2016 :: week 48

November 20

When I got in the van after church Sunday I noticed a piece of paper stuck under a windshield wiper. I got out of the car and grabbed it and I'm glad I did. It was a note telling me that my rear tire didn't look good. They were right. It was flat. Luckily I was at church and had a lot of friends and family still around so my mom was able to give us a ride home. My dad drove Anthony back later and they used a portable pump to make it drivable again. On Monday afternoon I took it to get patched and it has been as good as new ever since.

November 21

We've learned the hard way that the Bass Pro Santa's Wonderland gets busier the closer you get to Christmas. In years past we've sweated it out, waiting in long lines  for what seems like hours, but this year we decided to try going early. The stars aligned and Anthony was home early enough for us to go right at 5pm Monday night. Elliott wasn't a fan of Santa, though he fared better in the family picture we got when I was holding him. Lauren brought along her pictorial Christmas list to show Santa.

November 22

We went to the Dollar Tree Tuesday evening to pick out Christmas gifts for our Maxfield cousins. Meredith had the idea that we go to a dollar store and let the kids pick out gifts for each other themselves. Then we could exchange them while they were in town for Thanksgiving. The kids found a lot of good stuff, we had a hard time narrowing things down. Will wanted one of these emoji balls for himself.

November 23

The Maxfields arrived early Wednesday afternoon. The kids played and adults visited most of the afternoon. That evening we exchanged gifts. The kids were pleased with the gifts they received as well as how well the gifts they gave were received.

November 24

One of the presents Will got in the cousin-gift-exchange was a set of field markings for baseball or kickball. Anthony and Steven took some of the boys out back for a little batting practice. That afternoon we went to my parents house and had Thanksgiving dinner with them, my sister Laura and her husband Trevor, and our friends the Baldens.

November 25

Friday evening was Laura and Trevor's Kansas Open House. Lauren was very excited to go and insisted on wearing the dress she wore on Laura's wedding day. She calls it her wedding dress. Laura is such a great aunt to my kids. While we were over Thursday she painted Lauren's nails in "Thanksgiving colors."

November 26

Saturday we went to the KC Zoo. We had an okay time. Not our best zoo trip. The kids (and grown-ups) were tired and there was a lot of whining. It was good to get out of the house though and feel the sunshine on our faces. It is hard to get enough sleep when visiting family. One of my favorite parts of these visits is the late night chats after the kids have gone to bed. The kids favorite thing to do is wake up as early as possible to get in as much play time as they can. Doesn't always mix well. 😉