Go Packers!
Joe and Papaw went to the game on Nov. 16th.
Joe came home with a cheese head hat for Henry.
The holidays sure have arrived quickly this year!
We have the greatest "mouser" cat ever!
As usual (the last couple of years) a mouse comes in the house when we bring in Christmas decorations from the garage. This year was no different. I stayed home with Henry on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving since he had a temperature. Eeeeeeeeeek, I screamed when I saw a little grey creature scurry across the floor and run under the TV stand. Later, that same day Henry was napping on the couch and I went upstairs to work on the computer, so all was quiet and dark in the house. I thought I heard a rustle of some sort but didn't think it was anything. To my great surprise when I went back downstairs, I was so happy to find that Jimmy continues to earn his keep around our house! Wow, in a matter of hours he took care of the mouse in our house (and cleanly too)! Woohoo, happy Thanksgiving to Jimmy!
We went to St. Louis this year to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Swayne's. We left on Wednesday after lunch and expected to arrive in time for dinner...! Between Bloomington and Springfield the roads went from being good to terrible with the freezing rain and light snow we drove in to. We saw multiple cars in the ditch. After some slow white knuckle driving we stayed at a hotel in Springfield. Thursday morning the roads were all clean and DRY! We happily completed our drive to the Swayne's.
Before our Thanksgiving feast the kids enjoyed the small amount of snow by sledding in the backyard.
Kid table: George, Zack, Andy, Henry and Mary
Mmm, we all enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving feast.
Great job, Jennie and Joe!
The cousins enjoying homemade chocolate pie.
Joe Swayne also made pumpkin and pecan pie. All were very good.
Henry later said, the pumpkin and pecan pie were better than the chocolate pie, wow!
BLACK FRIDAY - DEALS - AWAY WE WENT!
My sister Jennie and I were up and out the door for Black Friday deals at 6:15 AM.
No shower, no make up, just coffee, coupons and store ads! We were at Kohl's by 6:30 AM. Plenty of parking, no lines, not crowded at all. We literally took a cart from a lady who had just checked out (it was the only cart around), we were all set. Woohoo, for the $15 Kohl's cash for every $50 spent!
We went to Target and it was a miracle...ALL the registers were open.
That NEVER happens!
We also went to Five Below (great stocking stuffers store), OfficeMax and Game Stop. We had to stop for a mid morning refueling at Subway. Good breakfast sandwiches. We were home by Noon in time to eat leftovers for lunch and to take naps too. We would have been home by 11 but we both forgot to get a couple things at Kohl's. When we went back to Kohl's just after 10 the line was all the way to the back of the store. We stood in the super, long line for our forgotten purchases, they were great deals.
Saturday morning cartoons
On Saturday morning the kids happily played in a big leaf pile. Not a trace of snow left anymore. Due to the early snows the leaves did not get picked up in time.
Playing catch and having fun.
Playing the "leaf monster" game.
Where is the leaf monster? Hello?
Such fun for all!
On Saturday, the plan was to go to Grant's Farm but then a few more of us started to not feel so well. Temperatures, sore throats, body aches and bad coughs held us back. Joe and I had also planned to go to dinner in downtown St. Louis but that didn't happen either. Boohoo, we will definitely be making a return trip when we are healthy to enjoy some of the great St. Louis attractions.
Thankfully, we did enjoy some time outside in the much warmer, upper 60's weather on Saturday. We went to a nice local park. Most kids did not have coats on or they were only wearing light jackets. I even saw a girl in flip flops.
Beautiful!
Watching the fish!
S'mores on Saturday night.
Yes, it was still that warm! What a fun treat for Thanksgiving weekend.
We left on Sunday morning, the weather was quickly approaching the low 70's. Beautiful. Wow, gotta love life in the Midwest. In only a few days we had 4 seasons! Sadly, during our drive home the temperature dropped 25 degrees and it was windy and cold when we stopped for lunch.
When we got in the car to go home Henry wondered if it would take 2 days to get home. Hahaha, NO!
Thank you Swayne's for a fun holiday weekend!
