Thanksgiving break

We don't have Daddy home very often, so this last week was a special treat for us. We had him for the entire week! V was so thrilled to wake up each morning and see Dad still at home. She just kept touching him, looking at him, and smiling. I'm sure she was in complete disbelief at what she was seeing. Sadly, that was his last full-week Thanksgiving vacation. 3rd and 4th year of dental school don't offer that luxury.

While he was home, we had plenty of projects for him to do. He replaced the tile in our bathroom shower. (We've only had all the materials for a few years now, just waiting for the time to do it.) We even had a play day at Bass Pro Shops. The kids love to go there every Christmas season to play with all the toys. It was nice just being able to spend time with Ryan again. Oh, how I miss him every day!

We had Thanksgiving with Ryan's family on Wednesday. Then with my family on Thursday. We even had our own turkey on the weekend. I don't think I have ever made so many dinner rolls and pumpkin pies at one time before. It was so much fun for the kids to play with so many cousins all in just a few days' time!

We were also so happy to have my sister Amber move back from Florida with her family. They will only be an hour's drive from us now! We also said goodbye to my baby sister Deanna and her husband. They will no longer be a 12 hour drive from us. They are moving to the Caribbean for Luiz' med school. The most sad part about it is that Ryan is still in school so we won't have a chance to visit them while they are living there. When we see them again, Luiz will be a doctor!

Aimee also took full advantage of the fact that Dad was around more. She somehow convinced him to paint her nails on Sunday. I think this was probably the second time in his life that he has done it: once for Kate and now for Aimee.  I just love seeing Ryan play with the girls!

Aimee was so excited that Ryan painted her nails blue and even added black polka dots! Way to go, Dad!

Now Thanksgiving break is over and I am once again going crazy with 5 kids to manage on my own. So crazy that I decided that each day of home school will only consist of reading for an hour, writing one page of something (either fiction, non-fiction, or poem), and one science activity along with a write-up in their science notebook. I am pretty sure this will continue all the way through December. I am guaranteed an hour of silence while they read and V naps each day now and it is definitely an hour that my brain needs! Only 2 1/2 weeks until Christmas break and we will have Dad back again...I can do this!