Thanksgiving Helpers

This year was very low key for us since Mary was still recovering from her tonsil surgery. Mary was shaking some heavy whipping cream to make some homemade butter. Elijah made the apple pie--as in he peeled all the apples and sealed the pre-made store crusts. It is great to have such helpful staff in my kitchen!

We got a lot of stuff cleaned out and organized at our house while we were home for a long weekend. We've started packing boxes so that we can organize as we pack. I really do not want to haul a bunch of stuff out to the country just to re-box it and drive it back to Goodwill.

We put up our artificial tree tonight. I so look forward to the Advent season and all the twinkly lights. It's a real conundrum for me to get all the decorations out just to box them back up in three weeks. I think we may just not put decorations on the tree, only lights. We want to have one last Christmas at this house, but we may set up a real tree at the new house because I am one of those people who wants the tree up all the way until new years.

It's Emily's 3rd birthday tomorrow

Playing yard sale
Chasing sea gulls at Lake Michigan
With her twin on our back porch
Playing with a scarf in the van
Being cozy and listening to stories on the heat vent
She is our spunky girl who loves animals especially dogs, loves to laugh, and loves to imagine. She is awfully independent and practically potty trained herself this year. She is fiercely loyal to her loved ones and has proclaimed that Jonathan is "her best friend." (totally unsolicited). This weekend she had us cracking up because she was happy about something and started jumping around and said, "I'm doing the happy dance!" She has us in hysterics all the time. It's a little hard to believe that she is only turning three. Tonight Elijah and Mary realized that we hadn't bought her a present and it was important to them to have something to give her. So they went shopping in the attic and wrapped up some toys for her. They were so busy trying to make the package look pretty. It was so sweet--we all love Emily so much.

See that really wiggly looking front tooth? Not anymore! It got removed today when Mary had her tonsils and adenoids taken out. The doctors and nurses all loved her so much. They kept gushing about how beautiful she was and how she was a great patient--although I think the worst is yet to come according to the doctor--around day 3-5. She is resting at home and seems like she will be just fine.
This was the only smile I got--to show me her missing tooth. Brian was freaking out because she was being so quiet and serious--not like the Mary we know. He was being so silly trying to get her to crack a smile.
The nurse offered her a ride in the wheelchair out to the van. Who wouldn't say yes?

Tomorrow is the big day for Mary. Brian and I are off work, the other two kids are accounted for, and I am pretty much clearing the schedule (at least mentally) for the next couple of weeks. Of course, it is hard to remember that Mary is having surgery tomorrow because we're so wrapped up in the fact that WE BOUGHT A HOUSE this week. Not just any house--a house in the country with 5 acres and barns and fruit trees and a walnut grove and a chicken coop. Yes, folks, my country living dream is about to come true. It is a big 1900 farm house with 4 bedrooms and plenty of square feet for stretching out. The yard is beautiful, the surroundings are beautiful--tons of trees (including maples--one of my favorite), rolling hills, gravel road. Straight up-the country. We are set to close in mid-December and we're planning on moving over winter break. I think part of me is still in shock that it is really happening, but the other part of me is calm and collected about it because we've already been up and down this roller coaster before. It just feels right.

Who knew that being gone for the weekend would tire us out for the whole week? Man, I seriously can't believe tomorrow is Friday already. The van is {almost} unpacked. No joke. I did at least vacuum it today. The stuff that is back in the house is still sitting in piles near the door. The dishes have piled up. The laundry fairy is not doing a good job at all. Ha! It's a good thing we had such a good time last weekend.

Speaking of fairies...Elijah had to get a tooth extracted this week. I like that word, extracted. It sounds much more professional than pulled. I really wished I could've gotten the camera to focus on the little note he wrote. It said, "Tooth fairy. Leave 8 dollars."

Please. For a tooth that you didn't take care of in the first place. To a fairy that you don't even believe in.

Same day. Mary went to the Ear Nose and Throat doctor. Drumroll, please...after 3 years of strep throat again and again and again. She is finally getting her tonsils out. I had mine out when I was 3 and still remember the weird dreams from the anesthetic so that should've been a clue that this is serious business. But, I guess I wasn't thinking about it. The post-op recovery time is 10 days. No school for at least a week. Expect to lose 10 lbs. Take Lortab for pain. YIKES!!! She has already missed 8 days of school this year. We scheduled the surgery for Friday the 19th so that she will only miss school Mon-Wed of Thanksgiving week, but we can't travel to see my family in Michigan like we often do for Thanksgiving. The post-op sheet says travel is restricted for 14 days-within an hour. Boo. At least she will hopefully be better after we do this.

Picture tour of our fall break in Kentucky