Wow, what a year this has been! We have so much to be thankful for - welcoming Fisher into our family, our new home, our health, careers, friends, and family. Having the support of family (ahem, Nana) during such a challenging year was beyond what we could have ever dreamt of. It really DOES take a village to raise these stinkers!
Speaking of family, we were lucky enough to host Thanksgiving this year. John, Nancy, Charlie, and Billy Fisk stayed with us, and Grammy and Papa Jack stayed in an adorable VRBO home just two doors up from us. To say that the week together was memorable is an understatement. Everyone seemed nervous that I was hosting my first (family) Thanksgiving for 18 people, but I knew all along that it would go swimmingly with all of the hands on deck. Such a special week!
I honestly don't know where to start to explain the week, so I hope that photos will do it justice:
Eleanor's special Thanksgiving Feast at school. How amazing to have 4 generations sitting at that preschool table!
Billy and Fish playing at the park
Pit stop at the neighborhood vet for a photo op.
Giant gorilla in Clarksville!
These crazy Seattle cousins braved our 58 degree pool - insisted on a swim during their Austin visit. Brrrrr!
Fish loves his Grammy!
Ventured out to the local soda fountain for treats.
Dapper young men - Charlie and Billy - ready for Thanksgiving dinner.
Yay for cousins!
Plaids prepping dinner - Justin and Aunt Nancy
The big boy cousins were so sweet with Eleanor and Fisher all week.
Nana and her handsome grandson.
More Grammy love!
Grammy spent the week with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She didn't have any fun at all;( Poor thing.
Family boating outing on Town Lake.
Who can resist the old fashioned candy shop on South Congress?!
Grammy with our loot.
Thanksgiving dinner prep. I look prego in this pic - I can assure you I am NOT.
A table fit for a feast
Gluttony ensues.
Zilker Zephyr action
Lots of park time in Austin when it's in the 70s in November.
Great Aunt Sally, Great Uncle Jim, and Cousin Dave came for a quick visit. Dave was visiting from St. Louis... great to catch up!
South Congress must
Rock Chalk action at Allen's Boots.
Hooray, we found a tree!
Had to up our Christams tree game this year now that we have vaulted ceilings. This 10' beauty before making it into the house.
Our little elf decorating the tree. The purple scarf on her back is her Elsa cape. She looked at me very seriously and said, "Mom, I'm not a super hero, I'm Elsa."
Daddy tops the tree.
Peek-a-boo!
A little out of order... but the week before Thanksgiving, we went to Playa del Carmen with The Dreilings. It was a fun and relaxing vacation. While I adore my kids, it was a much needed adult week. Not many pics because we were in the relaxing/phoneless zone, but here are a few:
Primera cerveza sin ninos!
El Taj, our condo for the week... absolute perfection.
Over 20 years of friendship standing here - Justin and Jeff Dreiling.
Not a bad place to park it each day.
Wonderful travel companions for the week.
Meanwhile, Aunt Kiki is holding down the fort back in Austin with the two munchkins... Thanks, Kiki!
: He said "Mama" for the first time about a month ago. Of course it was a mama-come-save-me-from-sitting-in-my-crib-not-sleeping despair type cry. But I'll take it!
: Fish's development over the past month is mind blowing. He's learned to wave, dance, catch a ball/roll a ball, feed himself his bottle, transition from one piece of furniture to another with no assistance, walking with a walker, signing "all done" and "milk."
: We now have teeth at 9 months! The two bottom teeth are barely there, but teeth nonetheless.
: Brother is obsessed with any type of ball and will play catch with himself for what seems like forever.
: Our son has become way more vocal in the last month. Lots of new voice inflections and squeals (of delight, that is)
: We just started finger foods. Buddy needs quite a bit of work with his fine motor skills, but we'll get there.
: Fish is still totally enamored with his big sister, and the feeling is mutual from Eleanor. Fingers crossed that this infatuation continues - it's seriously the cutest thing ever to witness as a mother.
: Buddy is a little music man and totally takes after his big sis in music class. Both of my kids are the only ones that don't sit in the circle with the rest of the parents and kids but instead in the middle of the circle maniacally trying to get everyone's attention.
This is new and cracks me up. Reminds me of an old man without his dentures...
