Thanksgiving in Southern California

With Anika having the whole week off for Thanksgiving, we took off for Southern California immediately following her "celebration" at school. It was so good to see family again (and wonderful to celebrate a holiday with them even though we had to be back on the actual day for Lloyd to preach.)

Andrew & Papa: Andrew & Nene:

Kathryn hams for the camera:

Anika & Andrew were entertaining Kat in the high chair:

Me & my kiddos:

Kathryn & Josephine:

My fav pic:-)

A rare quiet moment with the cousins:

A Thanksgiving Feast:

My pig-tailed girls:

The crazy cousins:

The proud tent-makers:

Anika's Thanksgiving Celebration

Last Friday, we were invited to Anika's kindergarten class for Thanksgiving Celebration. The class sang songs, recited poems, and shared a Thanksgiving prayer. Then we joined with for a "feast" - turkey sandwiches, finger jello, green bean casserole, fresh fruit salad, and of course, pumpkin pie.

Students each made pilgrim and Indian costume and then could choose which to wear on the celebration day:

3 Kids on Wheels

Yep, that little speck in the picture below is Kathryn -- she is really getting around on the trike. She can't pedal yet but she sure can get where she wants to go. (I better introduce her to a helmet!)

Three on wheels! What fun!

Here Andrew trys out Anika's bigger bike:

Anika rides Drew's little bike:

Operation Christmas Child

Anika's school sent home information about "Operation Christmas Child" where you fill a shoe box with toys/necessities for a needy boy/girl around the globe. Anika was SO very excited to shop/wrap/fill this gift. (She was also quick to point out all the things that SHE wanted. . .We're making a start:-))

Artist at Work

With some days off of school for conferences and sickness, we've been spending some time inside recently. Anika rediscovered her easel and I've enjoyed watching her work. Here are some shots of her creativity:-) She took a number of these pictures with my camera -- I'm not sure I'll get it back;-)

Our family: (Anika labeled all of these by herself.) The artist:

The artist and her brother:

Self-portrait:

A playground with her favorite things:

Just being goofy!

I had the high chair apart to clean it and pretty soon Anika jumped up to have a seat, then Andrew had to join her, and so of course did Kathryn. My three-ums:-)

Thomas the Train Fan

Enjoying our "booty"

I had to snap a few quick shots of the kids enjoying their haul from Halloween. I've been letting them choose two things as a treat in the evening. Andrew just grabs any two things while Anika painstakingly deliberates between laffy taffy, peanut butter cups, whoppers, m&m's, gobstoppers, starbursts. . . (Of course, she can't go wrong with any of the choices:-)) As usual, Kathryn really "got into" her eating. Fresh from bath #1 and headed to bath #2:-)

Melts in your mouth NOT in your hand??