As usual, fall came and left in the blink of an eye! We don't have any big trees in our yard, so we drove over to the park to jump in some leaves :)
Reading is my favorite thing to do with them, and they love it too (despite August's face here)!
Mini Bob Vila. :)
The happiest little guy to find trains at the library!
My mom and Don came to visit right before Thanksgiving, and we got to meet Kate DiCamillo at the library. (She's the author of "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Because of Winn-Dixie", etc.)
The boys all trying to squish on Mormor's lap.
After a few attempts at the perfect pie crust, I made this French Silk pie - a Thanksgiving staple for me :)
We left for Minnesota on Tuesday night, and stopped at a hotel for the night in Illinois. Wednesday, we drove through Wisconsin and stopped at a cheese store . . . #wheninrome
Also very Wisconsin to me - road trip sundaes at Culver's!
Thanksgiving Day in Minneapolis with these cuties!
My Aunt Karen and Uncle Roger heated up their 4-car garage, and they were able to seat all 42 of us inside! It was wonderful! The next day, Steve helped Uncle Roger install a giant TV on the wall for future gatherings! :)
My cousin Chloe and me.
Ephraim matched with Aunt Meg and Nathan.
Delaney (17 mos) and August (22 mos) pushing babies in their strollers.
We stayed with my Aunt Yvonne and Uncle Dan and had the most amazing breakfasts! The day after Thanksgiving, Aunt Yvonne made napkins into Christmas trees and hid fancy chocolates in the cute gnomes. The boys loved that!
My great-grandparents had this house built in 1938, and my Grandma spent much of her childhood here. It's beautiful, and I wish we had kept it in the family somehow.
It's family tradition to make lefse on Black Friday and serve it with extra butter and brown sugar!
The boys with my stepsister's daughter Kaylynn!
Triking around the garage with Aunt Evie :)
I loved getting to spend time with these pretty cousins of mine.
Ephraim playing an intense game with the guys!
A snowstorm blew through Illinois on Sunday, so we had to leave early on Saturday to get home before the snow. I wasn't ready to leave, but I'm thankful we had such a nice time and got to see so much family!!
We had a slow week, resting from our trip. Also, Ephraim has the world's biggest eyes!
August will be 2 in a little over a month (how?!), but he's definitely still my baby!
The
boys have been making their Christmas wishlists - so far they've asked for
walkie talkies, Incredibles 2, and slippers, of all things!
November was such a great month, but I'm even more excited for the Christmas season and all of the JOY it brings.
xo.
Rachel