, then know that I was very thankful for that day, my mom's friend chicken and the awesome friendships I have with my family as we are all now adults. It is a really special thing.)

So Thanksgiving... my brother Joey had to work on Friday and couldn't make it out, and Bummy and Leen went west to Nashville to visit her family, so it ended up being a pretty intimate dinner with just my parents, my boys, Kev, me and my youngest brother Tommy. 

We spent the day outside, throwing rotten apples with sticks (boy game, obviously), climbing the tree fort, making fun of Tommy, drinking the good wine with mom and eating a delicious dinner on a beautifully scaped table.

Pictures as proof:

What's wrong, Wells?

 Ooooo, you like Marme more than me. Clearly.

 And as the sun went down, we packed up the car again to head a little further south to my sister in law's for two days. But more on that tomorrow.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

(I haven't had any time to read blogs or respond to emails in the past week, but I promise I will stop by soon!)

The Weekend We (Finally) Had Nothing To Do

For the past few weeks we have been so busy and thankfully, this past weekend, we didn't have anything to do and took advantage of having a little family time. We started Friday afternoon with a walk along the Potomac River and Parkway paths. It is so pretty in Virginia right now and I just want to be outside as much as possible. 

 On Saturday morning, we decided to head into DC for the first time since Summer and spent a few hours on the Mall and at the Natural History Museum.

 This Nature's Best Photography special exhibit was amazing. If you are in the area, you have to go check it out. 

Cullen's favorite picture was of this pelican diving into the water (and eating him.)

 Bennett, not quite as impressed as the rest of us.

 After our adventure, it was home for the Army/Airforce games and later the Auburn game. Uncle Jojo came by for a little football

 and to teach Bennett how to light a can of Off on fire. To which B kept repeating "Light fire a-dain Joe? A-dain Joe! A-dain!"

We ended the day with (another!) Auburn win and hanging out with our friend Chris who was in town for the night. 

On Sunday, Kev went to the Redskins game with a friend while my boys and I met my in-laws at Mass and had lunch, then went to visit my grandparents for the afternoon. 

A perfectly low key weekend, which is just what I needed in order to gear up for my little sister in law's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette party this weekend! 

(If you have any good Bachelorette games, let me know!)

So happy that this weekend is over because Kev gets back at the end of the week and we are definitely ready to be reunited as a family. He finished his thesis last week and we are so proud of him.

Thanks for all your feedback on our housing situation on Friday. I am going back for a second look at a house this afternoon and crossing my fingers that I get a warm and fuzzy feeling about it and we can put in an offer. Fun fact: This is our 4th house and Kev and I have never been together to pick any of them out. Welcome to life in Army.

  (And if you are wondering why we don't just wait until Friday...good stuff doesn't stay on the market that long around here. It is insane!)

Onto the weekend... the boys are continuing to have the time of their lives:

And since they have been helping Papa with chores, I think my dad figured it was okay to teach them how to do one more important job

 Bennett's pant-less parade marches on

 And everyday is spent outdoors until the sun goes down.

 On Saturday afternoon, we ventured up to the top of the Mountain for a little nature hike. I almost forgot how much greener Virginia is compared to California.

And on Sunday, Uncle JoJo surprised us and came down for the day. The boys followed him everywhere and made sure they did every activity possible. While they were riding motorcycles, playing football, jumping in the pool, playing golf, having snacks and building castles, I was able to get laundry put away, clean our sections of the house and pack to ready ourselves for another week on the move. Thanks Uncle JoJo for being an awesome Rent-A-Dad.

Of course, we didn't forget our real Daddy who spent the day in Vegas with his younger brother on the first leg of their road trip. 

 Hope you had a great day with the Fathers in your life and your week is off to a glorious start. 

Wish us luck with the house today!

Uncle Bummy and Kathleen, Part II

After our first two days with Bummy and 'Leen (as Bennett renamed her) we continued our wonderful visit. Bummy and Kev spent Friday deep sea fishing and caught enough cod to last us months (Monterey friends- Puh-lease let me know if you want some!).

So serious.

While the boys were out, Leen and I dropped C off at school and took B out to breakfast, then she got to spend a little time at the beach while the little boys napped. They probably got tired of us saying it, but we literally had the warmest two days I've experienced in Monterey and I was glad Kathleen got to take advantage of the nice weather. 

For dinner, we headed up to Happy Hour at Bayonet/Blackhorse Golf Course and saw the beginning of another beautiful sunset.

 My 'little' brother and me (26 weeks, non-maternity dress from Old Navy)

 Before heading down to Big Sur on Saturday, we took Cullen down to his Tball game. 

B spent 50% of his time searching for a basketball...

 and the other 50% trying to get in on the game

Then was sorely disappointed in both results.

 Meanwhile, in the land of kids easily distracted during a Tball game...

 Yea, yea, yea this mom didn't check to see if the jersey was clean until 10 minutes before the game. Not only was it not clean, but in the wash that was still soaking wet and not into the dryer yet. Sorry, C.

 After the game, we drove down the coast to Pieffer Beach in Big Sur. Sadly, it was freezing and the sand wasn't as purple as it was last time we went, but it was still something different for Bummy and Kathleen to see.

 This is Bennett in time out for throwing a fit about leaving

 while everyone else was ready to get back into the warm car.

We stopped off in Carmel Valley on the way back, and then fried up some fresh fish for dinner. Sadly, Bummy and Leen had to leave that night. We are so glad they were able to be our last visitors and excited that it is just a few short weeks until we see them again.

Sunday was spent back to cleaning, sorting and prepping for the movers, and shopping for the boys' birthday party this weekend. Mid-morning B started acting really tired and actually feel asleep sitting on me. We thought he was just worn out from the visit, but he woke up 3 and a half hours later with a fever, then got sick in the car later that afternoon. He bounced back a bit and wanted to eat dinner, but was still burning up when he went to bed. Prayers that he is feeling better soon, there is nothing sadder than a sick baby!