Thanksgiving and Black Friday fun

Happy Turkey Day to you all!!  As Miss H would say "Gobble Gobble"!!  Hope you enjoy tons of yummy food.  Chris' family always joins up with some friends for Thanksgiving.  This year it was their turn to host…making Thanksgiving day a breeze for us.  I mean we really just kicked back and relaxed…instead of rushing around cooking.  

Chris and his brother went out and got my required 2 newspapers…yes I don't like to share my black Friday ads!! Plus sometimes one paper misses an ad or two. Miss H enjoyed some breakfast and then coloring with aunt Riley.  She also got to watch the Thanksgiving day parade…and really enjoyed the singing part.  Other than the we just hung out and enjoy Thanksgiving before heading to lunch.

We had a wonderful time with all the gang on Thanksgiving.  The food was great and so was the company.  I love spending time with everyone on and catching up.  Miss H really enjoyed the food she had turkey and ham.  She says she liked the piggy best, ha.

No time to rest this year and enjoy a turkey comma, because Black Friday deals were waiting!  Of course Black Friday in Texas is a million times easier because well it isn't FREEZING!!!  However, we bundled up and took off ready to take down the crowds.  Miss H, Riley and I took on Target while the buys took on Sears.  No matter if we got the deals or not we had a blast! I love the rush and fun of Black Friday shopping and I love that the Roberts clan has openly accepted my crazy ways.

 

just getting in a quick ride! 

After shopping we made a quick stop by the big guy in a red suit!  We chatted about it the whole way in line and Miss H was ready.  Then as soon as it was our turn she began to cry…she didn't want to sit on his lap.  But she did want to tell him what she wanted!  She loved that he had on Crocs, thanks Santa thats all she talks about!! Also wonders why our Santa here doesn't have Crocs on.  Needless to say he was the sweetest Santa around hugged her and tried to make it work, but NOPE!  So we shall try again. 

BRRR….its cold here

Miss H and I arrived just lovely in Minnesota.  Chris on the other hand had a more eventful flight…from delays, to sick kids, and more!  However he finally made it to us!! We were welcomed with a brisk 21 degrees…BRR No worries Nana had plenty of warm clothes for Miss H.  The past 2 Thanksgivings have been nice temperature wise…so we were due for a freezing cold visit! The high our whole visit was 24, and that was the day we left. But that is enough of that…

 Miss H ready to take off….and moments later, snoozing! AHH peace and quite for me! 

Chris and I got to enjoy a nice little movie date…the first since we have had Miss H. We saw Delivery Man, very funny and good.  Nana was a champ for working all day then watching H.  I know they had a great time playing and eating candy :-)  Sadly though after dinner Miss H was fussy.  For my child that is odd!! I mean she is never fussy unless one thing…SICK.  Well after her bath that night the crying and ouch ouch while tugging at her ear began!  I knew it was an ear infection just from that..our 2nd one ever.  Of course it was about 8:30 and the quick clinics were closed and we were out of state.  Thankfully I learned a lot last year with our RSV hospital stay about our insurance and the on call nurses.  Made a quick phone call to see if we should take Miss H to the dr in the am and get some info on making it through the nigh.  Daddy ran out and got some meds and we managed our night.

Papa Steve spoiling her with ice cream when we arrived

The next morning we took off for the clinic.  They have the best system there…TEXAS could learn a few things.  We checked in at the front desk and were then sent to an exam room to wait.   The whole visit took an hour and that included getting the meds filled!! WOW!!  Once Miss H had a round of meds and everyone else was ready we took off for some fun.  Mall of America here we come….after all Miss H needed a pick me up from feeling sick.  Why not let her ride on the rides at the mall.  She was in heaven…and Aunt RiRi was kind enough to ride some of the rides with her.  I am pretty sure if she had felt 100% we wouldn't have gotten out of that place. We did some shopping too don't get me wrong. I mean no sales tax is a great thing!

Messing around while we waited on the dr. 

 Aunt RiRi getting in on the fun too! 

Since H wasn't feeling her self we took the day pretty easy, did dinner and then just hung out at home.  Nana and Riri played with her a ton.  She loves following RiRi around and trying to be big like her.  Nana and Papa Steve of course had some Christmas gifts for Miss H to open…she loved it!

 New stamps with handles…animals of course, Nana knows her girl.  

 Also a new stroller…Lily got to have the first stroll, she wasn't so thrilled

Birthdays and travels

We always begin our Thanksgiving travels heading to my sisters!  This year my sweet mom and dad got to both go too!  Mom and dad came her and picked Miss H and I up for the drive to Abby's.  We had a nice little ride, shopping, talking, and enjoying the 2 line highway.  I will have to say it was so NICE not to be driving just H and I!  Driving with a baby and yourself is a just more work in all areas…planning potty breaks based upon a sleeping baby and such is no fun!  Sorry for the side track…

Poor mom though…she spent her BIRTHDAY in the car!  However, H and I were excited to share it with her, even in the car. B and Mom are one day apart on birthdays…that is fun!  Of course the reason we were going to the big EC is for B's 6th birthday!  OMG 6!!!  How do these kids keep growing? I am so sad.  I remember it like yesterday taking off from work and heading down to his birth.  Then spending the week there with them helping them settle into a family of 4…and now they are a family of 5! YIKES!!

Queen Tia with Baby G and Miss H …oh that cheese smile H has! 

Needless to say we had a blast at my sisters house.  B had and plane themed birthday this year!  As always my sister was over the top for the party.  However, the weather wasn't so much how we would have like.  It was pretty cold for the party but the boys didn't seem to mind…the parents on the other hand did! Here are some pics from all the fun.  The boys got to decorate a plane then use it through out the party for different stunts and events.  It was a huge hit!!

Everyone enjoying their planes

Birthday Boy!!

More pics to come when my sister sends them…so check back!


After all the birthday fun Miss H and I had to say good bye..off to our next family fun.  We spend every Thanksgiving up in Minnesota with Chris' family.  The crew dropped us off at the airport Monday and away we went!!

Pumpkins and Pancakes

silly girl…wouldn't stop posing for pictures

This Saturday our local zoo hosted Pumpkins and Pancakes and of course we had to attend.  I mean we do hit the zoo at least once a week for my little animal lover.  Miss H was so excited to go for 2 reasons.  1) Daddy was going to go with us.  Normally Chris is at work when we go to the zoo so it was a wonderful treat that he could join us.  2) We would get to eat breakfast with the animals.  She really was so funny about it.  She would tell Chris zoo pancakes.  Then proceed to talk about all the animals.

I have to say the event was wonderful!  The zoo really knows how to put on a great breakfast!!  They served a nice meal of pancakes, fruit, eggs, bacon and beverages.  Everyone in my house was happy to say the least. The nice part was the food was served from 8-10 the whole time of the event.  That way you didn't have to rush right in for breakfast.  This proved to be extra nice once we saw the events for the morning.

Here new "smile" face..oh my

When we first walked in the gorillas were not out yet.  The zoo keepers were still putting their breakfast out, as well as, pumpkins and wreaths.  Every animal at the zoo had a pumpkin and wreath in their exhibit area.  Apparently it is a treat all animals love, who knew! We then noticed a rather SASSY turkey strutting around.  She was so funny wiggling her feathers.  The zoo keeper was telling us that she likes to show off.  Then she would gobble and H loved that.  I liked that she could actually hear the turkey gobble instead of just taking our word for it :-).  There was also and owl that was pretty neat and an opossum.  The opossum was rather nervous but still cute in an odd way!

The zoo had listed out special events they would do that morning, such as feedings and keeper talks.  This kind of set up our zoo trip schedule.  We went right in to the elephants because they were having breakfast at 8 am.  Of course this was Miss H's favorite animal so we couldn't miss it.  Man were the babies out playing too!  Baby Bell and Bowie are so stinking cute…their moms are funny too!  Baby Bell is about 645 lbs now and Bowie is only 330ish  Funny that they are really only a month apart in age but yet so different in size. Plus all that weight is only from nursing!! WOW  okay sorry for the random animal facts..ha ha

Baby Bowie…love him and his little hair that sticks up on his back! 

Baby Bell just enjoying all the oohhss and ahhhs as she played

Baby Bell is on the left and Baby Bowie on the right by his mom

After watching the babies play around we took off for the lions.  The lions were going to be eating at 8:30 perfect for us to view them too.  Along the way we enjoy the other animals watching them all play with their pumpkins.

The daddy's and their girls…both of them are wrapped around their fingers

The mail lion was roaring when we arrived there! I tried to catch it on my phone but to many people were talking boo.  He was so funny standing proud and just roaring away.  He wasn't as excited about his pumpkin as the 2 females were.  They both came running out of their house area.  Honestly they are adorable and you kind of forget that while you watch them play with a pumpkin just like a pet cat would.  They took it and rolled it and would roll on their backs batting it back and forth.  Then the second lioness went to get her's off the hut…and it rolled down into the pit! I was so sad for her..not to worry she ran down there to get it!   I had no idea they even went in the pit area.  She brought it back up and enjoyed playing and chewing on it.  Miss H was cracking up at all this.  So was her sweet friend LK who's family also came to the event.  We love hanging out with them.  I went to high school with Carrie so it is nice to have our girls hang out and play together.  (we also do music class at TCU with them and LOVE IT)

Carrie, Lk, Miss H and I watching the lions

After the tigers the group was a little hungry.  Plus we had seen all the feedings we really wanted to see! Once we ate breakfast we went to the "Texas" are to see the new baby jaguar.  Let me tell you what our zoo has been busy making babies this year!  The baby jaguar is adorable and was in rare form.  Normally she just sits next to her mommy, but today she was walking around and exploring.  Actually at one point she snuck up on her mom and pounced her…it was cute and the girls laughed!  I can honestly say we will for SURE be attending this event as long as H loves animals.  We had the best family day thanks to the zoo!

These two…such cuties! 

The mountain lion was too tired to play

The daddies showing the girls the bear

This alligator statue..they love it to death

The silly gorilla carrying the wreath like a hat around