Day 2

Today we celebrated Thanksgiving a day late. All of us visitors were in hotel rooms, and Donovan and Teah's house is too small to accomodate such a big group, so we reserved the church. We ate dinner and then played games and talked for awhile, then we all exchanged Christmas presents. Wow - two holidays at one time - what day!

Ryan and Ariah

Chris playing Giant Scissors (learned from his dad) with the boys.

Annie holding one of her new cousins - Enoch? Am I right, Donovan and Teah?

Opening presents!!

Brig, Noah, Trey, and Tenny

Shelleen, Ariah, Enoch (?), and Teah

Hudson with his uncle Mike

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of dinner; I was too busy eating, I suppose.

Thanksgiving adventures - Day 1

We met with Chris' whole family in Illinois for Thanksgiving. His brother, Donovan, is living there with his family and working on his PhD in history. Donovan and his wife, Teah, just had twins, and they were going to bless them Thanksgiving weekend. We had so much fun with everyone, and it was a miracle we were all able to be together, especially for Dad Weight. Because of some health problems, we weren't sure if he was going to be able to fly to Illinois, but at the last minute (literally) things resolved, and he was able to come. Faith and prayers really do work!!


We decided to split the 9+ hour drive into two days. We stayed the night in Indianapolis, at the Crown Plaza. It used to be a train station, and they even converted an old train (inside the hotel) into rooms. They had statues like these all over the hotel.

Stopping for a break (nice turban, Hudson), and burning some energy.

It was Mom Weight's birthday today, and all the kids had pooled our money together to convert their old reel home movies onto DVD's. This is Mom and Dad's reactions to the gift. Great thinking Shelleen!

All the grandkids!

Hudson update (November)

Eight months!
Hudson has started to pull himself up on anything he can.

Brigham wanted a picture of himself standing up against the laundry basket too.

Hudson doesn't have very long hair, except over his ears. I hope you can appreciate the length of those hairs in this picture.

He's crawling!!

What a cool cat

Cute boys!

Other pics

One evening in November the kids and I decided to go on a picnic since Chris was moonlighting. We went to Squire's castle, and we were all amazed at the brilliant red leaves on this tree. The picture doesn't quite do it justice. I LOVE fall in Ohio!!
For some reason Brigham has fixated on these summer pajama shorts. He found them one (very cold) morning, and changed into them. I told him he was going to get cold, so he put on his slippers. Good thinking Brig!

Cute kids!

Mom, I need you!

Brigham is in a phase where, when Chris is home, the most common thing out of his mouth is, "No, I want Dad." At first it was kinda nice because I didn't need to stop making dinner, or feeding Hudson, ect. to help Brig. But after awhile, I started to feel a bit left out. Among other things, there are tears if Brig has to sit by me at dinner, and I never get to read him a bedtime story when Chris is home. Chris reminds me that it's because, since he's not with Brigham as much as I am, he's a novelty.
So, last Saturday, as I was making lunch and Chris was downstairs, Brig went into the bathroom to do his business. A minute later, he calls out, "Dad . . ." Yes, I thought, Chris is going to have to do the dirty work. Not so. Midsentence, Brig changed his mind. "Dad . . . Mom, I need you to wipe."
Thank you Brig, for including me.

Weight family acrobatics

Noah and Annie recently learned how to do headstands. Good job you two!!

Noah is so funny. Ever since he learned this trick, he has been spontaneously doing it whenever we have people over to our house. I suppose it's a better way to get attention than setting something on fire.

Life is not always perfect

Chris suggested that we post pictures of our kids fighting and crying, so that you (our readers)will not read our blog and feel jealous and guilty that your life is not as perfect as ours.

Here you go. This is a fairly regular state for Brigham.

You're welcome.

Playing in the leaves

So I decided to be ambitious and try to rake some leaves one morning. I had also promised Brig some piles to jump in. There wasn't much leaf piling going on since every time I made a pile, Brig would jump in it. Then Hudson got tired of being on the blanket, so he started to cry. As I was trying to rake with one hand while I held Hudson with the other, and Brigham scattering leaves everywhere, I noticed my neighbor across the street. She was raking her leaves with amazing efficiency, and I was a little envious. She also has kids, but they're both teenagers.

Soon I gave up raking, and I took these pictures, then I went across the street to talk to my neighbor. She told me that she saw me taking pictures of my boys and she said (with a bit of wistfulness), "I remember those days." Suddenly, I wasn't jealous anymore. I may not get things done very quickly, but we have a lot of fun.