November Happenings

November was pretty quiet around the Dyksterhouse. We didn't have much going on until the week of Thanksgiving.

We played with friends:

Made smores when it got cold outside:

Played basketball while practicing our lion roar:

Played in the most fun toy ever - a box!:

Started climbing stairs:

And just looked cute:

(First nightgown!)

One day, I had to run into CVS to grab a few things and Mary Laine saw this Snoopy. I truly think that she could have stayed there for an hour talking to that snoopy. She even asked me if I would take her picture with him:

We got to (briefly) see Aunt Su-Su. She came into town the night before we left. But we'll take any time that we can get!!

We spent our Thanksgiving in Charlotte with the Dyksterhouse clan. Of course, we had to make a stop in Atlanta on the way to meet precious baby Collin:

Unfortunately, Langdon chose this particular week to decide that he really wasn't interested in anybody but Mama! He would fuss even if I put him down on the ground next to me to play. There were a few brief moments when he forgot that I left him and we caught a smile, but there weren't many. He really does love you, Uncle Phillip, I promise!

Mary Laine was so excited to see her cousins! The night before we left for our trip, she came up to me and said, "Mama, I have 'ouncement'. That's a fancy way of saying that I'm excited to see my cousins!".

Mary Laine and Gabby

Playing on Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Kate's big hill

Reading with Popop

Langdon couldn't figure out if he was happy or sad

A happy moment

On Thanksgiving morning, we went out to the Turkey Trot to run an 8K...

...did I fool you for even a second?!? No, we slept in a little and cheered Uncle Andy and Aunt Kelly across the finish line. Then Mary Laine ran her very first race - the Tot Trot:

Go Uncle Andy!

While I held a fussy Langdon, Payton kept Mary Laine company

Go Mary Laine!!

Sadly, we didn't get many pictures of our Thanksgiving meal. Gary was under the weather and I had a baby attached to my hip at all times. But the food was delicious and the company was delightful. We have much to be thankful for!

The next day, we went to an old plantation and celebrated a Victorian Christmas:

On Friday night, the adults got away for a night out (woo hoo!) and cousin Jacob babysat. I'm not sure how Jacob got old enough to babysit, but he definitely is - he did a great job - and even got a smile out of Langdon before we left!

Saturday was a big day for two reasons - it was the kids' first time to attend a Wake Forest football game, and Langdon took his first steps (and Gary and I were both actually able to be there to witness it. Yeah!)

Chillin' before the game - and of course this dog-lover would be here!

Ainsley striking a pose in front of Wait Chapel

Racing on the Quad

One of the things that I love about Wake's stadium is the very family-friendly seating on Deacon Hill. It is a hill in one of the end zones where the kids have room to run - and our squirmy kids definitely needed the space!

Worn out!

We won't mention the outcome of the game - it was just fun to be back at Wake! We drove to South Carolina after the game to spend the night with Aunt Pat and Uncle Jim. My cousin Claire was there too. The visit was way too short, but it was so good to see them!

To end the trip, Mary Laine caught the stomach bug that the rest of us had already battled... in the car... in standstill traffic... with three hours left in the trip. But, I feel like that is a rite of passage in parenthood.

So, we are thankful for family and friends, thankful for fun trips and fun experiences, and so so thankful to be back home in our own beds and feeling better :-)

And our greatest source of thanksgiving is the free gift of forgiveness and grace that we have been given in Christ Jesus our Lord! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1