What a wonderful week we had last week!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful too!

I started the week with plans to do school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

After we did school on Monday, I had a little chat with myself and decided to declare the rest of the week off.

The kiddos were thrilled!

We still enjoyed our read aloud time, as always.

I took a big chunk of time on Tuesday and Wednesday and tackled the storage room.

That room needs gone through at least once a year, but quite honestly, twice would be better!

I filled the trunk of the van on Tuesday, and my trio and I ran it all to the donation center.

Wednesday morning I continued on with that big job, but Addie was home and she helped me!

Of course my trio was helping too – coming when I called them to load the van or bring me something.

Many hands make light work!

We finished right after lunch on Wednesday and took a HUGE van load to the donation center that day.

This is the first time in the four years that we have lived here at Twin Oaks that I actually know what we have in that storage room!

It holds a lot!!

It’s our pantry, Grant’s closet, our school book shelves, and our storage!

I washed up a bunch a blankets I found in a tote down there.

Seeing this one brings a flood of feelings and memories.

I ordered this blanket for Eliza not too long after China said we could adopt her and we picked her name.

It was seven months later that we held Eliza for the first time!

Tate’s toe has been healing well!

Let me just say, this boy does NOT like shoes.

He has always carried his shoes to the van and does not even put them on until we arrive at our destination!

So wearing shoes all day long everyday has been stretching him quite a bit, ha, ha!

Blake re-tapes Tate’s toes after Tate showers each night.

Chad got a couple of deer on his big sis Kayla’s farm last week!

They are at the processor getting ready for our freezer.

Clyde and River were thrilled to see the deer before Uncle Chad took them away.

I have been enjoying cooking a lot these days!

I always do enjoy it, but some seasons more than others.

I am trying new recipes a lot these days!!

On Thanksgiving day we were scheduled to deliver meals.

The La Crosse Civic Center prepares meals to be delivered for free, or you can come to the Civic Center and eat there for free too.

We had two vehicles and we did two one hour shifts.

It was SUPER fun!!

Getting to hand folks a hot meal that they had ordered was so special and we all enjoyed it very much.

After we finished our deliveries, we came home and all worked together to make a special evening meal for ourselves.

It was delicious!!!

We finished the night with the game Scattergories, dessert, and then a late night Christmas movie.

It was SO, so fun!!

Friday night Blake and I had a date!

We got to start our date earlier than usual because Blake was off of work on Friday, and I did not have to drive all the way to town to meet him!

It was fantastic!

We did a lot of Christmas shopping and also stopped at Sam’s Club and filled the van with dry goods and paper products.

Look what we found!

I was SO excited to see these chips again – we have not been able to get them for a long time.

Saturday started early for me, as usual, but I was excited to make our Thanksgiving meal for our whole family Thanksgiving with Kay’s on Sunday after church!

I had a GREAT crew of helpers in the morning and we got everything done so quickly!

Our menu: roasted chicken, mashed yams, roasted ranch cheesy red potatoes, brussels sprouts with bacon and pecans and a balsamic reduction glaze, glazed carrots, cranberry relish, and fresh homemade rolls with raspberry butter.

For dessert Addie made pumpkin pies, and an apple crumble pie, and I made pecan bars and whipped cream.

Yum, yum!!

I also got a large quantity of waffles and cooked spaghetti squash into the freezer!

Sunday morning came…..and I got sick.

I have been doing a new “protocol” to try to help with my health – I’m not sure what bothered my stomach (one of the new supplements? something else I have added?) but I was so sick I missed church and wondered if I would be able to participate in Thanksgiving.

Thankfully I was back on my feet by lunch time, even though I felt so weak after being so sick!

Blake and the kids took care of everything and I sat on the couch and enjoyed everyone.

It turned out to be a wonderful day!

We are back in the swing of life here after a lovely change of pace last week!

And already looking forward to Christmas very much!!

So long November – can you believe it??

Don’t worry – I did not forget my sky photo –

God is so creative!!

And so kind to give us skies like that one!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Happy December, friends!!