It's Fall, Y'all!

We are in the midst of a beautiful fall! We've had day after day of blue skies, sunshine and temperatures in the 70s during the day. 

Our Thanksgiving, this year, was different, since the kids didn't go camping, as they usually do. We really love those outdoor Thanksgiving dinners, but this one took place at our house, for a change, and it was fun, too.

Robert's birthday always falls near Thanksgiving, and this year it was smack-dab ON Thanksgiving. So when Chris, Kelsey, Clara and Robert arrived, on Tuesday, we went immediately into both Birthday and Thanksgiving prep-mode. This was "Number 8" for Robert, and he was a little disgruntled that he had to share HIS day with the holiday, so we went to some extra efforts to make his birthday special.

Birthday fun included:

Ninjago cupcakes, baked and decorated by Kelsey;

Presents opened first thing in the morning, while the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade was put on "Pause;"

Our happy 8-year-old!

Breaking open a mini-piñata, to find the candy and toy treasures inside the little donkey;

And a three-hour visit to Spare Time, our local arcade, bowling alley and laser tag establishment. Chris took both Robert and Clara, while Dan, Kelsey and I stayed home and got three hours of R&R.

At the Houston Judds' home, Friday evening is always pizza and movie night, so we kept the tradition here. Clara took orders and made all of the pizzas for us, and did a great job! And after dinner we all watched the 2004 version of Around the World in 80 Days.

There was plenty of time for playing games and building robots as well. The kids brought a game called Ticket to Ride with them, which we all enjoyed playing several times.

Playing Ticket to Ride

Building a robot from a kit Robert got for his birthday.

Clara brought her violin, and we were amazed at how fast she is progressing. She only started at the beginning of this school year, and already is playing melodies, some of which she is playing by ear! She is currently first chair in her school orchestra! Every time I see Clara play her violin I get a little lump in my throat. This violin is the one that her great-grandma (my mom) played when she was young, and a music major at Pacific College, in Oregon. A year or two before Mom passed away, she had the violin re-strung and tuned and cleaned, and gave it to Clara. She would be so proud to see it being used by her talented great-granddaughter, Clara.

The day after Thanksgiving I put my new laser light projector out in the front yard, to spread twinkling lights all over the front of the house. And today I put up our small Christmas tree. Christmas will probably be in Houston this year, so no need for my big tree.  So Thanksgiving/Robert's Birthday Celebration is a wrap, and we're on to Clara's concert, her birthday and CHRISTMAS - all coming in December.