Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a really fun Thanksgiving weekend this year. It started off with Holiday Outreach, a charity event at Kyle's school that I've been involved with for the past three years. The event is held every Thanksgiving morning at Bartlett and is a collaboration between the PTO and the PE Department. Everyone comes out to participate in the popular JAWS program (Jogging And Walking Stars) while giving to a charity. This year, we collected for Robert Taylor Elementary, Bartlett's sister school. Their students struggle with proper meals, clothes, shelter, etc. We gathered clothes, cash and gift cards for their student population.

It is such a fantastic way to start off Thanksgiving. We've enjoyed participating in Holiday Outreach for the last five years and can't believe Kyle will be moving on to middle school next year and we won't be a part of it. Luckily, before we know it, Abbie and Daisy will be at Bartlett and we'll be out walking on Thanksgiving morning again.

Thanks to everyone to walked, gave and helped. This events would never work without so many wonderful volunteers!

Walkers

Signs
The Butler's famous bake sale - Nikki's the best co-chair a girl could hope for!

Me, manning the cash/gift card donation box

Clothes donation baskets

Abbie & Nate getting down.

Kyle showing off his almost finished 40-mile card. He ended up ditching the walk and playing soccer and football 1/2 way through.

Daisy along for the ride.

Papa, Abbie, Lindsay, Nate & Wes

Abbie & the turkey dancing

Abbie eating a cupcake...Lulu sporting George's glasses

The rest of the weekend was filled with hanging out and fun. While the girls rested after Holiday Outreach, the rest of us watched a movie then we all headed over to Grandma & Papa's for Thanksgiving dinner and Whoopi (or Whoopsi if your Abbie). Grandma made some delicious food and Sam baked a yummy apple crumble dessert. After all the food, we played our favorite holiday game, Whoopi. Lindsay organized it and gathered all the prizes. Tripp won $6 I believe and Kyle got a gift card. We had to put the small ones to bed so Kyle decided to stay for the next round. He didn't win anything but Sam gave him $2 from her spoils.

The next day, Abbie & Daddy had a tea party and we took our pumpkins out to the Springs Preserve to be recycled. We love the Springs Preserve and stayed for some of Kyle's favorite exhibits and lunch. After lunch, we always let the kids run around on the grass for a little bit before we go home. They got Daddy in on the action too.

Later that afternoon, Nikki & Ruby came by with an invitation to play at the park. Tripp, Kyle and Abbie joined them right away while Daisy and I dropped by a little later.

Saturday we put up our Christmas tree, had a family lunch at Metro Pizza and took Abbie & Kyle to see Bolt in the evening. Kyle picked but both kids enjoyed going to the movies and Daddy loved getting to have a tiny bit of popcorn.

Tomorrow it's back to reality. But it's been a nice holiday weekend. It makes me look forward to Christmas. I could skip all the presents but will enjoy the free time without a set schedule, homework, sports, school, ballet, etc.