This year for Thanksgiving we headed to the lake to be with Brittny's family. Brandon was on call Friday, so he wasn't able to join us making it our first holiday apart. Christopher was a very big boy and didn't fuss one time going or coming and so it made the trip a very pleasant one. Brittny's brother and his family were already there waiting and Hunter was ready to play when we arrived. Drake, the newest cousin, had grown so much since we saw him in the hospital after he was born. The two boys rode the lawn mower (Christopher's obsession more than Hunter's), wrestled and chased each other around the house the whole time. Which we all thought was great! If we couldn't find Christopher at any time, we quickly learned that he was staring out the back door at the lawn mower in awe and just waiting for another ride. Thanksgiving day we had more family arrive in time for lunch and later that afternoon Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Trey showed up after making all of their rounds. That night we all got ready for bed and started a movie, which we didn't see very much of due to the entertainment Hunter and Christopher provided by their dancing to the music. Friday we spent the day relaxing and playing some more and then the boys both took very long naps. We woke up early Saturday morning and couldn't wait to play so after a while Christopher found his way up the stairs and into Hunter's room to wake him up. He still doesn't realize that most people sleep until the sun comes up, but we are working on it. After loading up the car we hit the road. We stopped in Birmingham to visit with Brittny's friend Bryson and grab some lunch and then we got back on the road again. We couldn't wait to get home and see Daddy. It was a great weekend and we are looking forward to having Brandon's family all up here for Christmas!

This year we had a Halloween party on Sunday afternoon with our neighbors and had the kids all dressed up in their costumes. It was so much fun watching them run around playing like they usually do, but in costume! At one point we found them huddled around a toy catalog checking out the construction ride on trucks. Already planning their Christmas list! We had all kinds of food too, from sandwiches to dips to halloween decorated desserts. Towards the end of the party, Maria pulled out a bag of treats that had ribbons hanging from it and the kids all grabbed a ribbon, pulled as hard as they good and tons of goodies came tumbling out. It was a lot of fun! On Halloween we put our costume on after our nap and went to run errands. Everyone loved it! Then after dinner, the neighbors stopped by our house and took Brandon and Christopher with them to go trick or treating. Brittny stayed behind to hand out candy, but caught up with everyone just in time to grab a quick photo of Christopher's first trick or treating experience. I saw him go knock on the door and then turn to run. After that, he was done for the night. We went home and at the first mention of a bath, he darted back to the bathroom happily. He was just about to fall asleep on the couch and so we finally put him to bed. It was a fun halloween!

(We would like to thank Cosby and Elizabeth Stone for the awesome, and official, Barcelona soccer uniform they gave Christopher which he wore for his costume. Don't worry, it will be worn many more times!)