Thanksgiving Week

Thanksgiving week 2025 was pretty great. 

Elisabeth helped me bake early in the week. We baked cookies and an apple pie for the week's celebrations.  

Matt shocked everyone by setting up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. No one was sad about it though!

On Tuesday afternoon these beautiful ladies and I hosted a Fall Party for the neighborhood crew. We planned a progressive night of festivities. 

We started in kidsboro with some games. 

These kids always play so well together and have the best time.

After kidsboro, we walked over to our house for dinner. We had chili dogs for dinner. 

After dinner, it was time for dessert and coffee at the Mitchell's house. Desiree makes the best coffee. Seriously! Her hot chocolate is amazing too. 

Decorating caramel apples is a child's dream. 

So much sugar!

We ended our progressive night with an outdoor movie at the Breeden's backyard. It was a little chilly, but the fire and movie warmed everyone up. 

We watched King of Kings. It was such a sweet movie telling the story of Jesus' life. 

I'm always grateful for the incredible neighborhood the Lord placed us in, but that night especially I was counting the blessings of friendship and community. 

On Wednesday morning we drove to Weatherford to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.

We stopped for lunch on the way and found a Fazolis. I didn't think they existed anymore. We decided to chance trying it, and it was amazing. The kids have been begging to go back the next time we're in OKC. 

We made it to Weatherford Wednesday afternoon.

We had a relaxing day on Thanksgiving. Of course we watched the parade in our jammies.

Katherine played int he basement. She always likes to build a snowy mountain on the stairs. It reminds me of my childhood. I played on those stairs so much. 

Dinner was delicious. We all prepared dishes and enjoyed the feast. 

After lunch we took the kids to Radar Park to play. It was another reminder of our childhood. 

On the way home we stopped at the Stafford museum to check out the playground. It's a great one!

Then we headed back to Granny and Grandaddy's for dessert. 

On Friday we had lunch with Matt's parents, and then the kids asked to tour the Stafford Museum. 

That evening we drove out to Cordell to visit the Evetts. Of course the boys immediately asked if they could play Minecraft. 

We enjoyed a great visit with Brandon and Mindy, and the kids all played so well together. We cherish their family's friendship. 

On Saturday we stopped for lunch and cake at Momoo's house before heading back home. 

Katherine broke out the guitar that she and Elisabeth used to play with so much when they were littler. We had a great visit with Momoo.

We drove home that afternoon with full hearts and full tummies after a great holiday with family. 

Before we set up for Christmas, I had to get a picture of my favorite Thanksiving decoration that Granny made. I'll treasure it forever. 

November Happenings

 Our November was busy and full of many great activities. 

Elisabeth and Samuel are enrolled in a Pioneer Spirit class this year where they're studying Oklahoma History through literature and hands on activities. The beading craft took a lot of patience but turned out beautifully. 

Elisabeth kicked off her basketball season with a win (21-5) in NW Arkansas against the Hornets (another homeschool team). She's excited to be back on the court with her friends. 

Her coach treated everyone to ice cream after their game to celebrate the win

While the girls and I were in Arkansas for Elisabeth's game, Matt and the boys were at their first robotics competition, and they won! It was an exciting day all around. 

After 26 months of braces, Nathan finally got the news he'd been waiting for and scheduled an appointment to get them off. 

He immediately looked so much older. 

Our co-op hosted a Friendsgiving, and we brought our turkey cupcakes that we make every year. I've been making them since Katherine was a newborn, but actually now the girls make them and I just sit back and watch (and clean up the mess).

That afternoon after Friendsgiving, Elisabeth headed over to Nora's house to celebrate her birthday. She was excited to spend the afternoon with all her friends. Such a great group of kiddos!

I'm so thankful for their sweet friendship. 

I invited Kyla to come play during her big sister's party, and the girls had the best time. They have a tradition of always dressing up and having tea party when they have a play date. 

Nathan is a fan of Brandon Lake's music, and when he heard he was coming to Tulsa on tour, he asked if we could go, so I bought a ticket for him and for me. We went to dinner before the show. Nathan's choice is always Chipotle. 

We were so excited!

His song, When a Cowboy Prays hit differently in Oklahoma. 

His new song, As for Me and My Home is my goal for my family. I tear up almost every time I hear it. 

And he closed out with Gratitude, one of my all time favorite Brandon Lake songs. Worshipping with Nathan was such a sweet moment. He's growing up so fast, that I certainly treasured the quality time we spent together that night.

The concert was incredible. I've never been a huge concert fan, so I honestly thought I'd get bored, but it was so amazing. He's so talented, and it was an incredible night of worship. Sharing that night with Nathan is something I'll never forget. Now I want to go to all the concerts!

Book fair day at co-op is always one of our favorite days! The girls found some good reads. All four of the kids also painted National Park signs as decorations, and Nathan and I helped set everything up the night before. It's a family effort and something we look forward to every year. 

These two ran some errands during Biztown one afternoon during co-op. They're so cute!

For her birthday, Nora gifted Elisabeth with a day at Climb Tulsa. After a busy Fall, she was finally able to redeem it and had the best time. 

Samuel and Elisabeth's Pioneer Spirit class traveled to Pawhuska for a field trip. We visited the Osage Nation Museum that morning and heard a lot of history and cultural information from a tribe member. 

Then we headed to the Pioneer Woman Mercantile for lunch.

After lunch we drove out to her lodge for a tour. It was a really fun day with our friends. 

After our trip to Pawhuska and the release of the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook, Elisabeth asked to have a fancy dinner night using Pioneer Woman recipes. 

The kids cooked chicken cutlets, homemade mac and cheese, and cherry limeades. Yum!

The kids pulled out the dominoes and spent a few days building with them. 

Nathan and Samuel recently purchased a new (and better) 3D printer and printed new tiles for our Terraforming Mars game. The kids helped Matt paint them, and they turned out great. 

I taught on The Vanderbeekers of 141st St in book club, and since the book ends on Christmas day, we had a Christmas party when we finished the story complete with a gift exchange and cookie decorating. I love the Vanderbeekers book and enjoyed teaching it so much! It's such a great story. 

Samuel and Elisabeth participated in a pickleball day with our homeschool group. It was beautiful weather, and everyone had a great time playing. 

Such a sweet picture of these sweet friends. 

After pickleball, Elisabeth invited Nora over to watch the fourth Harry Potter movie, since they read the book together. 

Katherine and Kyla scheduled their own play date during the same time. Katherine's journal entry for the day showed her excitement. 

Of course they had to have a tea party. 

The boys had their second robotics competition, and the girls and I were able to attend with them. Katheirne asked Willow to come too, and they had the best time playing together during the meet.

The boys' team won again, yay! They're enjoying robotics so much this season. 

Right after the meet, they left for Kansas City to watch the Chiefs game with Papa. After a not so stellar season, they won! They boys celebrated with Texas Roadhouse.