Happy Thanksgiving 2009 !

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. We had another wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Manning's home. We eat early and stay all day, actually eating twice. Everyone was able to make it and we had a great time and great food, just eating too much as always but that's expected every year.

The kids are all growing up so fast it's hard to believe. Olivia kept everyone going and goes from one cousin, aunt, uncle, to the next. Steve and I are actually off the hook for the day because there are so many other relatives and she knows she is wrapped around their fingers.
She kept taking one at a time into the playroom to play with her. It was a standing joke as to who her next "victim" was going to be. For missing a nap she was in really good spirits all day, even eating her food pretty well.

She was very proud of the "turkey cookies" we brought to surprise everyone. They were made from tracing her own hand and she and Jenny and I all decorated them to look like turkeys.

Kendra surprised Grandma and Grandpa with a hand drawn picture she had been working on for a few months. She drew it from a small, old photo I had to sneak out of the house and get to her. None of us knew she was such an artist until we saw the picture.

And you know it has been a long busy day and it's time to go home when the oldest and the youngest cousins finally give up and curl up in Grandpa's big chair.

Thanks for another wonderful Thanksgiving G & G !!

Another Fun Visit

Thursday we got to have another visit with Eleanor, Wesley and Marilyn. Grandma Manning came along with Olivia and I and we all met at Marilyn's parents home so we got to visit with Eleanor's grandparents again too.
As usual we had a great time. This time the girls started playing together right away rather than taking an hour to warm up to each other. They basically ran around the whole time we were there except for when we sat down for lunch.

Little Wesley is getting very big and he tried his best to keep up with the girls. Eleanor is very petite and I think her little brother will pass her up in size very soon.

Eleanor is progressing the same as Olivia and it is fun to hear them talking to each other and being able to understand each other more each time we get together. They really had a lot of fun.

We all had a great visit and a fun time. You cannot find nicer people than Eleanor's family and we will look forward to our next visit with them.

My Worst Friday the 13th Ever

We lost another family member today.

My Blazer left me this morning at 7:00 am. I'm thankful it didn't happen during the night when he was alone. I was there for him as he passed on but it was one of the hardest things I've experienced.

Blazer turned 11 years old this past July 1st and he has been with me from day one. He has seen me through many good times and bad and has been there for it all. He was a puppy from Grandma Manning's dog and was born in 1998.
I picked him out from a litter of 9 and knew instantly that he was my dog. I actually held him in my hands before he was even 24 hours old.

Since then he has been the sweetest, most gentle, loyal dog anyone could ever ask for. There was not a mean bone in his body. I was always comfortable with Olivia around him. She could lay on him, dress him up and play with him however she wanted and he was always gentle and kind without even a growl.
Age and health finally caught up with him this morning though. I'm glad I was there for him right to the end but I miss him so much already and we all will.

Since Smokey died 1 1/2 years ago Blazer became a house dog and was living with us, constantly in the house. I think he really enjoyed that and hope the last year of his life was happy as we tried to spoil him as much as possible.

Goodbye Blazer, our house will not be the same without you!

First Haircut

Yes, I finally broke down and had Olivia's hair cut (trimmed). It has been growing for three years and 5 months. Don't worry, it is still nice and long but it was time to have it trimmed to keep it healthy. She has been coming with me for my haircuts all the time but today was the first day she got to sit in the big shot chair and get her hair cut too.


She did really well and said it was fun. She was pretty squirmy but Michelle has a lot of patience and worked fast.
Olivia did seem to enjoy admiring herself in the mirror a little too much while Michelle worked.


When she was all done, Michelle braided her hair real fancy and Olivia loved it. I think her hair may grow even faster now that it has been trimmed up but I will probably let it keep growing for a while again before we get it cut the next time.
She was a very good girl and knew if she was Michelle would give her that all important sucker on the way out.

Thank you Michelle!!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Happy Halloween and Happy Halloween-birthday Aunt Lynn!

Olivia had a busy weekend with Halloween and had a lot of fun.

This year she was a little more picky when it came to her costume. We tried on a bunch in the store, some were too itchy, some she liked on the hanger until she put them on (typical girl). Finally we we put on this Minnie Mouse dress and that was the one. She looked really cute and was comfortable too.


Saturday morning I got her dressed up and went to Aunt Lynn's house to trick or treat and wish her a happy birthday. Then it was off to Aunt Nancy's house for more trick or treating and visiting. Then we got home for lunch and a nap.

After dinner we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for more trick or treating and visiting.

She had too much candy already but on Sunday I dressed her up one more time and went up and down our street. The weather turned out great and she had a lot of fun going door to door. This year she was much more vocal and always said "Trick or Treat" and "Thank you" after getting the candy.

We didn't even bother going into town for the trick or treating because she had her fill and we were able to get back home in time for her nap and the Packer game.

It was a busy weekend but we had a lot of fun too.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend!