Thanksgiving

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving! We didn't have to travel, we all stayed healthy, and we got to spend it with family! Last year we were in Texas for Thanksgiving, so this year was much more low key. Low key is very important as I get closer & closer to delivery day! Danny's grandparents (GG & Goomba), and Katie, Charles & the boys were all here for most of the week, so we were very thankful to be able to spend it with them. We ate ourselves silly, and I'm sure baby girl grew significantly this past week! We spent a lot of time talking about how much we have to be thankful for, and giving thanks for the big & small blessings. We put the kids to bed, and then spent some time in prayer together as a family.
The big boys watching the Thanksgiving day parade together...waiting patiently to see Santa!

Thanksgiving day hugs all the way around.

I just love watching the boys interact together! Eli was SO into playing with his cousins, and is finally at the age where he can keep up with them. He hasn't stopped talking about them since they left!

We found Eli in Chase's lap reading a book! Chase takes his roll as big cousin very seriously :).
Silly boys taking a rest on the floor.
GG read MANY books to the boys...and I don't think there's a thing in this world she'd rather be doing!

All in all it was a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with great memories. Some of my favorite memories are always made right in the kitchen with the women in the family. And we sure spent a lot of time there during the week! I'm always eager to learn new things, and GG & Nana are a wealth of knowledge. We're already looking forward to next year!

Weekend in Myrtle Beach

We spent the first weekend of November in Myrtle Beach. It was a weekend that brought back SO many memories. Memories of my dad, memories of how and where it all began for Danny and I, and then many new memories. Surprisingly, I hadn't been back to Myrtle Beach since the summer right before Danny and I got married. It was crazy to be back there with my husband, our first child, and a big ole' baby bump! We spent an afternoon at Coastal Grand Mall; the same mall where I would spend all of my time while danny was at the baseball field, etc. This time instead of shopping for hours, I spent the afternoon riding a children's train through a crowded mall, followed by a long stay at a fun bounce house. I laughed out loud several times thinking about how the times have changed (and I wouldn't change a thing)!

For the last twenty-some years, my parents went on a golf/shopping trip to Myrtle Beach every November with a large group of friends. It was on one of these trips about 8 years ago that I was introduced to my future husband! The Lord had some seriously big plans for us back then, and we had no idea.

My mom hadn't been on this trip since my dad passed away, and the guys say that the trip has never been the same without him there. When my mom started planning to go back this year, we knew it was something that we didn't want to miss. It always does my heart good to be around my dad's closest friends. And I KNOW that he was smiling down as Danny was out on the golf course playing with these guys. It was so great to spend the weekend talking about the sweet memories we had with dad there. Comical, for sure!

When the rest of our VA family found out that we were going, they all decided to come too! It worked out perfectly for us all to be together, especially since we won't be going home for the Holidays this year. Eli was beyond excited about going to the hotel to sleep. Leading up to the trip, I must have heard him say, 'go to de hotel' about 962 times. This was the first time we'd been as a family to stay at a hotel. The suite was set up perfectly. Eli had a queen size bed to himself, and slept amazingly well both nights. He even took a voluntary nap on Saturday afternoon. We certainly wore him out that weekend! He went non stop for 3 straight days, and took full advantage of all the special attention he was getting from family. He stayed up late, ate way too many sweets, went for a late night swim, and 'hung' with the guys.

On Saturday morning before the guys went to play golf, they threw a surprise shower for us. They were all so excited to show us the sweet things that each of them had found for Layla.
Eli was so sweet as we opened each girly gift. He learned many months ago that Pink=Layla. He always says, 'Ohhh! So beautiful!'
My grandma bought her her first smocked dress.
Eli had a big time playing in his 'big bed.'
We all had to take turns laying in the bed with him.

Eli and Grandaddy had a great time together as usual, too! He even stayed happily at the hotel with him while we went shopping Saturday afternoon. I was sure he wouldn't have any parts of me leaving him there...who was I kidding! I took this picture right after asking him what he wanted to do...stay or go. Obviously I didn't win :). I called the room once to check on them, and my grandad had everything under control. Eli even did ALL of his business on the potty for him while we were gone. Lovely!
He loved being able to look out of the room and see the waves crashing on the beach.
He was SO happy to have an abundance of playmates for the weekend. He had a few new trains to play with, and I think he and Blake just about ran the wheels off of them!


That Mimi...she's always got something good to eat! After the weekend was over, we decided that Eli would be absolutely ruined if he lived anywhere near my family!
I'm so grateful for this time together! This was our 'last hoorah' before Layla arrives in just 7 short weeks. The next time we see everyone, we'll be introducing them to our baby girl!

Fall Festival & Halloween

We had a really fun Halloween weekend again this year! Although we didn't get creative this year with Eli's costume, he still loved getting to wear his fireman get-up several times. Our church puts on a Fall Festival every year and opens it up to the community, and it was full of great fun for the kids...and adults too!

Nana and Pop Pop even stopped by the church to see their little fireman!
The highlight of his night was definitely getting to drive the firetruck and hang with some real life firefighters!
He was just chatting away with them like he was one of the guys. It was so sweet for them to come and pay such special attention to the kids. Eli was very disappointed when we pulled into church the next morning and there was no firetruck to be found!

On Sunday afternoon we had some friends over to carve pumpkins. This was the first year that Danny and I had actually carved pumpkins together, and I know it's something we won't skip from now on.
I thought he did a great job! I can't take any credit, though. The pregnant wives very much enjoyed some pizza eating while the guys carved away :).
Eli was fascinated by the pumpkin gunk!

We decided to change things up a bit this year and head over to Nana & Pop Pop's neighborhood to trick or treat. Our neighborhood takes Halloween to the extreme, and bus loads of families come in from all over. We decided to skip the crowds and we're so glad that we did! Eli got the hang of things pretty quick, and really had a lot of fun with it. He was intent on finding a green sucker, and once he did he was good to go.
First stop...Nana & Pop Pop's house!
He kept saying, 'Oh! For me?!' Like he was amazed that people kept dumping candy into his pumpkin.
A quick family photo before we hit the streets.
All ready to go!

Nana walked from house to house with us, and Pop Pop stayed back to hand out candy.
Someone was handing out these crazy glasses that light up & flash...Eli is still wearing his on a daily basis :).
Once we got back home he couldn't wait to rip into his green sucker.
And we finished off the night with some story time with Nana.

We can't wait to take our two little trick-or-treaters out next year!