I have so much to be Thankful for and I love this time of year because it makes you stop and reflect on it. We should all take a lesson from our children, I have been asking the kids each night for awhile what they are thankful for and it is usually the very simple things in life that we take for granted: Family, food, a warm house, friends and love. Kate was always thankful for food, and Max did have to throw in his Xbox too. But most nights it was our most precious things in life. I am also very grateful to be a mommy, a wife to a wonderful husband, and that Jake and I have good jobs to provide for our family.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner at house. We were able to have the great company of my parents, Jake's parents, Jake's sister Julie and nephew Braden, and my cousin Shaunna and her kids Brandie and Dillon.I feel so lucky to have both of our parents close to enjoy holidays with them.Jake always cooks a fabulous meal so we are all stuffed and then hung out and watched UP and enjoyed each others company. I am dumb and only took pictures of people eating, that is rude but oh well here they are.

Jake passed out from exhaustion

Kate loving that she has both Papa's in arms reach.

She has them both wrapped around her finger

Kate and Max running off there meal. I think I need to try that next year.

I love Thanksgiving and it is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Jake and I ended our holiday with our annual black Friday shopping, I have been a slug all day due to my lack of sleep. And now on to Christmas I can't wait!

Yeah! Today is my purple birthday and I get to go to Kangaroo Zoo and eat purple cake and have purple balloons and NO MOM you don't have to go to work it's your birthday....I ♥ my Kate! All week she has been telling me it is my birthday soon and she informed me it is today :) When your 3 anything is possible.

Carving pumpkins for Grandpa Sutch's Birthday

Field trips and fall fun

We are all still alive...

Tonight was the car show we were taking my Dad's car to, the Rib City Cruise Night. I got the car to and from safely, no incidents! It was not quite as nerve racking as the lesson, but I did keep checking the rear view mirror to see if he was following me to check up on me. It was a fun night, and the car won an award! Jake thinks we got robbed for the best costume award. We got a lot of complement's on the car, I told my Dad but I don't know if he believes me. People would stop and talk to Jake about the car and he would just agree with them. He needed a history lesson about the car before we went. At one point Max informed the guy that it was not Jake's car it was Ned's. Bob and Cindy were there all dressed up as skeletons, that is his truck next to the T-Bird. I do think Jake makes a pretty sweet Elvis! He was even bustin out some moves in the picture! Thanks for letting us take it Papa Ned!

Driving lessons...how old am I???

I had to write this down because it is so funny to me. My dad bought himself a new car this year, well a new old car. It is a Red 1959 Thunderbird convertible and it is fabulous! He has put every spare second this summer into replacing old parts and sprucing it up. It was in really good condition when he got it and he has put it in tip top condition.

OK so back to the driving lesson. Jake has wanted him to enter it in a car show but he says it is just his cruiser and won't. So Jake asked if we could take it to one this week and he somewhat agreed, Jake was hoping he would come but he said he would give me driving lesson so I can drive it. SHOCK! I have only rode in it once and Nan Nan Nana Jake ,I GET TO DRIVE IT! Well that is what I thought until the driving lesson and I had nightmares about driving it last night. I am the only girl and his baby but I fear for anything happening to that car and what the punishment might be.

So I get in the driver seat and he tells me about the mirrors, lights, park break, key switch, gear shift and how do manage all of these right. Next he tells me " YOU have to DRIVE this CAR, it is NOT like these new cars that DRIVE themselves... 2 HAND ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES!!" Ok I am so nervous it is not even funny. We pull out on the road, I am checking my mirrors, the speedometer, 2 hands on the wheel. He tells me to change lanes so I can feel how it pulls to the cracks and breaks in the road. 2 hands he reminds me. Next he tells me now try out the breaks get used to them, so I push on the breaks and slowly slow down. We are now off the main road and again he tells me try try out the breaks, I start to slow down and he says NO SLAM on the BRAKES! So I do and he tells me see it's not like these new cars that just stop and do it for you, YOU have to DRIVE the CAR! He makes me take a U turn so I realize this does not turn on a dime its a boat. We get back to his shop, and park the car. He is never yelling at me or mad but man my heart was pounding and gut gurgling. WHAT the HELL has JAKE got me into????

My dad is the best and I am so glad to see him passionate about something for HIM! Thanks Dad I will treat it like my first born or a newborn... something!

I love Sunday afternoon naps........