Thanksgiving Fun

We had our annual Thanksgiving trip with a few minor changes. The first being our niece was born on Sunday. Xenia Timea decided to come early so we could all see her and bring pictures to the rest of the family.

Ryan: "Alex, come over here. That's your baby sister."
Alex (after looking through the window at her.): "Oh."

I think he ended up being pretty happy with her, though.

Caitlyn did pretty well on the car trip down to Tulsa. She had fun with her toys and snacks.

She even tried to share her graham cracker with her doll:

We stopped for gas shortly after entering Oklahoma and found a buffalo ranch to walk around and look at:

And this terribly educational historical marker:

Caitlyn had fun playing with her cousins at Grandma and Grandad Lundy's house:

Even if they did wear her out:

Here's Frederic looking at the phone confusedly:

Benjamin had lots of fun with Uncle Jim:

We tried to get the kids to sit still for a picture with their great-grandparents. Got a couple of ok shots.
Most were more along this line, though:

Benjamin was happy I brought "Monkeys" down to Thanksgiving:

All the kids (and some of the adults) had fun at the playground.

Caitlyn and Noah both decided their Great-grandad Crowe was alright since he'd pick them up so they could go down the slide:

Noah apparently goes down slides backwards:

Then he dared me to make fun of the way he does things:

The second minor change was not stopping in OK city to visit friends. Sorry Les. Two of the three friends couldn't make it and the monster was already sleeping in the car. (life is much better when children sleep on car trips). The third difference was we left at night hoping Caitlyn would sleep the whole way back to St Louis. We were not so lucky. She woke up when we stopped and unfortunately couldn't get back to sleep cuz we made several small stops with bright light which kept her awake. (gas station, toll both ticket station, toll both paying station) It took us about an hour and half to get her back to sleep, then the rest went rather well.

My parents took care of Caitlyn when we got back so Jordan and I could sleep. That was very much appreciated. She had a good time at the Science Center with her cousin. Thankfully the trip back home was much less exciting although long. It must have been all the college students coming back, cuz it took us twice as long as it usually does to get back.

All in all a good trip. We got to see lots of family and we all had a great time. Can't wait for next year, then again maybe we can.

Caitlyn had a lot of fun at Thanksgiving. We got back home and she still has fun.

And sometimes wants all of her barrettes put in her hair.

But we have put her back to work:

And she's figured out that my headphones make noise sometimes.

She's started bundling up for the cold, too:

Hopefully our Christmas blog won't take as long to put up. =)

On our way to Thanksgiving

We're doing our usual whirlwind trip to Tulsa, OKC, and Madill for Thanksgiving.

I (Jordan) spent 7 days with the kiddo since her babysitter had her third daughter, and took a few weeks off for that. I haven't lost all of my adult communication skills yet, but....

Anyway, here are a few cute pictures to hold you over until we get back:

She picks up a few things from the dog now and then:

She also is excited about playing the French game 'Boules' that my sister and her husband have imported into the country.

And in case there were some of you who think she's not enough like Kacey and I:

Yep, that's peanut butter. On a spoon.


Have a good holiday!!!

Halloween

So we actually went out trick or treating this year. Caitlyn looked so cute in her costume. She did alright, although she didn't speak to anybody. I think it was a little overwhelming. She did get a good haul of candy. Problem is she can't have most of it like gum and and blow pops and what not. Oh darn Jordan and I will have to help her eat it. We have decided that she is only getting a limited amount a day. She ate a small Airhead before trick or treating and went a little crazy.

We also didn't stay out long due to the fact that she is recovering. She's been sick and grumpy, but she's better now. She had a good day at home with mom last week and hopefully a good day with dad this week.

Just to show that Alisa is not the only one who enforces child labor. The trick is to let them think it's fun.

Pumpkin patch

So we went to the pumpkin patch this weekend with my parents, sister and nephew. It was fun. There was a maze for the little kids, animals to feed or pet, a hay ride, face painting, plenty of picture ops and of course pumpkin picking. We did almost everything, not the maze or the face painting. (the maze seemed enclosed and not tall enough for an adult and the face painting..... I'm really allergic to it and I didn't want to see if Caitlyn was or not besides you have to sit still which is not some thing the little monster can do)

She liked looking at all the animals:

And even petting some (don't worry, there was hand sanitizer out that we used afterwards):

She even posed for me a little bit here and there:

And look where she climbed to!:

Well, Grandma is holding on to her. And put her up there. She loved it.

She did pick out her very own pumpkin.

Thankfully it's small.

Trev did a little posing himself:

And jumping around:

When he really started to get out of control, we put him in the paddy wagon:

She had a blast playing in the hay. Throwing it, digging in it and pulling it in her (and her father's) lap.

Good thing she's cute:

While I (Jordan) was away from home for a bit, apparently she decided to see if my shoes fit her:

They're a little big, I think:

She also apparently couldn't get her fix, and attempted to herself:

Now if she'd only learn to brew it....