Wishing You...

a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  I know I am a bit early but I probably won't have time to get online much the next couple of days.  I hope everyone has wonderful days with family and friends and always remembers the true reason for Christmas.

Thanksgiving, Round 2!

We put off our family Thanksgiving for a week so that Andrew could be a part of it.  That was definitely okay with me.  After eating so much on Thanksgiving Day, I don't think I could have done it again the next day at my parents house (the original plan).  We celebrated Mom's birthday on that day as well.  So much food!  It was a great day spent with family!

Getting ready to devour our Thanksgiving feast!

JJ loved the drumsticks!

This is the only non-dessert item that I got an individual picture of.  Our appetizer, stuffed mushrooms.  Yum!

The cake I made for Mom's Birthday.  Chocolate Harvest Cake.  A creamy pumpkin filling sandwiched between 2 layers of moist, chocolate cake and topped with ganache and crumbled Heath bar.  And it tastes better the longer it sits!

Traditional Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie.  Gotta have those!

He's Back!

My not-so-little brother has been working in Iraq since April.  He came back a week ago for a 30-day vacation, just in time to spend Christmas with us!  He returns to Iraq at the end of December for another 6 months but for now we are so glad to have him back home!

I (unfortunately) had to use the flash for the pics in the airport so please excuse the glare.

JJ watches his Grandma give Uncle Andrew a big hug.

Checking his Uncle Andrew out.  Not quite sure about him yet. 

That didn't take long.  He warmed up to him right away.

Heading home!

Yep, they're weird.  But we love them.  :)

They were both laying under the Christmas tree.  I was only able to snap this one picture.  JJ wouldn't lay still long enough for me to try to get a good one.