Thanksgiving

We were so glad Doug's family decided to join us in Houston this year.  He only had Thanksgiving off, so it made it hard to travel.  We had a fabulous feast with a few friends from our Branch.   My friend Tricia even taught me how to make an edible cornucopia. :)    

 It was quite an adventure participating in the craziness of Thursday night's "Black Friday" shopping.  And of course we had great times playing bocce ball, going out to the movie, bowling, eating Texas Barbecue, and more shopping! Thank you, thank you for making the trip! (In the stinky van nonetheless!)  We are so sad that soon our favorite Dallas cousins will be much more than a 5 hour road trip away.  :(

Haunted Happenings

October flew by full of parties and dressing up.  By the end of the month, I was so sick of costumes and my thrown-together Pirate get up. But the kids love it and it is fun to see them so excited and happy. 

 Zoo Boo

Not 1...but 2 trunk-or-treats! 

ps.  We LOVE our new branch! 

Preschool fun!

Halloween day/ night

8 month giggles and grins

"HAPE BRthDA"

 

Grandpa/Mayor Lewis came to town for 1 night and it happened to be his birthday! (And the first Presidential Debate...) 

We love any excuse to make an ice-cream cake!

Minha Familia

All of my siblings were together for a quick weekend.  It was such a rare treat. We had a beautiful morning honoring my Grandma Donna.  It is so fun to see long lost cousins.  We spent the rest of the day making homemade Butterfinger ice cream (Packard tradition) and looking at old scrapbooks. 

I brought my little cherub baby with me.  He was a big hit.  I am so in love with this little guy. 

He is sporting another one of his Daddy's beautiful, hand-made, hand-me-downs. 

brotherly love

Ollie bollie bo mollie

Me mi mo wallie

Ollie!

 

He is almost 7 months old now!  And is seriously the sweetest tempered baby I have ever birthed.

We loooooove him!

 Once Cal gets home from school, the real party of the day starts. 

He keeps his brothers laughing, playing, and yes, fighting until the sun goes down. 

 Looking at these little boys makes me glad I married Doug Lewis, that one boy I had a crush on when I was 15!   :) 

First day of KINDERGARTEN!

We made it home from our travels TWO days before the big first day of school. 
With a little prep, a Father's blessing, and a little partying...we were ready!  

Cal with his best buddies Lincoln and Shep.

He was happy to have Jake with him in his class!

And I had to get a picture of him doing his job after school.  It was so fun to hear him talk all about his own life... one that really didn't know anything about.  I could tell he was loving the independence.  He even had to tell me about all the "cool" snacks other kids brought like Oreo's and juice boxes and how his snack was not that cool. :) 

Hip, hip hooray!!  It was a wonderful next step...one that we have both been really looking forward to!  (No tears all around...well except Rhett who realized that he couldn't stay at school too.)