Crawford Thanksgiving

Three years ago a fun, family tradition began. The Crawford's (my MIL's side of the family) started an early Thanksgiving tradition. Since holidays are typically crazy and everyone splits their time each year with one side of the family or the other. . . a tradition began to celebrate a few weeks before so that EVERYONE could attend. The best part is that it's at a restaurant so no one has to clean, cook or host! It is always good to see family that we rarely get a chance to see. This year, there were more new family members in attendance and our biggest gathering yet! Somehow we always pick up right where we left off and leave looking forward to next year's reunion. We are so thankful and blessed for our immediate and extended family, and hope this tradition continues for years to come!

Our Journey to find the H1N1 vaccine

Years from now, I am sure I will forget all about the pandemic that is now occurring with H1N1 (aka Swine Flu). I will forget how controversial it was to vaccinate your child and the difficult decision it was to outweigh the possible risks with the reality of the flu hospitalizing those whose immune systems couldn't fight it off. Since I myself am high risk because I'm pregnant, I was strongly urged to get the vaccine. Since I am having a Winter baby, I decided that in an effort to shield him or her from this possibly deadly flu, that Mackenzie would also need to be vaccinated to lower our chances of passing it around the family. (At this time, the vaccine is not available to the public at large, but rather to target groups including pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.) I just hope I made the right decision. In the end, sometimes you have to trust the advice of medical professionals and leave it in God's hands. Below is our journey.


Taking our place in line. . .



All bundled up and trying to stay warm. . .



Me and Laura feeling brave and a little nervous with our rambunctious 3 year olds. . .



Goofin' off in line with Joshua, they have NO idea what's coming. . .



Smiling in line with Mommy (this is where I start preparing her for the "pinch" she will feel in her arm). . .



Next in line. . .



I DID NOT photograph Mackenzie getting her vaccine (although I thought about it:). She did however do GREAT! She yelped in pain and cried for maybe 5 seconds and then said "I was really brave, huh?" After the promise of vanilla ice cream, she was as good as new!

Passed out from a long day. . .



Now let's just hope that she doesn't get the flu b/f the 2 weeks it takes for her antibody levels to reach protective levels. Next up. . . the booster shot (21-28 days from now). Let's hope it becomes available at our Pediatrician's office and we are not standing outside in the cold yet again! Although, I have to say, it was nice to have a good friend beside me during this scary process. Thanks Laura for inviting us to attend this clinic with you and providing us with good company!

A Special Day with Daddy

Daddy took the day off work today, to share a special day with us. The weather was unseasonably warm again today, so we decided to head to the zoo. We enjoyed a fun day observing animals and spending quality time together. We loved having Daddy with us on a day that he is normally working. Daddy made Mackenzie's day extra special with countless piggy back rides, hide and seek throughout the zoo, a memorable ride on the merry-go-round, her own kiddie hot cocoa and her pick of any stuffed animal at the gift shop. Zoo days with Mommy will never quite measure up! Thanks Daddy for sharing your day with us and always making things so much fun! We love you!

Little Miss Independent

Today, my 3 year old reached new levels of independence. While her "nesting" mother decided to pull out every item out of our pantry to organize, she decided I was making entirely too much noise and retired to the basement for some quiet play. She was down there for over an HOUR! Normally, she would come up and down the steps to make sure I was still there, but not today. She was just fine playing down there all by herself. . .in the peace and quiet!

Then, tonight, as we were eating dinner together as a family she said "can I eat downstairs, please?" I said, "No, we need to eat at the table so we don't make a mess downstairs." And her reply "Maybe I can eat at my letters table downstairs and eat my food all gone."

I mean, how can you argue with that logic??? So, little did I know this morning when I barely got ready for the day that I would be having a nice, romantic dinner date night with my hubby! Here is a picture of her, eating her meatloaf, potatoes and salad all by herself, in the basement.

And yes, that's right, she is not wearing any pants. Oh, and just so you know, as I was trying to capture the moment with my camera, she put her hand up in annoyance and said "enough, Mom." Are we 3 or 13, I mean really!?

Leaves!

Last week, we went to our friend's Connor and Peyton's house for a playdate. We have enjoyed weekly playdates with them for several years now. They have a beautiful yard complete with tall, mature trees, a playset, and wooden playhouse. This time of year, their house looks like it should be on the cover of a magazine with the unbelievably colorful trees! Since we live in a fairly new neighborhood, Mackenzie has never experienced the joy of playing in a pile of fallen leaves. So, last weeks playdate was especially fun for her. The 3 of them had an absolute blast throwing leaves, burying each other under a blanket of leaves, jumping into leaves, and riding bikes. Thanks again, Connor and Peyton, for sharing your leaves with us!

Trick-or-Treat!

This year, we enjoyed a fun night of trick or treating with Nana, Grandpa, Emily and her dog Liam. We have made it a tradition to meet up at our house for dinner, before heading out to trick or treat. Kenzie for the most part had a blast trick or treating. . . until she rounded a corner and met the dreaded wolf! Yes, that's right, she spotted a boy dressed in a wolf costume and from that point on, she was obsessed at all times with where the wolf was, and if he was coming to her house to get her. After visiting about 15 houses, her candy bucket became rather full and she was officially done. It had been a long day at her sitter's, with no nap, and lucky for her, she found a cuddly caveman to carry her back home!


Waiting for Trick-or-Treat to officially start!


Getting a picture taken with our neighborhood friends b/f heading out for candy!


Hitting the streets for some sweets!


Fairy Princess Kenzie



Kenzie and neighborhood friend Reggan


Kenzie and neighborhood friend Morgan




Kenzie and friends Andrew, Abby and a creepy caveman. . . oh wait, that's Daddy! :)

Neighborhood friend John and dinosaur daughter Morgan, Kenzie and Caveman Daddy


Kenzie and her entourage hittin' the streets for candy


Trick-or-Treat!


Crossing the street with a caveman




Catching a ride home with a cuddly caveman. . . trick or treating is hard work!


Showing off her candy!


family picture. . . someone is less than thrilled about posing, but I'm not naming any names!



Check out her loot!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!

Carving Pumpkins

Tonight we enjoyed one of our favorite Fall traditions. . . pumpkin carving! This was the first year that Mackenzie was an active participant. She decorated her own mini-pumpkins with a sharpie marker and helped us scoop out the gooey seeds. She loved watching the pumpkins transform into spooky jack-o-lanterns and was Daddy's assistant when it came to lighting the pumpkins on the porch. Now let's hope she's equally as excited about dressing up in her Halloween costume.