Cousins

Isaac and Ali...a month apart and I can definitely see a "Mott" resemblance

Ellie (almost 5), Saedi (2 1/2), Nathan (9) and Logan (16 1/2 months)

The master fort-makers

Drawing Lessons from 'Nater

My oldest brother, John, and his wife and kids came down from Ohio to spend Thanksgiving with us. It was great to spend the holiday with family and the kids had a blast together. Thanksgiving Day was unusually warm, which was a blessing so the kids could play outside for a while. We had a yummy feast & good company & even got to Skype with Riley and the rest of the fam. Poor Theresa was sick, and unfortunately, between our 6 kids, not much rest was to be had!


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Happy Thanksgiving

We're thankful for apple pie & my cousin Nathan (Ellie), the carousel & for our baby swing in the backyard (Saedi), everything I have (cousin Nathan), smiles from babies, people, good health (Michelle)
*Turkey craft idea from Silly Eagle Books
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Ambidextrous?

Sometimes it's the right thumb, and other times it's left-hand-gang-time-Wubsy

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Lite Bright

I found this Lite Bright last year at the thrift store on post for less than $5 (included cards, pegs, and all) and we gave it to Ellie for Christmas (or maybe her birthday...I can't quite remember). With the cooler weather around and darkness descending at 4:45 this old Lite Bright has been a favorite activity for the girls and I to work on together.

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Nashville Zoo

Yesterday, the Nashville Zoo sponsored Military Appreciation Day, where anyone with a military id was allowed free admission. SCORE! The kids and I took off after church and it really was a lovely day. It wasn't packed. It wasn't too hot or too cold. We took our time enjoying the special crafts (like bracelet and pin-making), jump-jumps, the jungle gym, animals, and a special ride on the carousel. Normally, I'm too cheap to let my kids ride. I figure, going to the zoo is a treat in and of itself. However, since admission was free, I told Ellie that if she could tell me her Math facts for the week without any prompts by me that they could ride the carousel AND buy a treat. She did it! (After many frustrating attempts). She counted the squares to 15 (1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64,81,100,121,144,169,196,225--And, of course, I was forced to learn them too since Math is not my forte). They were thrilled with the carousel and pretzel and it was well worth the $7!

This giraffe walked right up to us, where Ellie proudly announced to all the spectators that, "Look! It's a boy giraffe because he has a hangy thing!"

Ellie took this picture. She loves the snake, spider, fish, frog, and turtle exhibits.

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Veteran's Day Playdate

We've had another week of gorgeous 70 degree weather. Hence, we hosted another play date! The kids are so well-behaved when they have the open space outside to roam and be free. On a random side, note that poor baby doll in the above photo...abandoned and face down.

The girls hiding fort was under the mom's eating table

Our waiters and waitresses hard at work

The early Christmas present from Aunt Meg was a hit with ALL the kids. It's funny how different the boys play with it though. They were way more interested in the mechanics of the elevator!

Meadow, Emery, & El...the strong-willed children looking like a gang.

Poor Caleb stuck with mostly all female friends. He doesn't seem to mind the barber shop, though. Brooke's intense face cracks me up in this picture.

And Best Buds, Miss Meadow & Miss Saedi entertaining baby Jeremiah

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3 Months Old Today!

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Fingers

Isaac has found his fingers! Just in the last week I haven't been waking up to morning cries. Instead I hear loud sucking. When I go in his room he's happy & content sucking away at his fingers. I love it that he can self-soothe.

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Fall at Home

I meant to take pictures of our house when all the leaves were at their peak beauty, but alas, I didn't get to it. Now, over half the leaves have fallen and I'm spending lots of time blowing and raking those leaves into the woods. Regardless, the days are still warm and sunny and the girls love playing in the yard and jumping in the leaves this time of year.

Blowing just this front section of the yard took an hour!

Endless Energy

Plowing thru the leaf train

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Uncle Steve-O's Visit

My brother, Uncle Steve-O, Aunt Jenny, and cousin Hailey came for a visit last weekend. The girls had so much fun together, decorating cookies, Trick or Treating, and playing dress-up. It was fun catching up with Jenny and seeing her pregnant with another girl. Steve-O helped around the house with things I wasn't able to do: found the break in the underground fence and got it working again, re-threaded my weed-eater AND edged my entire yard (yay!!!), put the training wheels on Saedi's yard-sale Princess bike, and got rid of a hornet's next attached to the house. Most of the photos are from our trip to Dunbar Cave. Miss Ellie was photographer for a lot of the pics below.

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