The Harpers: Holiday Spirit!

Happy (late) Thanksgiving everyone! Ours was small, as usual, but wonderful in every way! I have settled in to a great yearly tradition of having my two best friends, Sara and Angela and all of their kids over on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to cook, laugh, and play. I don't usually love cooking, but I do love cooking with these girls! Our kids are all best friends now, so even though there are kids running all over the house the whole time, we always get a lot done because they are all too busy having fun with each other to bug us about anything :) The time flies by and we end up with pies and goodies galore!

Here's Angela w/ one of her completely from scratch Pioneer Woman apple pies (with hard sauce!)

Max's friend Thomas ended up spending the night Wednesday, and the poor kid just broke down in tears when he finally had to leave to go to his family Thanksgiving. They have such a special friendship!

Our actual Thanksgiving meal took place at the Cracker Barrel and, I tell you truly, it was AWESOME! Tasty food. No cooking. No mess. Awesome. We came home with full bellies, took some turkey naps, then ate the goodies my friends and I made the day before, while doing some Christmas decorating. It was a great day made even greater by all that we have to be thankful for this year!!

The kids pretty much did the entire tree by themselves this year from start to finish

Lights and all! It was impressive!

Cate is still all about her Disney Princess stocking

Angel on top

Joy to the world!

Nothing brings out the song in this little heart like Christmas!!

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We have had a crazy last couple of weeks, full of ups and downs and everything in between. Among the ups were some visits from family! Grandma and Grampa stopped in on their way to their boat in North Carolina. We had lots of fun with them & went to see my new favorite movie, the Muppets!

We also had a surprise visit from Hunny and Pop, which somehow did not produce a single picture, but it was a special time & the kids got to open some early Christmas presents!

Speaking of Christmas, anticipation has been building over the past few weeks. Max is having trouble sleeping (which he says always happens to him in the month of December because he can't stop thinking about Christmas :) and Cate's excitement about the whole thing this year is really over the top!

Cate got a special pre-season visit with Santa at the Mall! No one was interested in talking to the big guy a week before Thanksgiving, but there he was! Cate had already zoned in on her top Christmas wish at that point and was eager to talk to him, so he invited her to sit with him for a while. She had no problem at all telling him what she wanted loud and clear: "Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Market" She has been good, so I think Santa just may pull through for her this year!

Star struck!

We also got a chance to see Santa and his reindeer at the Creekside Nursery! Max was all business when telling Santa his list :) Any guesses what's on it? That's right - technology, technology, technology!

Our elf, Ornamenty (named by Max when he was 5) has made his return this year, and has been sneaking around the house, watching everything that goes on here. I wonder what he's thinking!