Thanksgiving Break

 Our Thanksgiving Break was wonderful. The kids had the whole week off of school, a first for us. Aaron did have to work Mon, Tues, and Wed. 

The sign you are a true Oregonian. A little rain won't stop you from heading outside.
The kid were playing tennis for hours on end. I was glad they got outside and burnt off some energy. 

Yes, I took the pictures from inside my dry, warm house. One of our neighbors is a tennis teacher. She saw that we didn't have enough rackets for the kids. Into her garage she went and out she came with kids size rackets for those who didn't have one. So sweet!

We also had a visit from the Dezzani's. Always so much fun to get together with them. It's always like they kids saw each other the other day, not months. Love it!

These two are getting so grown up.
Please stop time or a least slow down.

The Dezzani's stay in a hotel when they come and we always join them for a swim. 

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house. There was a small group of us. Our family, my mom and her husband Jim and Cadee. It was fairly quiet around here.

Friday evening Lydia and Jared hosted Thanksgiving. We had such a great time with Aaron's family.

Our sweet sister-in-law Ashley.

Inseparable.

Aaron listening to the conversation and trying so hard to finish everything on his plate.
No one was making him. Just something he does around the holidays. 

We enjoyed our break and are so grateful for the time we had together and wish it was just a bit longer. Two and a half weeks until Christmas Break. I think I can. I think I can.

The End

Saturday was the end of flag football for this year. Gavin had such a great time. Notice this picture was in the evening after his games and after the Beaver game. He has his flags on and wouldn't put the football down. 

Gavin's team improved so much during the season. The last day of games, the teams played three 30 min. games. Gavin's team won all three of theirs. To say there were excited is an understatement. Gavin caught a pass, ran for a bunch of yards, scored some touchdowns, had some great blocks for teammates and it didn't even rain during the games.
It was so much fun to watch them play. Sad that it is over. Now on to basketball in January.

Hunter Update

Hunter eating his oatmeal this morning.
Hunter had an appt earlier this month. He is doing great. His blood work is looking good. The doctors don't want to mess to much with his meds because of how low he got at the beginning at 100%. Hunter's meds are at 75% and will increasing slowly.

Hunter told his doctor that he ran a mile the month earlier. Dr. Russell was very impressed. Especially since Hunter had such a severe toxicity last July that has taken his so long to recover from. Hunter asked if he could play dodge ball in P.E. To which Dr. Russell responded, Yes. But to be careful with his port. If it gets hit it could get broken.
He wants him to be a middle school boy and do those things that they do. Dr. Russell also said if he were to look at his blood work and not know his history, he would guess Hunter was your average teenage boy. 

It's so fun to see him running around outside with the other kids.
We have also been questioned several times how Hunter is doing and it he cancer gone. A week after he was diagnosed, the cancer was gone. All of the treatments have been and are to make sure it doesn't come back. Chemo is confusing up the blood so that it won't reproduce the cancer cells.
We are all grateful to be in this phase of Hunter's treatment. What a blessing Doernbecher and all the staff are to us. 

Choir Concert

Last night Gretchen had her first choir concert. It was great. The choir sounded wonderful.
Gretch is in the middle with her head turned to her friend.

I know totally blurry. I was playing with the settings on the camera and haven't figured out what setting to have it on.
Gretchen has enjoyed choir so far. She is constantly sing. I still can't believe that she is in middle school. When did that happen?

More Football

Gavin had another game on Saturday. Here he is with the ball. Gavin ended up getting through these guys and heading to the other side of the field for a TOUCHDOWN!

Gavin had a great game he got another touchdown when he was quarterback and a two point conversion. He had totally enjoyed playing flag football and can hardly wait until next year. Gavin wishes there was another season in the spring. This Saturday is the last games. The teams get to play at CHS and there will be three games. Hopefully the weather will hold out for us. 

Cheaper By the Dozen

 ...almost. Last week the kids didn't have school on Friday for Veteran's Day. That night we had the Stenson boys over so their parents could have a date. I had 11 kids here. If Stacey would have left baby Lydia it would have been a dozen.

We had a great time and it never seemed to get to crazy.

There was some Wii playing.

Playing with toys.

They know how to play. Yes they cleaned it all up before we watched a movie.

A fun game of Apples to Apples Jr.
The kids had such a great time playing this.

Then it was time to watch Cars 2. 

It was such a great night. The Stenson boys are such great kids. Gretchen's friend Tianna is wonderful too.
Oh did I mention Aaron was out of town since Wednesday. He had a conference for Core Knowledge in Orlando.

A Tooth

I was looking through out post and realized I never posted this one. 

Tuesday I noticed that Hazel had gotten a tooth. 

I think that is why I was so surprised that her tooth had popped through.

I can't get enough of this sweetheart!