Thanksgiving In Louisiana

This year, we traveled to Louisiana to have Thanksgiving with my grandparents.  We used to always have Thanksgiving there when we were kids, but since we have been married and share our holidays between my parents and The Patterson's, it is not often we get to return.  This year though, we all made it down and were able to cram 25 people into my grandparent's NOT so big house.  It was a great time with family and I am so happy to have spent it with that side of the family.  My grandparents will be married 60 years next year and have lived in their house since my dad was in high school!  (That's a really long time...no offense dad!)  So many things about this house are the exact same since I was a little girl, and my sisters and I enjoy remembering those things when we are there.  Here are very few pictures of our holiday and Paisley's first Thanksgiving.  Lots of food, family, and fun packed into 24 hours!!!!

The kids thought that the hotel and the phones with cords were the funnest part!  The Dales and us had a connecting room, and the girls spent most of that time calling each other!

Ansley and Jillian

Seth, Jules, Macy, and Mason

The mandatory picture of the dessert table

WE were sitting elbow to elbow in this place!  We got real cozy with one another!

Aunt K with baby P...who is already in her 2nd outfit of the day

My grandfather reading out of the Bible and teaching us about thankfulness.

My mom is wrestling the very active baby.

Love my Papaw and my Dad 

Jillian 

Jules 

Paisley

Emerson, Jillian, and Jules playing in a pile of leaves.

They don't get to do that often in Dallas.

And here are the girls on the Friday after Thanksgiving cheering on the Hogs.  It wasn't the best game of the year for the Hogs, but the girls had fun cheering!

Jillian's Surgery

On Tuesday, Jillian had surgery on her head to remove a quarter-sized birthmark.  It was a very light pink/red color, but was always covered by all of her hair and so you couldn't really see it.  Her dermatologist told us we really should have it removed before she started grade school because it could potentially grow during her growth spurts.  Then it might require more than one surgery to fully remove it, and we certainly didn't want to put her through that.  So, Seth and I decided Thanksgiving week would be a good time so that she could recover a bit before school started again. 

 It really was a minor surgery, but since it was on her head, they had to put her under.  That was the only part that made me a little nervous.  I mean, I know it isn't heart surgery like my niece has been through TWICE, but it is the first time any of my kids have had to do something like this.  

So, on Tuesday morning, we dropped the other girls off at Summer's bright and early, and headed to the surgery center.  My parents met us up there with hospital gifts, of course!  My mom and dad don't miss a surgery no matter what...it can be open-heart or just tubes in the ears and they will be there.  Jillian was a great little patient before surgery.  Once she had her goofy juice, she was as happy as can be.  After the surgery, however, when they called us back to recovery, her mood had changed.  She was SOOOOO mad about the IV and the heart monitor. I hadn't even thought to warn her about those!!!  She did perk up a little once those were out, and we were headed home only 2 hours after it started.  

The incision is about 2 inches long with about 20 stitches in it, but it looks so good!  Take my word for it...and not seth's!  He can't even look at it!  We are cleaning it religiously and so I am sure that after the stitches come out in 2 weeks, that you will hardly be able to tell anything.  The hardest part now is trying to keep her still.  She is "supposed" to NOT be active for 3 weeks!  I don't know how to keep a 5 year old inactive for 3 weeks, but we will try.  She will have to miss dance class and I will have to pick her up an hour early from school so that she will just skip recess.  She is NOT going to be happy when I let her in on that info,  but we gotta heal it right the first time!  

And of course, I forgot to bring my camera to the surgery.  I would have gotten pictures of her with Mimi and Papaw and their gifts, and for sure a great picture of Jillian "high" on her goofy juice!  I actually made her reenact the pictures below later that day to show how sad she was!  HA!  

Jillian being so brave.  This was after we were home.  You can't see it but the spot is on the left side of HER head.  The right side looking at this picture.

Jillian showing how sad she was after surgery.

Her she is after getting balloons from Mimi and Papaw and one from daddy.

Jillian's good friends, Presley and Hudson brought over a goody basket too!  Jillian loved all of her treats from her friends!

Also, Jillian's cousin Ansley made her the sweetest care package and I forgot to take a picture of her too!  :(  She is the best cousin...always doing special things for my girls!  She is so thoughtful!

Thanksgiving Feasts

 Last Thursday, both girls had their Thanksgiving feasts at school.  I got to fast with Jillian at 9:00 and Jules at 11:00.  It was a very exciting day!  

All 3 girls ready to feast!

Me and Jillian

Here is P feasting on some cheerios!

Jules and her friend Ellie

Me and Jules

We LOVE the TEXAS Rangers!

Back in October, the whole town was buzzing about the Texas Rangers back in the playoffs for the second year in a row.  We were so lucky to attend game 6 of the ALCS where the Rangers won and were heading to the World Series...also for the 2nd year in a row.  My dad got us all a box, and the entire family was able to go to this amazing baseball game.  (Minus my mom, who was away on a trip...the only person missing!) It was my Dad, The Dales, and Us.  My grandparents were able to come in from Louisiana.  Kourtney and Mason drove over for the game also.  Even Seth's parents were in town for the weekend, and got to go to the game too.  It was a blast all being together.  

We got to go to a World Series game last year, but the game was a real bummer.  This year, the Rangers did not disappoint.   The entire stadium was electric and the crowd was out of control.  The Rangers played the most exciting baseball that I have ever seen, and this game was for sure the best sporting event I have ever been to!  Here are some pictures from our fun night at The Ballpark!

2 Little Rangers Fans

This was the cutest fan in the whole stadium!

The family

Kourtney, Me, My Dad, and Summer

CC helping take care of Paisley

Ansley, Jillian, and Jules

Eating some yummy ballpark food!

Kourtney and Mason

We were sooooooooo happy that my grandparents could make it over to go to the game with us.  My grandfather has played and coached baseball for many years of his life.  It was so fun to see them there cheering on the Rangers.  Memaw even got up and danced a little bit!  She was VERY into the game!  

2 Little Hamilton fans!

My Dad and his parents

Seth and Me...our shadows in front of the stadium.

I cannot figure out how to lighten this picture!  HUGE BUMMER cause this is the only one I have.

the girls

The girls SOOOOOOO tired that they FINALLY passed out in a chair.  Em and Jillian are really asleep.  Jules is just pretending.  That girl can stay awake forever!!!

FINALLY asleep

Asleep

Paisley - 8 months

 Paisley turned 8 months old on October 24th.

Here is what Paisley is doing at 8 months old:

• She FINALLY started sitting up on her own.  We still always put a boppy around her at this point so that she wouldn't fall back.  But, she is mostly sitting up by herself.
• She LOVES to sit on the floor and play with her toys.  
• She has started eating puffs and LOVES them.  She is ready to start eating more table foods.  
• She is sitting in her high chair and loves it!  
• She really does not sit in the exersaucer or swing anymore at all.  
• She is trying to start picking up her own food in her high chair.  

Paisley at 8 months

FOR COMPARISON:

Jillian at 8 months

Jules at 8 months

Paisley - 7 months

Paisley tuned 7 months old on September 24th.

Here are some things she was doing at 7 months: 

• She is eating almost all baby foods.  She loves sweet potatoes, squash, and all the fruits.  Not a big fan of peas or green beans.  I have to mix them with fruit to get her to eat them. 
• She figured out how to put her paci into her own mouth...and LOVES her new trick.  She is doing it all the time.
• She started saying dadadadada.  She repeats it over and over and over.  Her Daddy thinks she is saying Dada and referring to him, but it is really just her first sound.
• She is holding her own bottle.
• She has two teeth!  First tooth on 9/9/11.  Second tooth on 9/18/11.

Paisley at 7 months

FOR COMPARISON:

Jillian at 7 months

Jules at 7 months