Road Trip! We were off to the Natal's for our first stop. After a yummy dinner, a slumber party, and getting to spend extra time with June and Grace to let RJ and Megan complete their annual Turkey Trot, we kept on going North to Poppa's house. We had some time with The Marty's to plan an adventure to The Discovery Science Center the following day where we would join up with The Kyle's. So much to see and learn while enjoying time with family! We got more time together after we headed back to Poppa's. The Oregon Payne's were in town, so next we went to pay a visit and got to see all of the Payne's and go on a hike in their backyard of Annadel!
Afterward, back at Poppa's, the Marty's and Rydman's preparing for our early ThanksChristmas. Our amazing family accommodated us by doing our family Christmas during Thanksgiving so that we can stay home together on Christmas morning this year. We had a relaxing time hanging out, enjoying each other, exchanging gifts, before a wonderful Prime Rib dinner and plenty of delicious deserts!
Then we headed down the road to Sean and Jamie's who hosted another very successful Thanksgiving feast of Turkey and all the fixings including many shenanigans for the McNatman crew. That Friday morning was full of Christmas and family fun.
We then started our journey home. But took our time as we stopped half way at Harris Ranch. We had a great time going through stockings from Grammy and reminiscing about all the fun we had with our family. Saturday morning we did breakfast at the restaurant before completing our journey back home.
After a day of unpacking and settling in, it was back to work/school. Kaylee's second front tooth had been hanging in there but came out (with Kaylee asking for Mommy's help) during warm up at gymnastics that week. We had a big weekend coming up with the girls gymnastics Holiday Show. That Friday was the dress rehearsal, and Saturday was the Show. Mommy somehow got to be in charge of Pre-Team, and the girl's team as well for the show. The whole family spent the entire Saturday starting at 8 in the morning breaking down the gymnastics center to move it to a larger facility for the show. Coordinating 2 performances, then moving all the equipment back again to the gymnastics center once again! By the end of the evening there were not many volunteers left : )
Both girls had girl scout meetings that Wednesday, and the Brownie's had a fun party with neighborhood caroling on Friday.
Kaylee's daisy Troop has volunteer Millikan High School girls getting community service to teach the girls a fun dance to "I love Rock and Roll". They have had a couple of practices so far. We finally got around to getting our Christmas Tree. We went to the local Snowy Pines "Farm" this year and really enjoyed hanging decorations on the tree set up around an amazing train set. That evening Mommy got to enjoy Ashley's Baby Shower put on next door at the Snow's, then get CPR certified for gymnastics coaching at the YMCA the next day.
Kaylee's daisy troop also did some caroling at a local senior center during the week, Mommy had to give a presentation at work, and Daddy had a White Elephant gift exchange at work. The girls got to use some money to buy gifts for family and friends during school at the Holiday Boutique, and Cienna's class had a farewell pizza party for their student teachers that they had since the beginning of the year.
Amazon has been a big part of these last few weeks. We did make and decorate cookies to bring to a nice get together at Stewart and Ruana's house for more holiday celebrations, but the girls remind me that there are more cookies that we have to make for Santa. To complete this last month we enjoyed another successful birthday party at the Marshall's for Alexis turning 9 and ended the evening joining the Bakx along with Joan and Larry in Naples to view all the amazing Christmas light displays.
Cienna took it upon herself to bring an outfit of an Indian for our Thanksgiving trip, she wore it to both celebrations. She enjoyed helping in the kitchen, she says it's like science and likes mixing ingredients to make something different. Still an amazing student of course and takes pride in her academic accomplishments such as being the only one in class to get 100% on her end of unit math test.
Kaylee is increasing her sense of style, being mad possible with gifts from friend and family. Loves her "really high heel" boots from the Natal's. Often feels like changing her clothes during the day, but Mommy tries to limit wardrobe changes past the morning time to not have so much laundry. She's getting more practice at folding and putting clothes back. Now that she has both front teeth missing she found a new way to whistle. Don't think they'll be coming back in for Christmas. She was quite excited to make her Aerial on the floor for the first time this month and truly enjoys learning routines and dances, her daisy talent show for example!
Porter's best friends are still the birds that cast shadows on the lawn for him to chase, but looks forward to spring when his dragonfly and butterfly friends come back! He likes that he can cuddle on the couch more often without getting too hot.
Enjoy!
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