Young Family Love: The one with the visitors....

We had our first official house guests! Papa Jeff and Mar Deanna came to visit the week through Thanksgiving. It made our Thanksgiving extra special... the entire fam damily is getting together at our new house! The McCarty's, The Herrmann's, The Simmons, The Clements, The Richardsons', The Brewers, The Oblerdings all together under one roof. 23 folks... The more the merrier on Thanksgiving right? It's what the holidays are about, togetherness and not so much shopping?! Yes, I think I said that! I've really only gone serious after Thanksgiving shopping twice in my life. Once I can remember going with my mom when Persian used to be a department store. They had a great sale on NineWest boots/ shoes that I HAD to have. But even then stores opened at like 5am. My other experience was recent which made me NOT want to get out in that mess. Nothing is worth the hassle, the long lines and those crazy shoppers who HAVE to have that tuperware today! Although, I had to be Thankful for the Walmart stores that stay open, without them we would not have had fried Turkey. As usual, the last minute McCarty's, waited to clean out the turkey pot the morning of Thanksgiving, only to notice water streaming out of a hole in the bottom of the pot. Those dang salty boiled peanuts must have rotted the pot... anyway, THANKFULLY we could run up to the Walmart and purchase a new one!! THANK YOU WALMART

Anyway, Miss Addie is almost 10 months old going on walking. Boy can she get around crawling though. She books it. She's crusing along the furniture, letting go a little bit and standing on her own, she's getting braver and stronger each day and goodness does she love Cooper! Anything Cooper has, she wants, anything Cooper does, she thinks she can. She loves wrestling with Daddy and Cooper. She can hold her own. She actually tries to tackle Cooper. We are struggling sleeping through the night though. Between teeth, growth spurts and ear infections, I have been catering to little princess during the nights. She has 4 teeth now, and looks so different... no more gummy smiles.

Cooper is loving his dirt bike we bought him for his birthday. Thanks to Papa Jeff who bought him his safety gear, he is able to ride it. He learned quickly, thanks to Daddy who is a good teacher. Cooper can already ride the dirt bike by himself, training wheels of course. But he's only 3! He looks like such a little stud too riding. And I don't think there is a morning he wakes up without asking to ride his four- wheeler.... he's counting to 10, getting his own water out of the fridge door and an avid camper. He and Daddy camped in the back yard this past weekend. All week long he pulled his wagon throughout the yard, collecting sticks for his campfire. He LOVES anything outdoors and anything that has to do with Daddy. I was setting up the tent for them and Cooper said Mommy this is not for you, you can't sleep in here! But you know who what?? I get the sweet love when he sick, hungry or tired, so I can handle those hugs and love now!