Thanksgiving Break

We left on Wednesday before Thanksgiving for quite the southern road trip.  Caroline fell asleep almost immediately.  The excitement alone was too much for her!

Our first stop was Franklin, TN.  It was one of my favorite evenings the entire trip.  The weather was very mild so we walked up and down Main St. to show Lisa.  Dianna was working at the historic Franklin Theater so she let Elizabeth take a phone call (from Papa).  

On Thursday we left for Memphis to spend Thanksgiving with my mom.  It was a relaxing, enjoyable and yummy Thanksgiving, but I forgot to take even one picture!  On Friday we went to lunch at Huey's, visited the Enchanted Forest at the Pink Palace, and then put on our jammies and drove through Starry Nights.  

After two days in Memphis, we left for Heflin, AL to visit Bert's mom.  Spending the last day of our break out in the country was perfect!

Sleeping beauty fell asleep again on our trip home.

Pre-Thanksgiving Celebrations

Elizabeth had her Thanksgiving progaming the week before break.  Her teacher had the kids vote on who would read the speaking parts and she was chosen!  

I'm glad that my daughter is confident, but perhaps I should work on her humility!

We kicked off Thanksgiving break with some ice skating on our square after lunch with some friends!

We had Friendsgiving with our  neighbors

This time Elizabeth redeemed her first try!  "The best thing is Jesus"!

My precious friend Christy passed away early Tuesday morning (November 17th).  I found out right before school.  It was by far the hardest day at school I've ever endured, but also the most therapeutic.  I thought it was important to make myself available for the kids, but they were there for me even more so.  This lady was nothing short of amazing and I have been so very blessed by her.  We celebrated her life on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  It was an incredible service held in our school's gym.  I've never laughed, cried, and danced so hard in my life!  

After the memorial close friends and family were invited to Keegan's.  Christy's presence was felt throughout all of it!

Vol For Life

The UT campus has changed so much since I went to school there.  Even the house in the Fort that we lived in had been renovated.  

On Friday night we ate at Tupelo Honey's and then went back to the  Hilton where most of us were staying.  They had a great outside bar with heaters and fires to keep us warm.  

We started tailgating at 9:00am because the game was at noon.  I love tailgating at Circle Park.  They do everything for us.  We just show up!

Most of the girls stayed at the tailgate during the game, but Kristy and I missed Neyland Stadium...especially the Power T!

We closed down Circle Park after the game:-)

Getting together with my people every year is one of my favorite traditions!  

Fall Pictures

We haven't had family pictures taken since Caroline was born!  I keep up with the girls, but I thought it was time for all of us to be in the picture.  Of course it rained right up until our shoot started.  Thankfully it stopped, but the humidity did a number on all of our hair plus it was to wet to get in the grass.  We only did a 20 minute mini session, and Caroline fell and busted her knew right in time to start.  With all of those obstacles, I was pleased with how they turned out.  Probably won't frame any, but I will still treasure them always.

Halloween

We actually carved pumpkins this year.  It was more fun than I anticipated, but we did it way too early so they rotted by Halloween.. lesson learned.

This year we had a family theme.  It was so much fun!  I think we will do this every year as long as the kids love it.This was at our neighborhood trunk-or-treat.  The weather was perfect and the activities were so much fun!

Halloween has become my favorite holiday simply because it's like the "opening ceremony" of the best holidays to come.  It's like the gateway holiday for Thanksgiving and Christmas!  This year was perfect!  We had catered BBQ with all of our neighbors, 60 plus people.  The weather was perfect!

the Cheshire cat getting ready

the littles were tired within the first hour

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After trick or treating, we let the kids watch a movie on the lawn and make smores  in the driveway.  It was the perfect end to a great Halloween!