happy thanksgiving!

the preparation

For a while Will had been asking about how to make a pumpkin pie, so last Wednesday Grandpa and Grandma Train invited us up to have the boys help them make pies for Thanksgiving Day...

Will was the one who got this all started in the first place, but he couldn't remained focused on the task at hand for very long--the slinky and the Christmas tree (decorated with a "Wizard of Oz" theme this year) were much more appealing!

Ben couldn't have cared less about pies--why would he when he doesn't like them in the first place, plus he really just wanted to play with his friends on his day off from school. (Not to fear, though--after pies we went home, and the boys played with Ronnie and Jaycie, who also came to see the movie Planet 51 with us that night. He was not deprived!)

Jake, on the other hand, was the star pie-maker, next to Gpa and Gma of course! He stuck with it most of the time and had so much fun. Thanks to Gma and Gpa for their patience and kindness!!

Happy ThanksgiBing!

I had to write that so I'd remember someday the way Will "used" to say it. He doesn't really say his "v's" very well, often substituting a "b" for a "v." For instance, he loves to play his "bideo" games. It's too cute and someday it will be gone too. Anyhow, we played around at home all morning before making the short trip "over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we (would) go." Will kept repeating all morning that this was going to be the best Thanksgiving EVER!

cute little Ike!

It was such a fun day with the whole family together. The table was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the company was perfect! Gpa and Chad survived sitting at the kids only table (Sydney survived being the only girl in a boy-dominated family). The pies the kids helped to make were exceptionally good--and as a side note, because Gma and Gpa's birthdays were the following two days, they each got candles on a pie to blow out. Once dinner was over the fun was on! Aydan was outside for a while drawing all over the cement because one day he "wants to be an artist." We might have something going if he can team up with Ben who wants to be a writer!! Will loves to have books read to him, and Gpa willingly obliged. Don't you think Sydney and Jake could pass for siblings?!

after that

After all the fun with Daren's side of the family, we headed up to Brenda's for donuts and haircuts. The boys were thrilled with that kind of dessert! And then it was time for haircuts. Things were going well, but when it was time for Will's haircut, Brenda came out and said that Will had said he wanted his hair cut like Jake's. So I asked him about it and he said exactly that, but also including that it was time for a change. I told him to go ask his dad. Sometimes it's hard to let some things go, but if he had an opinion on how he wants to wear his hair, I say go for it (within reason, of course!). So this is what happened...

This kid can make the funniest faces!! You gotta love him! It's short and I like it--he does too.

Now they do look more alike...at least more alike than they have in the past. I'm including some photos taken the other day after church, cuz I don't know where else to put them. The boys came home from church to a surprise. Zack, our Christmas elf, has returned, and this year he brought with him the electric Polar Express train!! The boys couldn't believe it. Now they know that Zack the elf is watching and will be reporting back to Santa soon.

There is hardly anything better than the look of pure joy on a young boy's face!! Needless to say, but they boys LOVE the new train set.