Thank Goodness: by Nate

Here is our Thanksgiving in a photo essay by Nate.

He took a billion pictures but these were some favs.

Self Portrait of the Photographer

Olivia was my little helper!

Happy Grandpa

I tried a new way to cook the turkey. It was more difficult than the magazine made it look. It is called spatchcocking the turkey. You cut the backbone out and flatten it down and then it cooks faster and more evenly. I figured that because of how much time it took to cut it, I don't think I saved any time. The turkey did taste juicy though.

New door hardware being installed.

Basement fun.

My picture wall inspired by Nie Nie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cox Farm 2009

These are from our visit to Cox Farm this year with Nana. After so many years of going we are starting to have a good system down. It is such a fun place, I hope the kids never outgrow it.

Picking the perfect pumpkin is very important!

On this slide you come out the dinosaur's back end. The boys were saying "I don't wanna be poop." I think it was supposed to look like you are sliding down the tail, but I have to agree with the boys that it looks a little more like you are getting pooped out.

The volcano is the funnest slide.

It rumbles and smokes on top and it is fast, especially if you sit on your sweatshirt.

Thanks Nana!

Sunday Walk after Conference

The Manassas Battlefield in a beautiful place to walk, especially right before sunset. The fields have a warm glow and it is always fun to climb on a cannon and pretend you are at war.

Big Boy

Cam has grown up in so many ways this fall. We went to the dentist in August and talked about turning in his binkies for the babies that didn't have any. He LOVED his bees, and I loved his bee because he would nap so easily. So, I wasn't quite ready to get rid of it. Yes, I know he was over three years old. He really likes our dentist and within a week he bit the ends off all his binkies and was done.

Then when we went to the beach, Matt worked with him going on the toilet and when we came home he was potty trained. Of course we've had some accidents, but he was fantastic.

We put the training wheels back on the little bike and he has been cruising around until I ran over it two weeks ago. Oooops!

I found a darling bed on Craig's List, so we took down his crib and he sleeps in a BIG BOY bed now. He was bubbling with excitement to show his Dad when he got home from work.

We've all had a turn at being sick too.

We love our Cameron!!!

Happy Halloween

We had a fabulous Halloween night. Lots of fun food and lots of friends to share it with. Some of the food scared off some of the kids. Eating a hairy toe and monster brains can make you lose your appetite I guess. I made the usual fingers and toes but never took a picture. Next year I'll make the brain a day ahead because by Sunday the liquid seeped out onto the platter and it shriveled a little so it looked really creepy. I took ideas from Family Fun, Food Network and Martha Stewart. Hope you all had fun too!