Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving....and took at least a few minutes to reflect on everything you have to be thankful for. I know that my list could just go on and on....and on. I am definitely one lucky girl to have all of these blessings in my life.

Of course, I was also a busy,busy girl since we had dinner here at our house. Whew!!! As much as I enjoyed doing it and being with family, I sure am glad it's over (although..I'm STILL cleaning from it!).

We did buy a turkey fryer this year, though, and I'm THANKFUL we did...I would have never been able to get all of that food in my oven...not to mention it may have been the BEST turkey I've ever had! It's a shame the oil for that thing is so expensive...I'd probably have turkey every night for the next 2 weeks ;)

The night went pretty well, I think, and I'm looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving for many more years...although, hopefully, by the time we have to do it again...I'll be in a new house..with double ovens..and a basement to banish all these kids to!! :)

Seeing as how I was pretty much in constant motion throughout the evening, I didn't get any pictures...zip. :( These were taken before everyone got here...and the awful ones of me and the girls were taken by my husband....he tried :) Of course that son of mine that occasionally makes an appearance, chose not to on this day...but what can you do...sigh. I'm THANKFUL  I was able to get a picture of any of them...they really don't like my camera...I just do not understand it :)

The LAST of July 2011

I AM going to get all of my pictures from this year up before December 31st...well...at least all of them except for maybe Christmas and New Years. :) I only have 4 mths and whatever pictures get taken in December to go!!!

Helping Daddy 7-31-11

Just a quick post with a few pictures from one of vern's jobs.  The kids had a blast...of course, had I realized they were going to "help" I would have dresssed them in play clothes...lol.  Daddy didn't mind them helping at all...but he wasn't the one who had to follow behind them and fix their messes...his employees didn't enjoy the visit nearly as much. :)

iheartfaces l Autumn Splendor

This was just a quick picture that I snapped of Lakin after school one afternoon....we definitely felt the Autumn air in the COLD wind that was blowing!

This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge - www.iheartfaces.com

We're HOoooommmme!

This picture has nothing to do with the Virgin Islands....I'm just so happy I was actually able to grow a flower :) I definitely don't have a green thumb!! :)

                                                                           We Made It Home...
and with all of our limbs intact!  It looks like we made it home just in time, too. There has been flood advisories almost every day since we've been home! Once again...we lucked out going during hurricane season ( which reminds me..I need to call our travel agent back!). 

We had to wake up at 4 a.m to get to the airport on time and Gavin begged us to let him stay home the entire way there. He dragged his feet alll the way through the airport. He whined. He pouted. He did everything but stomp his feet. But he got on that plane and smiled a huge grin and laughed. He loved it. He and Lakin both did great on the plane! Lakin got a little whiny over her ears, but not to awful...I think she was just ready to get off..that second part is 4 hrs!! No one slept on the plane, but Lakin was so sleepy that she fell asleep on the "taxi" (open side bus) on the way to the hotel...and that thing is BUMPY! The first time I rode it 2 yrs ago, I thought I was going to fall out!

Check in went fast and smooth...but there was a mix up and we were in the wrong room ;( We spent 1 night there then switched the next day. Unfortunately, we had to pay to upgrade to the 2 bdrm, but there were no 1 bdrm's available...it was worth it though.

Other than that and a few other inconveniences ( the floating dock got destroyed from winds from a hurricane in June, the restaurant was being remodeled..etc)..everything went great! The kids loved it. I think a 3 night 4 day would have been perfect for them, because that's when we started to hear the "I'm ready to go home's".  We were all ready by the time we got to the airport!  The trip from St. Thomas to Charlotte went perfectly ( except they made us check our carry-on..this became a problem later).  However..our flight from Charlotte was supposed to leave at 10:06..which is already late...it didn't leave until 12:30. The kids were tired and freezing..we were dressed in our warm weather clothes and the things I brought to change into were all in our carry-on :( It was awful.  Both kids crashed on the plane after barely avoiding a meltdown form Lakin (shew!!)...and we made it to Indy. Poor mom and Emma had to drive around in circles for an hour at 1:30 in the a.m. waiting for our plane to get there! It was 3:45 by the time we actually made it home. I'm just now starting to feel normal again :)

I'll post pictures soon...probably this time next year..lol.  Now it's time to start planning the next vacation! We're thinking a house on the beach in Michigan for a week this summer....any suggestions on good places to go??  Vern REALLY wants to do a big family thing..but last time it didn't work out so well :( Any takers this year?? I need DEFINITES only!!!!!!! We don't want to get stuck with a house that sleeps 15 and it only be the 5 of us...again.

Ice Cream Moustaches and a Kitty Cat - August 2011

There is something about this picture....i just love it <3

* no actual DNA was shared via cat/human saliva for the making of this picture*
I noticed Bella was about to sneak a lick right when I snapped the photo :)

another one I just love <3

she's so silly...not sure what I did to get this "SERIOUSLY!?" (which is her new favorite word) look..



Bella : "hmmmm..I smell that good stuff..if I have to sit for pictures..I think she should share!"



 Lakin was done...so Bella finally got his share ;) :)