Hello, Thanksgiving Break!

Oh, how THANKFUL I am for a nine day Thanksgiving break!

A Weekend With the Dunn's...

We flew up to St. Louis on Friday evening to spend a weekend with Jeff, Erin and Miss Emma. As before each flight we've taken with Macie, I was somewhat anxious (this time due to her newfound independence and determination to be constantly moving). Macie did really, really well on both flights (as long as we kept her dinner and then snacks coming). Jeff and Erin have such a beautiful home that makes us feel 'right at home' and are always such AMAZING hosts. We had the best time together and are so very grateful for their timeless friendship.

Saturday morning PJ playdate...Emma was so sweet to share all of her fun toys, and Macie was so super excited to have 'new' toys to play with!

We somewhat planned our day around letting the girls for sure get a 'good' morning nap in and decided we'd play the afternoon nap by ear (if we were back at the house or not and such). All was going as planned until around 9:30 and we heard 'a cry'. It took us a minute to determine if it was Emma or Macie. Jeff went up to Emma's room and hollered down at us that it wasn't Miss Emma. I curiously approached the third floor (where Macie was), and while doing so encountered a wretched smell that grew with intensity as I climbed each step. Upon opening the door to Macie's 'room' it took me a few moments (literally) to come to terms with what I saw. I'll spare the details, but let me just say that I have never (nor do I hope to ever again) seen such an explosion. I was quite certain we'd be buying a new pack-n-play for Emma (as it couldn't possibly ever be the same after this). I managed to get Macie stripped, bathed and wrapped up in a towel to then call in the reinforcements (Matthew). By this time Miss Emma had awoken and it was obvious there would be no morning naps. Matt and Jeff watched the girls while Erin and I got a bucket, a roll of paper towels, multiple bottles of cleaners, air freshener, sponges and began scrubbing. Our efforts proved successful. Great, great timing Macie girl!

A carousel ride (or two) at Fair Park...

Playing at the park...

Taking it all in

I loved this park (no wood chips) and it was such a beautiful day to be outside!

After playing at the park we went to lunch at Erin and I's favorite (Freshman year of college) restaurant, Kreiger's. Mmmm! Afterwards we headed home to get the girls that nap they decided not to take earlier. Erin and I went out shopping for a bit and the guys watched the Nebraska game. Later that evening we bathed the girls, put them in their cute matching pj's and then got them to bed (a little bit early as they were worn out from their busy day)!

Love these looks

Again, love the looks!

Sweet, sweet smiles

Erin was SO thoughtful as to think ahead and get a babysitter so that we could go out on a double date night! We had such fun at Lorenzo's and then downtown St. Louis overlooking the city!

We can't wait until 'the next time'...

Tennis, Anyone?

I left for school a little extra early this morning, so I had set out Macie's outfit for Matthew to get her dressed and take her to Ms. Betsy's. Shortly after arriving at school I opened up my email and found this precious picture waiting for me...

Oh, how it made my day! I can't count how many times I opened it up and maximized it on my screen.

After a short run this afternoon, Matthew got home from work...

And then we played out back while Matthew grilled...

Rolls?

What rolls?

OU vs. NE

We had the Hamiltons over last night to watch the OU vs. NE game. We ordered wings (LOVE Wing Stop fries) and had a great time (and Matthew did his VICTORY dance after the Hamiltons left).

Macie and Kate (just 2 weeks apart)

Macie starring Kate down (she did a lot of that)

The girls

Macie and Kate played pretty hard together. Time for a water break...

" Look, Uncle Dustin...I can push my popper now!"

Bathtime!

We wanted to let the girls stay up and play as long as they could, but Macie got tired by 7:45 because we had done nearly an 1 1/2 of family pictures earlier in the afternoon. After bathtime we put the girls in their matching pj's. They were too funny playing and 'wrestling' in Macie's crib...

Outside with Nana and Papa...

After all of the rain we've had in recent weeks we were all super excited about the absolutely beautiful weather we had this past weekend. My parents, whom drove down Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with us, without a doubt instilled in both my brother and I a love of being outside. I am so thankful for that.
In order to maximize their short but sweet time with Miss Macie, Nana and Papa stayed home with Macie all of Sunday morning (while Matthew and I just went to our Bible Fellowship class). When Mommy and Daddy got home a little before 1 we found Macie out back having a picnic with Nana and Papa...

Sunday afternoon Matthew and my dad, Papa, rigged up the swing in our backyard! I am SO excited as I've really been wanting to have the swing hung up so we could use it! Macie LOVES it...

Late Sunday afternoon we went to Parker Square to get a few pictures of Nana, Papa and Macie for my parent's Christmas card picture. (I won't disclose their picture...), but we had fun snapping pictures while out there.

Dancing with Papa...

Nana, Macie and Papa

( NOT the Christmas card picture)

Macie and Nana

While it's difficult to be so far from family, I am so thankful that my parents live "close enough" that they can drive down for the weekend, every once in a while, for a quick visit. Each time after they leave it makes us miss them more...but we're already looking forward to seeing them (for a longer time) at Christmas!

Happy Halloween!

For breakfast on Saturday morning Nana made Macie orange scrambled eggs, and then for lunch Macie had a completely orange meal! (Thanks, Janet, for the fun idea!)

On Macie's plate for lunch Saturday: a jack-o-lantern cheese quesadilla, mandarin oranges, cooked carrots, yogurt puffs and a few orange marshmallows (definitely not her typical lunch...but so fun!)

We went to Prestonwood's annual Fall Festival and had so much fun...chasing Macie! Our little Strawberry Shortcake was, literally, everywhere! Matthew, myself, Nana and Papa all had a tough time keeping up with her. We had bought a book of tickets to try and play some games...silly us, what were we thinking? Macie was just absolutely loving the freedom of tromping, waddling, toddling everywhere....despite the masses of people and controlled chaos.

Strawberry Shortcake and her book of tickets

(Thanks, Nana and Papa)

Trying our best to 'play' a game!

Strawberry Shortcake and Abby the Duck

Miss Kate, the cute cowgirl

Our second game...mowing the lawn!

Our third (and final) game...Strawberry Shortcake makes a slam dunk!

Strawberry Shortcake, Nana and Papa

(I've gotten over it by now but so that you know...four well-meaning adults did leave our home on Saturday afternoon with a total of three cameras all in which by about 5:30 PM had dead batteries. We were so thankful that the McCord's were gracious enough to snap a couple pictures for us!)

The Hall family

Strawberry Shortcake and Pierce the guitar

Macie and her Strawberry Shortcake trick-or-treating bag

from Grandma and Grandpa Hall!

I unfortunately don't have a single picture of what was possibly the highlight of our Halloween. When we got home from Fall Festival there were still lots and lots of trick-or-treaters out. I got super excited and thought we should take Macie to just a couple of neighbor's houses that we know pretty well...just for kicks. Well, we did that...and I couldn't stop! Macie really got in to the whole trick-or-treating thing! I don't know who had more fun...Macie, Mommy or Nana and Papa. We ended up walking around our entire block (yes, Macie walked most of the block on her own...without wanting to hold our hands) trick-or-treating at several houses with front porch lights on. What a sweet, fun memory!

Pierce's 1st Birthday Party...

On Saturday we celebrated Pierce's 1st Birthday, Rockstar style! Macie had so much fun celebrating her buddy, Pierce, and playing with some of her other friends!

Macie and a happy, happy Birthday Boy!

Macie, close behind Duncan

Macie found her star on the "Rockstar Walk of Fame"

Ms. Betsy's Halloween Party...

Friday, after school, we had a little Halloween party at Ms. Betsy's! Another mom 'organized' everything...we dressed the girls (Ms. Betsy just so happens to have all girls right now) up in their Halloween costumes, made a little craft, ate treats and played (of course). We are, daily, so blessed to have Macie in such a warm, loving, nurturing home.

Macie, Hadley, Abby, Paige, Ashlyn and Kate

Paige making a quick getaway to Macie
(Macie and Paige are about 4 or 5 months apart

and are the best of friends at Ms. Betsy's)

Abby, her sister Paige, and Ashlynn

Macie and Hadley

The Pumpkin cookie cake I made...

Several years ago I pulled this picture out of one of my mom's photo albums and tucked it in a recipe book of mine. My mom did a far better job than I, but I'll work each Halloween to perfect this fun treat!

Dustin and I in 1984

Crafting...

Paige and Macie watching the "big girls" craft

Yummy Pirate's Booty

The Pumpkin Patch...

We headed out to the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch this afternoon, as we learned our lesson last year that you can't wait until the weekend of Halloween to go. Since the Pumpkin Patch was barren last year when we went (a day or two after Halloween), we were in for quite a shock today when we pulled up to orange cones, policeman directing traffic, informational flyers upon entrance, multiple fair food stands, tents galore, 'parking lots', and masses of people! Needless to say, Macie wasn't the only one overwhelmed and overstimulated! We got in, took some pictures, and made our exit...mission accomplished! Macie had a blast out amongst the pumpkins! (Though she wasn't too interested in looking at the camera. We couldn't blame her with all that was going on!)

Just because...