Thanksgiving Weekend, or People Holding August

A of all...he was an amazing traveler. Slept 90% of the time.

This was at a pit stop along the way to AZ.

 Drew was so excited to find this "Webeloyal" marking on my parents' sidewalk.

Like, very excited.

My parents + Cole were in Porterville for Thanksgiving.

So that left us, Candace & Jason to celebrate with the extended Martindale family.

 And you all missed out.

Candace introduced our family to pigs in a blanket as Thanksgiving appetizers.

They were good.

And here is Sally's atypical Thanksgiving meal that you were dying to see.

Drew & Owen ate pretty much nothing.

 Too busy playing.

 

August got held.

 And Justin got...thoughtful?

 Justin's 97-year-old grandpa passed away Wednesday as we were driving to AZ.

So our belated Hollobaugh Thanksgiving got canceled.

We went to visit anyway.

 And August got held some more.

 

And more.

 My friend Lindsey & her husband made us the yummiest ebelskievers and quiche.

That is not Lindsey.

That's Katie.

And I liked that she held August the whole time.

That is Lindsey's cute new house, though.

Back at my parents house...

Everyone got cozy with Jacob.

We're all happy he's home.

Saturday afternoon a whole lot of family came over and it was good.

 Like Gwen (niece),

Emma (niece),

 and Loren (sis-in-law).

Rachel and Jacob entertained with the spray bottle game.

Then that night the guys got kid duty and the girls got some Tia Rosa's. 

 ALL the sisters/sisters-in-law!

And lots of chicken stuffed quesadillas.

(Thanks Errin for organizing and Tami for driving so far to come)

Our mode of transportation...Tami's 12-passenger Sprinter.

Justin was able to get work off to be able to go to Grandpa's funeral.

So Monday we had lunch at Freestone Park.

(I rode that bike, too and am now obsessed with getting one for Christmas)

August met cousin Drake.

 And the ducks got lucky with leftover Hot-n-Ready's.

Karen did my hair.

Then we got to spend time with my parents.

My cute little house:

Cole/Owen/Drew's disturbing one:

And my mom's/Sally's masterpiece:

Then some tree decorating happened.

And that was enough for one day.

Hodge Podge

 Sally: Can you turn on One Direction?

B: No, I want "Under the Bridge!" (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

 

Then when another friend was over they had me turn on Justin Bieber

while writing, "I love Justin Bieber."

August got a bath on his 7-week birthday.

I can't help it, every time Drew puts on his Tiger Cub uniform I have to take a picture.

I really need to get him the knee length scout socks he wants just for my own enjoyment.

 This was on our visit to Leo Carrillo Ranch.

Super pretty place that I'm ready to visit again.

 (Drew's down there in the bottom left)

Sunday was Skype story time with Rachel.

This made me really happy and it should happen every Sunday.

 Ummmm Rachel, Sally has a question.

Veteran's Day we visited the Elfin Forest Recreational Area in Escondido

for a little hike with Brent & Errin.

Look how excited Justin was about it:

In his defence, he had a headache.

He didn't complain when he had to take Owen back to the car early

because the bikes weren't working out on the steep, rocky trail.

And then there's Sally who forgot her shoes, so she got to run around barefoot the whole time.

Drew and his miniature teeth enjoyed it.

Aren't those supposed to be falling out by now?

And here's my little stage hand Owen.

 His class did a short performance of Frida Maria.

Afterwards he got to show off August to his class.

 And August didn't love being shown off.

But really he was happy except when I took these pictures.

"Look Mom he can sit!"

Sally continues to use August as her doll and he wonders when it will end.

Skyhawks

 

 Picture credit: Nicole

The best part of every game.

The Skyhawks' season has come to an end.

Justin ended up loving coaching and is bummed the season is over.

Drew is not.

He improved for sure but his favorite parts of the season were the treats, the post-game tunnel, and the trophy.

He's excited to add that giant one to his collection.

And he did like being able to play with his friends Gray and Carter.

They all got to be on the same team thanks to Nicole for being team mom and Nathan for coaching.

Howlaween

Happy Halloween

Love, 

Werewolf, Ghost Face, Flash, and Pixie Fairy

Post Edit: Phone scenes from trick or treating.

 

(went around to a few of our neighbors,

then met up with the Layton's in their more efficient neighborhood)

A Dud

 I came home with this huge pumpkin from Bates.

I was all excited for the awesome jack-o-lantern it would become.

And then Justin and Brent unloaded only it to find it had a crack and soft spot.

And THEN! Justin cut it open and found this:

Pumpkins growing on the pumpkin and nasty liquid sloshing around the bottom.

So, so gross.

Justin was nice and carved it anyway.

(it got a mouth, too)

He said it sliced like butter.

One advantage to a rotten pumpkin.

But we were never able to put a candle in it.

And it's currently oozing junk down our front porch.

Disadvantages definitely won.

At least inside the house, more pleasant things were going on.

Brent & Errin's family joined us for:

- chicken pot pies with tentacles

- pumpkin poop (Cheetos)

- pumpkin carving (RIPE pumpkin carving)

- watching Nightmare Before Christmas

- eating Jack Skellington