saying goodbye and decking the halls!

Evan, Lizzy and Vladimir

 

 

It was soooo good to have Evan home for a week and honestly, I am counting the days

until he is back again for three and a half weeks!!

 

BUT, all good students must go back to The Citadel and study for finals!

Soooo,

 

 

...after saying good-bye to Evan at 6:00 am at the airport,

and after I went back to sleep for a few hours,

Graham and I went outside on a beautiful November Sunday and started hanging lights.

 

 

Vladimir and Doug were supervising!!

 

 

I heard this "thump, thump" and turned the corner

and saw Graham shooting at a spider's nest in the window...okaaayy! Really!!

Vlad and Doug need to do a better job! lol!

 

 

All of the yellow "dots" are eggs!

 

 

And this was the spider that made the nest.

(I took this picture back in September)

She is long gone but her babies remained...that was until Graham took care of them!

 

 

I got a new wreath at Meijer to hang on the front door.

I got it for a steal and I think that it is really pretty.

 

 

Before I hung it I had to clean the front door and windows and lights...

look at those lights!

 

 

I also ripped off what I used to have on my wreaths that I got at Big Lots 13 years ago

and put on new ribbon and ornaments.

 

 

And here is the result!

Graham, thank you soooo much for hanging over 6,000 lights!!!

 

Outside DONE...just in time for tonight's snow!

 



giving thanks

We had Thanksgiving with Todd's mom's side of the family this year

(there are 14 brother's and sisters...13 of which are living).

So, since there are over 130 people we have to rent out the old

Williamsburg High School gym in
Williamsburg, IN!

 

 

Here are five of the sisters ...Todd's mom is in the pink sweatshirt

and some spouses (and a sweet granddaughter)

helping to set things up yesterday.

 

 Here is another sister, Linda, setting up some Christmas decorations on the stage.

 

 Aunt Nita and Lily
setting up the craft tables.

Aunt Kathy and Lily making the table decorations.
They were so pretty :)

I just want to pause and say that Lily is just about the most thoughtful 14 year old that I know.
She just recently had 10 inches cut off of her beautiful blond hair and donated it to
Locks of Love...
someone is going to be sooo thankful for that gift, Lily!

Well, everything is ready for Turkey Day!

 

The food table!!

Standing in line...

 

Most everyone is served!

 

From the moment I came into this family 25 years ago I always look forward to this is day :))

I just love visiting with all of the aunts, uncles and cousins.

I came from a small family and never got to grow up with my cousins so

I feel extremely blessed to be a part of this ever-growing family!!

 

This year my parents joined us and fit right in.

The "Bane" family always make all feel welcome.

 

This year I forgot my camera so Sandy and Ellie,

thanks for letting me use your pictures.

 

 

Christmas decorating starts tomorrow and Lizzy and Graham

visited "Nita's Craft Table" and made me these snowmen to get things started.

I love them!

 They are seniors in high school and still love to do this!

(the best part: they couldn't get to the table fast enough to show me...and they had the biggest smiles on their faces :))

I'm so glad that you could join us today, Lizzy!

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

a walk around the quad

 

 

Todd walking under the arch.

It is said that those who walk under this arch while attending Wabash will not graduate!

They are also told not to walk on any "W" that is painted or tiled on the floors of buildings.

 

I love all of the red bricked walkways...so charming!

 



 

The beautiful chapel.

 



 

The quaint bell tower.

 



 

What a beautiful day in Crawfordsville at Wabash College.

Graham is in the top ten percent of his class so he was invited to top ten percent day

which qualified him for a substantial scholarship!

He loved it even more after yesterday's visit and is ready to get started!

 

Wabash is one of only three all male schools left in the country.

I loved the way that a current student put it yesterday,

"I like going to an all male school. It teaches us to be better men without the female "distraction".

It teaches us to dig deep and learn more about what it means to be a male in today's world. 

And because of this reflection, when we are around women we appreciate them and treat them like they should be treated."

 

I am so proud of both of my boys for choosing the road less traveled while furthering their education.