Monday: Before rehearsal we went and helped a couple who were cooking 37 turkeys for a community dinner.
These 4 cut boxes of apples.
Tuesday: We had great weather this week and spent every afternoon playing and working outside. I love coming out of the woods where I cut and seeing kids hanging out chatting on the porch and carving wands with their pocket knives.
It's hard to see on the right but there were fencing materials and other junk propped up to make an obstacle course the 3 girls were crawling through. They start at the top of the hill on the other side of the grapes and and crawl and roll as fast as they can. They play it everyday for hours.
The view out the kitchen window. I love seeing the seasons change here.
Wednesday: Playing human candy land with Lori who came for Thanksgiving.
The spots with the chairs held the different candies.
Carving wands again.
Samuel made this saw horse for me. I'm not sure if I can carry it around the woods but it was so thoughtful of him and I loved watching him figure out how to make it.
Back helping pull turkeys again. The kids had great attitudes about helping and I really enjoyed it too.
Thursday: Thanksgiving Day! Makenna always makes the green bean casserole.
Kaitlyn and Lori made the sweet potato casserole.
I made the rolls.
Lori had a nice tablecloth so the spread turned out really pretty. It was low-key this year since I wasn't hosting my whole family or had a nice big kitchen. I was fine with doing Mexican soup. :) But I'm glad we did the traditional foods and it all turned out delicious.
I'm so glad Lori could come and then we also invited the sister missionaries which was fun. Otherwise it would have been a lonely Thanksgiving.
I don't like pie so I just bought 3.
After dinner we played Telestrations with the sisters and it was really fun.
Spencer carving the turkey at the member's home in CA where he ate.
Friday: Talea bringing wood in.
I didn't get any good pictures of hauling and stacking wood but we sure had fun.
Probably my favorite job on the farm. Feels so good to fill the wood shed up.
Samuel found a tiny nest.
Sam and Kait playing teeter-totter on a fallen log.
All done for the day!
Next week I'll spend every afternoon cutting more and have them load and stack it in a few weeks.
Decorating for Christmas always spurs a spontaneous "Felix Navidad" train. Started by the oldest 4 kids in 2007, it's become a tradition. When the song comes on they get in a train and sing and march around the house. Then the youngest calls out "Snobby duck!" (aka "navidad") and they turn around so the oldest is leading. They do it the entire song.
Sad to only have 6 kids here to decorate this year but I can't wait for Kylie and Alexis to come in 3 weeks!
