Thanksgiving At Our House

For the first time ever, we didn't have Thanksgiving lunch with either of our extended families. Lane had to work five nights in a row starting Thanksgiving night, so he couldn't leave town. But we had a great day, just the five of us. I made a big meal so that we could celebrate together and so L would have lots of left-overs for the weekend (the kids and I left about 2:30 to drive out of town to my Aunt Judy's house, and from there we went to Mom and Dad's for three nights).

our menu

making a pie crust for my first-ever pumpkin pie

(I guess it turned out okay...I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie, so I really couldn't judge. It tasted fine to me with a huge scoop of home-made whipped cream on it!)

I made cornbread dressing using the recipe that my Grandmother wrote down for me a few years ago. I made it then for a Bible Study dinner, and I got it a little too dry/crumbly. I thought it was a lot better this year!

quick family photo before eating

Rhett ate a lot of the foods that he usually doesn't eat--I was proud of him!

Out of all this food, I think Alexee ate two store-bought rolls and a bite of turkey.

I don't think Crosby ate even one bite. He didn't feel good. Lane had determined the night before that he had a double ear infection, and we started an antibiotic. He ran a low fever and didn't have an appetite. He stood in the living room and watched the parade on TV while we ate.

We enjoyed our time together...We have MUCH to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love, The Garner Family

Tag a Tree

I can't believe it's that time again already, but the Christmas tree farm opened yesterday, and Lane had the day off so we went to tag our tree! I bundled the kids up and loaded their coats in the car...only to realize it was 67 degrees outside when we pulled out of the driveway. I really should use the weather app more often. So it doesn't feel much like the holiday season yet, but we had fun at the farm. In addition to tree shopping, we looked at all the animals and took a cow-train ride. The people that run the farm are so nice and make it such a fun experience for families.

Oh boy was this little pig cute!!! He was wearing a moose sweater! I was really tempted to ask if he was for sale. Lane searched for the perfect tree while I tried to keep Crosby from driving off on one of the tractors.We decided on this nice tall one! I think it will look really pretty in our entry-way. But I have to admit that I do wish someone else would come take all our decorations out of the attic and decorate for me.

Alexee picked a weed bouquet, as usual. :)

We'll be back for you! Keep growing!

Cow-train rides

Rhett was in the front, Crosby was in my lap and Alexee was a few barrels behind us.

We went by the animal pens one more time before we left. The fluffy chicken in the pen with the pig wearing the sweater was cute, too.

friendly goats

We went for a quick lunch at Panera Bread, then hurried home so Lane could leave for the AR football game (go Hogs!)...post on that soon.

Mouse, Party & Bells

Yesterday was book character day at R's school. He thought and thought and finally decided to be the mouse from If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. I couldn't find denim overalls anywhere in town, but my niece had striped ones so we met my sister after school on Thursday and borrowed those. I made his mouse ears and a giant chocolate chip cookie out of foam board. The students had a character parade yesterday morning. I didn't go to the parade, but Rhett came home with good news: his character won first place for both his class and for the whole 2nd grade! He was excited that he got a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card as his prize!

Here are Rhett and our neighbor (dressed as Froggy) on our way to school yesterday morning. Froggy won a prize for the 1st grade! Good job, boys! :)
Yesterday evening Alexee had a birthday party to go to for a little boy in her MDO class. She was really shy at first and didn't want to go out on the floor and participate, but after a while she joined right in and had a good time. (Alexee is in the orange shirt and Elias, the birthday boy, is in the green striped shirt.)We left the party a little early and met Lane and the boys at Chick-fil-A for a quick dinner for the kids before the chili supper/art auction fundraiser at A and C's preschool. The four year olds were playing the handbells at the event, which Alexee has been looking forward to. She likes music class, and she has enjoyed practicing the bells. They play the songs using a color-coded music system. They did a great job!

All-smiles for the performance.

Crosby wearing his backpack, eating ice and listening to the songs

While We Were Away

While Lane and I were out of town last week, the kids had lots of fun with their grandparents (and Alexee with my sister and her family). I don't know that they really missed us all that much! I thought Rhett was going to take some pictures while we were gone, but I guess he got too excited and forgot about doing that. I know the boys stayed busy though...Bob and Rose Mary and Crosby had lunch with Rhett at school, they went to Razorback Pizza one night, Purple Cow another night, Barnes & Noble, the donut shop for breakfast, rode bikes/tricycles, played with neighbors, etc.!

Mom and Micaela sent me a few pictures of Alexee's time with them...

She went on a nature hunt with Mo to look for "beautiful things".

She took good care of her cat, Princess Louisa.

She helped Mo feed the horses at the barn.

She filled Banner's bucket up with water.

She played several games of Memory. Dad said that if you ever played this game without "getting creative" it would take four days! ha! I think this was the very first day she was there. She and Mom went to Wal-Mart and she talked Mo into getting her this princess make-up set!Then she applied the make-up before they went to feed the cows. Note the pink eye-shadow! :)On Saturday, Mom and Mic met half-way and Alexee went with Jaiden to a baton-twirling birthday party.

They played on the tire swing at Micaela's house

Went to church Sunday morning

Lex & Uncle Mario

They went to get frozen yogurt

with Aunt Kala

We're truly thankful to our families for taking such good care of the kids while we were away!