Thanksgiving 2010

As we've done every year since we got married (and before!), the Freemans headed to Kansas City to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was a fabulous weekend.

Thursday morning we stopped by Dave and Carla's to pick up some pies. Carla sent us on our way after a (too) brief visit with our pies, a Pooh dressed as Tigger, some dried apples, and an apple the size of Audrey's head for Charlotte. She enjoyed it on our way to Tom and Edie's.

Charlotte and Uncle Shea playing before dinner. Charlotte had a great time playing with Shea. It was really nice to see him while we were in town.

Grandpa and Audrey right before we left for Thanksgiving meal #2

Charlotte and Derek before dinner. Derek pushed the chair up to the coffee table so they could color together, but both kiddos got distracted by the TV. It was pretty funny.

When the Incredibles came on, Derek got smart and just went ahead and put the chair in front of the TV. He also turned the volume up to, like, 70 or so. We turned it down a tad.

The new generation's kids' table! First one- I can't believe how big they are (and how old I am)!

Derek- the oldest and the ring leader

Charlotte, willing partner in crime

Jade, my cousin's daughter we just don't see enough

And Audrey. She didn't get to sit at the table, so she ate Charlotte's new Pooh/Tigger doll instead.

Playing with Tanner.

Dessert!

Story time before bed

Our little turkey, all tuckered out

Brunch at my cousins' house Friday morning. Stephanie and I went to Barnes and Noble and Best Buy earlier that morning. We both got our free B&N memberships. We were basically dorks. It was awesome. Afterwards we came back to her house and had omelets in a bag with the rest of the family. Derek and Charlotte put on a play for us. It was super sweet. Derek was definitely the ringmaster. Charlotte just did whatever Derek told her to do.

Announcing that Charlotte was about to sing us a song, but wouldn't you know, the "TV" that was supposed to come out of the top of the mantle was broken! Derek told us we would just have to wait until next time so he could fix it. Such an imagination.

Leaving for my birthday dinner at a pizza place. Charlotte decided to throw the mother of all fits over pancakes right before we left. She wanted pancakes, gosh darn it, and was not afraid to tell us. "Pancakes! My pancakes!" It was awful. I got to the point where I was just tired of the screaming, so I started screaming it, too. "My pancakes!" Matt joined in. And wouldn't you know, Charlotte stopped and stared at us like we had lost our minds and then started to laugh. Fit over, off to see Derek again.

Pizza!

Audrey slept.

Charlotte giving her cuz a hug. Doesn't he look thrilled?

Mama and her girls on her 29th (and last) birthday!

Decorating Grandpa Freeman and Grandma Edie's tree later that evening

We spent Saturday and Sunday at Kirk and Debbie's, but for some reason, I don't have any pictures. Debbie made a great rum cake for my birthday and Andrew and Lindsey came over Saturday evening. It was quiet and relaxing. All in all, a really great weekend!

A Tale of Two Birthdays

The Saturday before Thanksgiving Charlotte was invited to not one, but two birthday parties. It was a busy day, but a lot of fun. It started with Elizabeth, one of Charlotte's friends from daycare, and her 3rd birthday at Once Upon a Bash. It's a place that throws princess parties for little girls.

Audrey wasn't invited so she ate the invitation in an effort to make sure we couldn't find the place. It almost worked, too. I drove by the place FOUR times.

Once we finally got there, Charlotte got dressed up in her princess garb and had her make up done. She was so pretty!

Isn't she beautiful?

The table setting. Isn't this crazy ridiculous for a three year old?

Charlotte and "Ariel"

All the little girls. Did you know trying to get a group of two and three year old girls to all sit together for a picture is awfully similar to trying to herd cats?

Limbo. Not an age appropriate game. The girls did not get it and it quickly turned into this:

Playing with the wands they made. Charlotte put all the gems on them and then took them all off at home. Whatever.

Showing me her new princess necklace. Sort of.

Charlotte and Lauren losing interest in the party.

Sophie attacking Aurora. This was a minute before Sleeping Beauty ended up on the floor.

Receiving their princess certification. No, seriously. Charlotte is now a certified princess.

Charlotte getting her certificate and tiara.

Lunch.

The cupcake Charlotte licked and then refused to eat. Mama ate it.

Now Sophie knows how to eat a cupcake.

After a nap, Matthew got Charlotte and Audrey ready to go to the next party, Charlotte's buddy Abby's second birthday! Audrey was invited to this one. I met them there. To make the day even more busy, I went to a glass blowing class with my friends Becky and Rachel. They took me for my birthday. It was so fun and I get to bring home two beautiful ornaments made by me!

Abby's super cute birthday cake

Abby opening the gift Charlotte picked out for her.

Charlotte "helping"

In case you didn't know whose party it was, Abby had this shirt to remind us.

Looking at the card Charlotte gave her. An Abby card for Abby!

Charlotte loves birthday parties!