Black Friday

I have not been a big Black Friday shopper.

I stood in line at Target at 3 in the morning when Harper was a year old to get her a motorized car and they were out by the time I got in there. 

When I asked one of the workers if there were any in the back, he told me to go home and order online.

(and so started the practice of online Christmas shopping)

(plus, I was probably going to save $4.99 and that's just not worth waking up that early for)

Presley had mentioned to me a few weeks ago that her and a couple friends wanted to go Black Friday shopping.

I was happy she asked me to come along with her.

(In reality, that meant picking up her friends at 4:45 AM and running to Starbucks for them)

We loaded up at 4:37 and I put on some Christmas music to get us in the mood.

The first stop was JCPenny for the Sephora opening at 6 AM.

They were handing out totes with some sample make-up and a $10 gift card. 

They were eighth in line and it was 5:10 AM. 

Mom, would you walk to Starbucks and get us a drink?

Then we shopped at Target. 

It actually wasn't that crowded because they had been open since 6 PM Thanksgiving night. 

After Target, we drove over to the mall and found the best deals at Bath and Body Works. 

(and they stopped to play on the mall's indoor playground).

We walked down to Macy's too.

Dave was at home at this time getting Logan to basketball practice, and he took Ry and Harper out to breakfast. 

Our last stop for the morning was Hobby Lobby. 

They still had a lot of sillies, but it felt like 4 in the afternoon to me. 

It was 9:30 in the morning. 

I dropped off Olivia and we came home and took a nap while the Apple Cup was played. 

Later that afternoon I started taking down November and got out my Christmas boxes. 

And Harper and I ended the night watching a Christmas movie.

Thanksgiving 11-24-2016

On Wednesday night Presley told me she was excited to watch the Thanksgiving parade. 

Her and Harper were up and came in and watched with us for a little while.

She loves watching the Broadway performances.

She really wanted to see a performance from "Hamilton".  She is obsessed with the songs from that play right now. 

(and they are quite catchy...Harper and I know a lot of the songs too)

She was trying to kick like the Rockettes here.

I got ready and needed to run to the store for some things. 

Logan was happy to drive me.

While Presley and I made sweet potatoes, these three played Jenga.

We spent the day in Waterville with Grandma and Papa Nelson and Nelson the dog. 

We unloaded the back of the car and Ry noticed his violin back there. 

He played Mary had a Little Lamb and Jingle Bells, kind of :)

Harper loves Nelson

The kids played pool downstairs while we watched football and basketball

And Logan told me he wanted to snuggle Harper, which looked a lot like wrestling to me. 

We made it back home at about 7:30 and read our thankful notes...

I can't remember which note Dave was reading, but it must have been something funny. 

(a few of our notes, the rest are in the 2016 box)

Thanksgiving 2016

Lea's Day-Lea's, Week 47 (2016)

Day 323, Friday, November 18th

The first morning I noticed snow up in the mountains. 

Day 324, Saturday, November 19th

When Presley emoji texts you while you're gone in Portland. 

Day 325, Sunday, November 20th

Logan's club team won their league (2001 PSPL division 1) this week-end. 

Day 326, Monday, November 21st

Harper's been begging to get her hair cut short and I kept telling her after soccer ends so I don't have to worry about getting her hair back in a pony. 

She suddenly looks like a teen. 

Day 327, Tuesday, November 22nd

I love finding friend sticky notes to Ry in his folder. 

Day 328, Wednesday, November 23rd

Our last First Grade Thanksgiving Feast. 

Day 329, Thursday, November 24th

Happy Thanksgiving 

(taken after we got home from Waterville...we all look like we need a nap after the turkey dinner).

Thanksgiving Eve

Sometimes I found myself thinking, "well this is my last _______".

And I thought that again on Wednesday when I went to my last first grade Thanksgiving Feast. 

Presley as a first grade Pilgrim girl. 

They must have sang songs that year. 

Rylan as a little Indian his first grade year. 

I found this one on my phone and texted it to the other boys' moms and asked them why this felt like it was 5 minutes ago. 

(We didn't start at Sunnyslope until Logan was in 2nd grade so he missed the first grade feast)

Harper with 2 of her friends. 

After the feast the kids got to go to the gym and play.

Harper was all about the rock wall. 

I found Harper's writing as I was walking out.

If I were a pilgrim I would muck the garden, help my mother cook, help my mom do dishes, not go to school, mend clothes, fetch water, sleep on the floor. 

She would have been a busy Pilgrim (with some Angelina Jolie lips :). 

It was a half day so I treated the kids to FroYo after school. 

(Logan was at basketball practice)

I found this turkey pamphlet in Ry's folder. 

He's got lots of reasons to be thankful.

We all do!  

Lea's Day-Lea's, Week 46 (2016)

Day 316, Friday, November 11th

No school today so Harper had a playdate with a friend from her class. 

Day 317, Saturday, November 12th

Rylan making friends with his opponents on the basketball court. 

And while their brothers play, they color. 

Day 318, Sunday, November 13th

I didn't realize that Logan didn't know how to pump gas so I let him do it this time. 

When Logan was a little boy he loved the movie Toy Story.  There's a part in that movie when the mom and Andy are going to Pizza Planet and they stop for gas.  Andy asks his mom if he can pump the gas, and his mom says, "Sure, I'll even let you drive...when you're sixteen"

And now my little Toy Story loving boy is almost 16!

Day 319, Monday, November 14th

Presley had to do her disability challenge for her core class today.

She spent Sunday and Monday with the use of only one of her arms.

Day 320, Tuesday, November 15th

We had a weird hour until Logan had to be back at the high school so we did our homework in the library.  These two walking out together.

Day 321, Wednesday, November 16th

Ry's basketball picture. 

Day 322, Thursday, November 17th

Logan sent me a text with his biology quiz (which he studied approximately 5 minutes for).

His text read, "And you doubted me".