Thanksgiving Dinner for 26

After many years of enjoying holiday dinners at other peoples' houses, it was finally time for us to host.  We hosted my extended family on my dad's side for Thanksgiving dinner.   It was a lot of work just getting organized for that many people, but we really had a great time doing it. 

Here's the group shot just before Thanksgiving Dinner

Steve, Ron, and Rick

McKenzie, Candi, and Jessie

We even broke out the fine china!

Uncle Ed and Jack

McKenzie and Jessie

Jessie and Jack

Lizzie and Mom

Adele and Uncle Ed

The girls are totally fixated on the pie

Jack being silly

There were several pretty serious games of "spoons"  You can check out the same crowd in last year's Christmas Eve post to see them at Musical Chairs!

November 2010

Adele turned 3 in November.  We can't believe how much fun she has playing make-believe and playing with Jack.  Happy Birthday Adele!  Jack started walking in November!  He started a few steps on a Friday.  Here he is just a couple days later on Sunday night.  The best part is not really the walking, it's his reaction at the end.  He's just tickled with himself.

Adele with Grandma on her Birthday

Blowing out the candles

Jeff was working on the front trim, which meant lots of scaffolding.  It's hard to see, but it covers the whole front wall up to the ceiling

Jack, Sophie, Adele, and Jeff all playing percussion

A little good-natured wrestling match

October 2010

October seems like a blur now.  Thank goodness I have pictures to help remember at least some of it! 

Adele helping to gather kindling

We collected quite a bit by the time we went back in

Adele is never happier than when she has a job to do and she can help

Off to Cleveland

We took our first airline trip since having kids to visit Jeff's family in Cleveland in October.  We had a lot of angst over the whole event, especially getting everybody through the airport.  There were some stressful moments in the airport and on the plane, but overall, the kids did great.  They loved visiting Grandpa and Grandma's house and Adele really enjoyed spending time with her cousins, especially Abby.  Jeff's sister hosted an open house AND an early birthday party for Adele on consecutive nights.  Poor Adele had some kind of stomach bug when we were there, but she was a trooper. 

 

Jack's Birthday. He's really one!

We had a birthday party for Jack when he turned 1 in September.  It was a gorgeous fall day; you couldn't ask for nicer weather.

The kids are working on art projects that Aunt Diana brought over.

At first, Jack was very nervous about sitting in his high chair with everyone looking at him.  Then he became VERY nervous when we all started singing to him.  He did not like it at all.  He cried!  However, the cake really turned things around for him.  It is remarkable how much cake he ate.  Talk about Hog Heaven!

 

After eating all the cake, he moved on to the plate!

September 2010

September was a month of spectacular weather.  It was more like summer than fall, actually.  Here is Jack's first ear of corn.   You'd never know it by looking at him; he looks like a pro to me!

Jack and Adele really started playing more and more together in September.  They seem to enjoy each others company a whole lot.