Thanksgiving road trip

We loaded up the family (and beagles) and headed to north Georgia to visit Will's family for Thanksgiving. We stopped in Helen for a brief visit with Will's grandparents Big Lloyd and Ginger, and Uncle Lanky. And then it was on to Rome, where we visited with the rest of Will's family and stuffed ourselves with a wonderful Thanksgiving feast.

Lilly and great-grandma Ginger

Lilly and great-granddad Big Lloyd

the girls playing with great-uncle Lanky

Maggie at the coloring table with cousin Joseph, aunt Katie, cousin John, and great-aunt Laurie (with cousin Gage posing for the camera in the foreground)

another shot of the coloring table with John, Joseph, and Katie

blowing bubbles with aunt Katie

Lilly's first trampoline experience at Katie's house

Maggie taking a break from her "gymnastics" for some snuggling with mama and Lilly

Lilly and Mimie

Lilly with her new best friend, Pete (Lilly loved Petey so much, she would gently snuggle up and nuzzle into his fur...and Petey was so sweet and patient with her)

fall hike & visit from friends

Last weekend we all took a long hike at Umstead State Park to see the fall leaves.






Last week, my high school friend Lauren swung through Raleigh with her family on their way home back to Florida after being in Maryland for a few days. It was great to see them all, and Maggie got to show off her chickens to George (almost 4 years old) and Jack (almost 2 years old).

practice makes perfect

It won't be long now...

art class

For those of you who know Maggie, you know that she LOVES arts & crafts, especially drawing and painting. Here she is teaching Lilly how to draw (she was actually narrating this..."Lilly, first you take the marker and hold it like this").

Halloween

It was a rainy Halloween for us, but Will and Maggie braved the rain to do a little bit of trick-or-treating. And according to Maggie, she "wasn't even shy!" She really wanted to be the letter "O" for Halloween (her favorite letter), so Will put together an "O" outfit for her. Unfortunately, I was recovering from a stomach virus, so Lilly didn't get a costume this year.

Maggie also wanted a Cookie Monster pumpkin this year...here is Will's creation (with Lilly peeking out the door).