I have so loved the slower pace for the last week. I am spoiled and like Evelyn I dread that our week off is over. She has asked for a number of days how many days we had left. Oh well, just three weeks ahead of us and Christmas break will be here. :)

We had a wonderful visit on Wednesday from our north MS friends, the Bakers. It was so good to have a little time with them. Their four children are definitely a blessing. They were so sweet with the girls. Hope we don't have to wait quite as long to see them again.

Thanksgiving was great. We ate at my sister's and had a good but smaller crowd than usual. There were about 20 of us there. We (me, Evelyn, Emelia, Jennifer and Miss Ruth) braved the shopping on Friday. We did not get started at dawn but went early for us. The girls were really good for that long of a haul. Their Dad was hunting ;( . On Saturday, we went to the movies with cousin Mason. I will let the girls photo give you a hint of what movie we saw. It was really cute and we made it to the end of this one.

Just wanted to report in that Scott made it back home. The girls were quite excited about his return. I want to brag and say that we did well while he was away. We really did but we did have a couple of "interesting" incidents. For the inquiring minds you will just have to ask. Scott came back with a great report of this part of the shoe box ministry.

I have to brag on Evelyn. I spent just a bit of time with her showing her how to blow a bubble. In no time at all, she has it mastered. She now, however, wants to chew way too much gum. :) Emelia is very satisfied to push her gum out her lips and say nook (her version of look). I am very much enjoying having this time with the girls.

I can't even think of where to start. Since I last updated, we had a couple of firsts for Emelia. She met Santa for the first time and had a reaction a bit different than I expected. She is a people person but not a Santa person. The only way we could get a photo was if I was involved. Oh well, whatever it takes. Her other first was a visit to the ER. Whew. She had some sort of allergic reaction. She had shots the day before and also had a bit of a runny nose. I gave her benedryl for the runny nose and that is when the reaction started. Later in the evening, I gave her a second dose and it got really bad. They said at the ER that was the first thing they would have given her as well. After zyrtec, a steroid and an epi shot, it began to ease. Not fun.

I had the opportunity to have a Thanksgiving lunch at Evelyn's school last week. I didn't know I would be eating with Little Feather, her Indian name. That afternoon, she sweetly crafted a head piece for Emelia so she would not be left out. Along those lines, I have seen much progress in the sister relationship lately. I am so pleased. We are now all off for a week break for Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and time at home together is definitely one of those things. Well, we are not all home right now. Scott has gone with a group from our church to help at the Samaritan's Purse shoe box distribution warehouse. Lets hope the girls cooperate while he is away. Emelia just came and told me her snowman was in time out, that he was ugly to her. I wonder where she heard that one. I am pleased to say that we have already put up our Christmas tree. I wanted the girls to have plenty of time to enjoy it.

Surprise, I am posting mid week. I wanted to show a picture of my new hammock chair. It was a birthday present from my mother-n-law and sister-n-law. We just have not had a chance to hang it. That was an interesting event. I have photos of that on a different card and cannot get them to load. Evelyn was quite concerned. Scott shimmied up a large oak, cut some small limbs, went out on a large limb, tied the rope and then came down the rope. Thank you Lord for no injuries as he was at least 30 feet up in the air. I really like the chair. :) I also have a photo of Evelyn with her school project that is due tomorrow. She had to disguise a turkey that did not want to be eaten. Her dad came up with an excellent idea, the turkey is disguised as the Chick-fil-a cow with his eat mor chikin sign. :) You may also notice another of my birthday presents in the background, a fleur de lis that my sister painted for me. Until later.....

P.S. - Happy Birthday to my niece Madison!

I know it is well past time for a post. Whew, the last two weeks have been full. I am loading a group of the photos that include Evelyn going in her poodle skirt to her dance class party, a fall festival at school, a field trip with Evelyn's school, trick or treat with cousin Mason, a fall festival at church (no photos because we were wiped out) and then going to the state football playoff game (almost 3 hours away) on Saturday for our college. All of that was mostly within three days of last week. The main reason we went to the football game was for a reunion with Rebekah. She was Evelyn's very good friend and survival during preschool. Her dad is now the head coach of a rival school. The girls had fun. They rolled down a hill in the grass and just enjoyed being together. You will notice that Emelia was Cinderalla for the school festival and then Dora (pronounced by her as Dowah) for trick or treat. Did you recognize Evelyn as Hannah Montana? Speed Racer was there to see them through. My brain is past clarity so I will close for now.

P.S. - I forgot to add that Scott had an all nighter in the midst of those activities last weekend. He took our youth to a 5th quarter lock in at a friend's church. Whew again. The golf cart photo is how we got from the parking area to the ticket booth of the ballgame. :)