Thanksgiving and Bubby's Birthday

Celebrated TG at Bubby and Grandfather's house in Fredericksburg yesterday. I was thankful to get my workout in and not need to cook a thing! We brought Knakel's cake(with strawberry filling!) and some homemade presents for Bubby's birthday. Margaret made her a bookmark, Abby decorated a cup for her and AP sewed her a pillow. I gave her my copy of Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls (an author who actuallyl ives in Culpeper)... The kids took a bath in the fancy tub and we headed home. Today we had a great day taking down the fall decorations and setting up our Christmas tree. I actually dragged the kids out to Walmart for the Black Friday early bird specials and Patrick didn't even know we were gone!!

Christmas Open House

The Culpeper Open House was Sunday afternoon- a beautiful day. After the big kids left for Harrisonburg, we took Abby to story time at the Depot to hear Christmas tales for toddlers and then walked around Davis Street. All of the decorations are out and the high school band was playing on the veranda at Hazel River Inn. Many churches and stores had crafts for kids and Christmas cookies. Abby was very brave riding the Trolley through town!

Sharing Orange Blossoms and lemon pound cake at Tea, Lace and Roses.

Outside Hazel River Inn...where Bono ate before his Charlottesville concert in Oct!

Meeting the authentic Santa at Pepperberries on main Street. Abby was VERY brave and asked him for a "pink Hello Kitty." She and Santa had the same color eyes and he showed her his red and white striped socks!

Brushing the miniature horses outside the depot.

Dadu and Nonna visit

The kids have the week off for Thansgiving break, but I have Prof. Dev. on Monday and Tues. so Dadu and Nonna came down to watch the big kids while I am at work. They took them to Massanutten Water Park yesterday and are taking them to the dentist today! Having Chinese food with Nonna...

Playing Uno Spin after a spaghetti dinner and bath time on Saturday night.

All smiles at the dinner table. Everyone was hungry after a beautiful day of playing outside jumping on the trampoline, playing Blogo ball and doing the zip line.

So sweet! Wearing her puppy backpack and dress up clothes for the International Fair at Patrick's school last week.

International Fair

International Day at Culpeper Christian was a lot of fun!

The students worked really hard on their research for their notebooks and poster boards. I made 150 Russian blini (Russian pancakes) last night! I surprised Patrick with an genuine outfit from Russia which he wore with his fur hat that we bought when we were in Moscow adopting the kids. He played a Russian language tape and showed some money and one of his Cyrillac coloring books. The girls came and got to visit the different countries and try out all of the food. Then I dropped Abby off at Ms. Jennifer's and Margaret and I went to school.

I took Noah to the vet today and as feared, his eye is not improving and they don't know why. They recommend we take him to a specialist in NOVA so they can do an MRI and figure out what is causing the infection and swelling. Please keep Noah and the rest of us in your prayers.

More Halloween pics and other fall shots...

Soccer season has come to a close. This was AP's first season of travel and I'm sad to say they had no wins... here's hoping for a better Spring...

Please keep Noah in your prayers. He's injured his eye and we are all very worried about him. Tomorrow will be his 4th trip to the vet in the last two weeks... and we're not seeing much improvement. He had surgery on Friday, and we'll keep you posted. He's our beautiful kitty and dear to my heart. It's tough to see him in this state. Pray to the Lord for Him to heal Noah's eye and get him back to his old self real soon.

Abby taking Noah to the vet... and her stuffed puppy too.

Testing out some old costumes. Abby wasn't too sure of AP's. But she did like being a baby dinosaur! Roar!

Fun at the Wellness Center on Halloween afternoon.

Fun at Toddlin' Time on Halloween morning... after the parade in Warrenton!

AP finally finished his pumpkin on Halloween evening. We let him carve it all by himself. He's growing up!

AP as Peter from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Some More Fall Pics

AP's been so busy with soccer and his project for International Day, he hasn't had a chance to carve his pumpkin yet!

I remember our first Halloween with the big kids. Patrick was at school and the kids and I carved pumpkins and just as we were winding down, Margaret knocked her entire dowl of seeds onto the floor. I wanted to cry!

Fun at the local pumpkin patch.

We ate at Foti's this weekend and Abby slept through the entire meal dressed in her kitty costume from last year. She looked so cute. When she woke up, Patrick had eaten her chicken pita... it was all part of his evil plan... the poor little thing! Bubby took the big kids to a Halloween play in Fredricksburg and we got to have lunch in town.

Lots and lots of Halloween fun! This pumpkin dress used to be Margaret's! We can't believe it fits Abby. Margaret wore it when she was four- Abby is wearing it at two! She is learning to pose and put her hands on her hips for the pictures!

Happy Early Halloween

Bubby and "Anne of Green Gables" get ready for Trunk or Treat at Emerald Hill. bubby sprained her knee and couldn't participate, but she came and helped me get the girls dressed and ready since Patrick had a night meeting and AP had soccer...

Our little clown, "Lolipop" Eileen Heelen. Didn't quite fit into her car seat when we went to story time on Tues. night! Too much candy, I guess!

I ordered Margaret's Anne costume online from a lady who sews American Girl dresses and other period costumes. It is perfect!

Fun with some girl friends at Trunk or Treat...although Abby was a bit freaked out by some of the cars decorations and scary costumes.

We're looking forward to more fun Halloween activites this weekend!