Piano Recital

On Saturday, Ryan had his second piano recital. He did very well. He played a Japenese song called Indian Rock. I think this was one of his favorite songs to play so far.

Ryan with his piano teacher:

Decorating for Christmas

Last weekend, we started putting up our Christmas decorations. We got everything up but the trees and we finished with those one evening after homework was completed and instruments had been practiced.

Every year, Ryan gets a new ornament. It represents something from that year - whether it be a favorite toy or activity, one to represent the new dog that we got that year. Each one has had a meaning for that year. So, this year, he got a French Horn ornament since this is the year he started playing that instrument.

Checking out the box of ornaments to go on the tree:

Ryan took this picture of me decorating the tree that we put up in the front room:

Adding more ornaments:

Taking a break for some cuddle time with Sam:

Doug & Ryan getting ready to put the star on the tree:

The tree is lit:

A tree full of memories:

A snowman collection. Now this is the ONLY snow that I like - FAKE!

The entertainment center all decked out with Santa's and Coca-Cola:

Decorating the tree in the kitchen. This tree is filled with our Coke ornaments, dalmatian ornaments and anything that is red, white and black:

Finishing it off with the red star:

Both trees are decorated, now it's on to all of our other fun holiday activities:

Thanksgiving Night Time

Ryan was sick a few days before Thanksgiving and missed school. When he started feeling better, he was pretty bored yet not up to really playing. So, we kept talking about playing a board game. Finally on Thanksgiving evening, after coming home from our feast, we set the board up, put on the Christmas Tunes on the iPod and played Star Wars Monopoly for a couple hours. We had to finish the next day.

Star Wars Monopoly game underway:

The board:
Doug was Commander Cody. He must've gone to jail at least 9 times. I've never seen one person go to jail so many times in one game before, it was crazy. It seemed like every time we turned around he was being sent to jail.

Ryan was Anakin Skywalker:

I got to be Obi-Wan:

Thanksgiving Day Time

This year for Thanksgiving dinner, we went to my brother's house. Each family brought different favorite Thanksgiving dishes to share. Doug made a turkey and I made sweet potatoes. As usual, there was plenty of food to be eaten, conversations to be had and fun memories to share.

Just one table of food:

Doug carving the turkey:
Ryan enjoying his meal with his cousin Cotton:

After eating, the kids had fun jumping on the trampoline:

Trick or Treat Fun

On Halloween night, we had our traditional festivities - going strong for 13 years! My family came over for a fun evening. We have a buffet dinner before the kids go trick or treating. Everyone brings their favorite crock pot dish - so we can have warm yummy food all night long. We sit out in the driveway and pass out candy all night long. The trick or treaters that come to our house get candy from every household that comes over! Can you say jackpot?!?! While the kids are trick or treating, we watch a movie shown on our garage door. This year we watched one of my favorites - Shanghai Noon!

Ryan wanted to be something scary for Halloween this year, so this is what he chose. That mask is pretty scary!

Some of the yummy food we had to eat this year. We had soups and chilis! YUM!

And mummy meatloaf!

Some of attendees:

My brother Warren dressed up as a pirate this year - and talked in "pirate speak" all night long. It was pretty funny.

Jack-O-Lanterns:

Watching the movie. Trust me, we could see this better than the image is showing up in the picture:

Cleaning up! What a great evening. Thanks to everyone that joined us and shared their yummy goodies!