November and Thanksgiving

I’m home recovering from umbilical hernia surgery (today is December 30, 2020-playing catchup) and I hope to get my blog caught up through the holidays. I’m encouraged to keep this virtual family scrapbook because the kids LOVE looking through my blog books I have printed. Three kids later, I’ll probably never be as detailed as I once was but I’ll do my best to keep a snapshot of their childhood for them.

Baby boy loves being wherever his siblings are. He was propped up in sis’s bed watching them play. He’s never at a loss for entertainment.


G is a big helper with baby brother. She can give him a bottle, change his diaper and change his clothes. She helps with lots of other things too. She is the best!


She’s starting to carry him around while standing and that’s her favorite thing to do. 


Love this picture of her genuine smile and his fat belly :)


Just a snoozing but keeping the pac close just in case

School days in November were limited so she wanted to dress up when she could! I thought she was beyond beautiful this day.


Eight year checkup + flu shot for big brother. Georgia is up to 54 lbs! She’s always been on the low end on weight but she’s really headed up the growth chart now. Dr. Lee always went over her percentiles with me and he would have been so proud of her progress. We miss him!


Modeling one of his many bibs that Gram made for him! He’s a blessed baby boy.


And then I picked up blessed boy to find a blowout worth documenting!

I love this naked picture with his sweet, little arm rolls

We lost Scott the week of thanksgiving. After making this post, a distant neighbor called to report they seen him on the road that morning. We are so sad we lost both of our kitties this year. 


Making her famous pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving and requesting Jack not be in her picture. Of course, Jack wanted in the picture :)

Thanksgiving morning breakfast and parade watching tradition!


Our three little turkeys made us extra thankful this year 


I’ve been reminded through this difficult year that as long as we have family, we have all that we need. I’m so thankful for these four.


Thanksgiving lunch at Gammy’s, sis’s kind of food!

Ruthie Joy is eating food now and was happy she got to enjoy the feast

A cooking selfie with my favorite kitchen partner


I gifted Marcus these pilgrim salt and pepper shakers several Thanksgivings ago. They are on our table every year.


Georgia and Gram making fresh biscuits for our Thanksgiving feast.

A New November

Ella Kate gifted G matching Care Bear gowns for her and her Courtney. It's two of her favorite things: matching and gowns

I started back to work November 4th. I hadn't worked in an office setting since March. Of course I cried and had some anxiety about leaving him and getting back in my old routine that seemed like a lifetime ago. The first day was hard but it became easier each day. I'm thankful my mom and a close friend Kathrine are keeping him and I get to see him everyday when I take lunch. Being a working mom is the toughest job in the world. 

Jack was around but was being ornery about taking a picture so we went on without him ha! I pick my battles.

When he's not ready for bed but you've got a million things you have to do, you wheel him in the bathroom and proceed :)

Jack was exposed to COVID at school at the beginning of November and out of an abundance of caution, we decided to get him tested. This was us waiting in the car for the nurse to come swab him. It took a little while and I think they turned my Tahoe upside down.

Sweet boy received a bouquet of suckers for being so brave. Thankfully, he was negative!

Georgia had the opportunity to receive a private lesson on whoopie pie making from Chad Flener. She loves them and is always up for learning something new in the kitchen.

She loved it of course. I'm thankful for him taking time to teach her a new skill.

The Gossett girls and I (plus John) went to Gypsymoon Marketplace this year. I had never been before and it's held in stables so we felt like it would be a safe outing to take a baby. I love these women like family.

He was perfect the entire day. I'm far from a pro at baby wraps but we made it work. He was snug as a bug which he absolutely loves.

Our porch was literally falling down and with the help of men in our family and a few friends, we were able to redo our porch columns. We also did away with the railings. I was on the fence about this decision but after seeing just the columns, I was in love. I wish we had done this years ago. It made a huge improvement on our house. Next project is small shutters for my dormers!

The happiest, most content baby on the planet is this boy.

Sweet Harrison cousins in their matching pajamas after a night of family pictures

These big kids were in school before the governor shut it all down again and I randomly snapped a picture one morning. Who knew the basic ability to go to school would be in jeopardy this year. I can really get down about everything we've missed this year if I let myself but I'm thankful we are healthy. I hope this ends soon so we can get back to keeping their childhood normal.

I think this boy really wished he could join in on the Thanksgiving feast this year instead of just wear a turkey bib.

Those pouty lips are his distinctive feature. These Harrison boys and their lips!

There's some jealousy but there is love too <3

Morning loves. He's averaging 8-9 hour nights so mommy feels rested most of the time. We sure love sleeping in on Saturdays though!

Those finger dimples and saggy cheeks.

Fall, Homemade Halloween and All the In-Between

I had to go to an appointment and our friends Ash and Ben kept baby John for me. Ben was so excited John was coming over to play ha! I don't think he was too disappointed with the lack of playing. I'm so thankful they could watch him for me on a day's notice so I didn't have to get him out.

The Ross boys are always fun visitors to have! Georgia is definitely outnumbered when they come around. Harris's new specks is the cutest thing ever.

He hasn't taken too many of these in his short life so we started practicing. He is happy with either, but does prefer mommy :)

Just a baby dressed as a pumpkin chilling while mom cooks supper

Dressing babies up for their first holidays has to be some of the best moments of life

He thinks so too!

Pumpkin carving night. This girl took the cleaning out seriously.

They couldn't wait to roast the seeds and reminded us several times to make sure daddy didn't throw them away! If you know this story, you know how funny this is.

Our annual tradition of watching It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Brother bear mainly just watched mommy <3

I feel spread plenty thin these days but try to be in tune with when I need to give extra attention to my big kids. We decided to go on a walk this afternoon and we all needed it! Then the three of us jumped on the trampoline together. This was my first time on it considering they received it for Christmas last year and I've been pregnant ever since ha! 

My boys. We use to call Jack chubs but I think we know who the real chubs is :)

A full lap but an even fuller heart!

Navigating social gatherings this year has been a challenge to say the least. This was the week of Georgia's birthday party. One of her friends was quarantined and one just didn't feel comfortable attending (totally understand). She was sad but after talking about it, she decided she did want to have her party and we would celebrate no matter how many could come.

I'm so glad we went ahead and had her party because postponing it would have been even harder. I was worried we would be a super spreader event lol! But thankfully everyone was happy and safe. It felt like pre-covid days and that was a nice feeling!

Gracyn, Embry, Brinley, Georgia, Ella Kate and Lola. Sweet girls who mean so much to our girl!

A sleepover isn't a sleepover until you do a little spa treatment.

My favorite picture from the night! I questioned my sanity a few times hosting a girls sleepover with a newborn (Jack stayed with Gram until bedtime) but these girls are the best and everything went great.

All snug as a bug, minus Jack and Brinley who slept with us :)

Halloween 2020 featuring Linus, Charlie Brown and Lucy! The idea to have a matching theme was Georgia and Jack's; the Peanuts theme idea was mine. I thought they were the cutest!

There's just something about homemade costumes that I love. Every piece I found and made it work for their character. I'm sure Jack will be ready to be some superhero or scary person next year, but I'll always remember this homemade halloween.

It was a full moon and I snapped this cool picture of the moon over the cemetery behind ma and pa's house

Charlie enjoyed his first Halloween. He slept in his carseat the entire time :)