Thanksgiving!

Cooper and Leo had quite a conversation!

playing some football outside

pumpkin pie is a vegetable right?

Sophia holding Cooper

Leo snuck into the Owsley family photo!

light sabers!

Leo, I am your sister.

lights ON!

Thanksgiving was fairly low key. We headed over to Charlie's brother's house where he cooked up a mighty feast. Everything was delicious! It was nice enough that the kids could go outside and they enjoyed that! After dinner The four of us headed to the Plaza for the annual lighting ceremony, but once again I felt underwhelmed. Sophia and Leo had a good time, although a lot of it had to with their light sabers, and Sophia was appropriately awe struck when all the lights came on, but I just wish it was cooler. I mean maybe if they could turn off all the street lights or something?? Maybe I'm just too damn picky, but I'm not sure we're going to make this an annual tradition. In fact, I watched the lighting of the Mayor's Christmas Tree at Crown Center and found that to be more amazing, even on television, so maybe we'll start a tradition with that instead, plus that one is on the Friday after Thanksgiving, something easier to schedule!

Thanksgiving Day 5K

feeling a little tired after our run, Julie and I get a snuggle with Sophia, who was just warming up!
Leo practiced some running in the field too

Charlie got this action shot of me closing in on the finish line!

Soph getting ready to race!

family photo!

lined up and ready to rumble!

watch it kid, Ima smoke you!

My friend Julie and I ran in the Thanksgiving Day 5K. It was both of our first time doing this trail and it was pretty good...sort of. ;) It was actually pretty hilly, albeit small hills, but there were a lot of them and I was not a fan! I did beat my last 5K time though, only by about 30 seconds but I still beat it and that was my goal! It was pretty chilly but not nearly as bad as it could have been. Sophia was signed up for the kid race, something she was so very excited about, and did great! In fact she ran in 2 age group sections just because she wanted to, but after the second run she told me, Mom, I don't want to race again, I'm tuckered out! Poor baby. She came home and crashed before heading to Thanksgiving dinner!

First Timers

are you sure these are safe?
arms out for balance!

at first she really was helping Andres, but then she left him in the dust!

whoa!

baby fell down :(

happily eating their snack

all the time we spent together you'd think we were training for a couple's skate!

skating is totally awesome!

dog pile at the bottom of the slide!

a perfect end to their busy day...snuggling with Papi reading books

Since Sophia started school on Wednesdays we don't make it to Tiny Tot skate very often. This week she was off due to Thanksgiving and she was itching to go! We invited Juan and Andres along too for their first time on roller skates and even got Leo a pair this time. Juan and Andres did an amazing job and caught right on! Leo did well too but was clearly getting frustrated from time to time. He had a good time though and never gave up! Sophia is using the "real" skates that aren't rigged to stop rolling backwards and although she falls often, she really did a great job this time, she's getting better and better! After that we appetite we worked up, we headed to Chick Fil A where, thanks to Cari, all the kids ate for free!

I'd also like to apologize for the blurry pictures...it's hard to get a good one sometimes b/c the floor is so shiny and there are too many disco lights! ARG!

Birthday Gauntlet

Stacy and Mer at Old Chicago
we can be cute too! ;)


At mom's for birthday dinners...

Leo cuddling with Shelby

Leo helps Daddy with his candle

Meredith and Sarah

birthday boy!

birthday snuggles

my first red velvet cake

Charlie's birthday morning...

Mmmm carrot cake!

big bite!

Mom is great, she gives us carrot cake!

group hug!

We are actually nearing the end of the birthday gauntlet, but last weekend was hectic! I counted it up once and it was something like between Aug. and Dec. we celebrate 20 birthday, plus Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, plus rugby season and the rest of our life! This is a clue as to why I have a love/hate relationship with Fall! Anyway, Stacy had a big birthday so we went out with the grown ups on Friday evening, then had family dinner on Sunday then Tuesday was Charlie's birthday and we all had cake for breakfast and then mom watched the kiddos so we could take in a movie! Busy, busy!

OP Tree Lighting

getting settled for the hay ride

Molly in her giant dance costume wig

Both kids spent the night at Sue's on Friday and they got an extra treat when they went to Downtown OP to watch the tree lightening, meet Santa, and watch cousin Molly do her dance routine! They had a fabulous time and Anne sent me these pics from her phone!

My Two Little Peas

Just a short little post dedicated to sibling love! They are really starting to get to the point where they can play together and enjoy each other. If Sophia is away at Bama's or someplace he will ask for her and when she returns she always wants to check in with her brother first. It is very cute and I hope that they will always be close!