Thanksgiving in Tennessee

It had been a while since we had made it to Knoxville for Thanksgiving.  It was a whirlwind of a trip and such a great time. 

On Wednesday we went to the Knoxville Zoo with cousin Elle and Uncle Tyson.  The kids had a great time! 

Posing with the penguins

the wildest animals there!

We had an incredible Thanksgiving meal with my family.  Mom did an amazing job, as always!!  The kids enjoyed the outdoors while it was still warm.

Granddaddy and cousin Emerson

 On Friday, Mimi and Mommy hit the Black Friday deals and knocked off quite a bit of their shopping lists.  After a little resting, we ventured downtown to the Fantasy of Trees.  The trees were beautiful!  Jackson loved riding a spinning ride with daddy and decorating cookies with Granddaddy Pete.  I don't have many pictures due to the tremendous toddler meltdown I was addressing.  It was a big one! 

Daddy and Jackson by the Sunsphere.  Jackson loves seeing this from the highway every time we come to town.  Mike and I joke that we first met there at the 1982 World's Fair, since we both attended.

I thought this snowman tree was incredibly creative!  I'd love to replicate at my home.

Jackson asked both grandparents to read with him that night before bed.  Precious moments!!

Finding Rest... In Him

Last weekend the ladies from The Bridge went to Caswell for a women's retreat. The theme was Finding Rest In Him. A fitting theme that seemed to speak to everyone. Myself included!

The weather was absolutely beautiful and we were able to enjoy the serene setting in it's fullest. I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such FUN, encouraging, and caring women!

Our cottage for the weekend.  It was stinkin' huge and so nice!

Some of us explored the old forts and walked along the beach.



Thanksgiving lunch @ school

At Jack's school, the Kindergarteners and the First Graders share a Thanksgiving lunch together.  This year was the K's turn to be Native Americans and the 1st Graders were the Pilgrims.  They were adorable!  I had a blast helping with "the feast".

Foliage Fun

Jackson has been asking to jump in a pile of leaves for weeks.  Finally we had enough leaves fall.  Hannah was pretty unsure about the whole thing until she saw how much fun Jackson was having.  There was no way she was going to let him have all the fun!

Daddy has many talents... now add to the list balancing a rake on his chin.

 We believe in child labor chores.  Train them up early. :)

Pausing from the craziness to catch you up on our little one

Well, hello November!  Where did you come from?  The last two weeks have been a blur! 

Hannah has cracked me up so much in the last few weeks.  She is mimicking me constantly --  hands on her hips while chatting with daddy, looking at circulars with me and licking her fingers to turn the pages just like I do, walking around the house pretending to talk on a cellphone, and mothering her babies. 

She also wants to do everything just like brother... which is working to our advantage for the moment in that we can tell her to go to timeout and she walks straight over and sits and waits contently.  Wonder how long that will last?!

Every morning when I try to corral Jackson to get him out the door to go to school (herding cats!), she gets her shoes, jacket, and purse all ready to go.

Yesterday while shopping for jeans for me Hannah was my little fashion commentator - "Woooow!", "No.", "Yesssssssssss".  The girl loves to shop.

In fact, the girliness seems to multiply more everyday.  She sometimes walks with a sache (sp?).  Swinging her hips and everything.  It totally cracks us up.  Where does she come up with this??  My days at home with her are filled by playing tea party, playing kitchen, and playing babydolls. 

She will sometimes say "I love you".  Her first full phrase was "Night night, dada.  Night night, jack jack!".  So cute.  Last night she added, "I love you, dada".  Melts her daddy's heart to pieces.