The ABC's of Being Thankful!

It's that time of year again when we reflect on what we are thankful for. Each year it seems to me that we realize something new and maybe even have a better understanding of why we are thankful. Definitely a bonus if you ask me. We did our ABC's of being thankful and here's what our family came up with,they all have more than one, and if you know us well you will know which ones were group answers and which were individual, and if you know us REALLY well you will know which individual that answer belongs too:)

A: Ainsley & Abby
B: Bradley, Brian, Brandon, Band-aides, Board Games, Books and Barbies
C: Cousins, Chocolate, Christmas Music, Clothes, Colors, Cookies and Caring
D: Dr. Rosa, Dora, Doll and Dancing
E: Earth and Easy Mac
F: Family, Friday Pizza nights, Friends, Freedom and Food
G: God, Grandparents who go by Grandma/Grandpa and who go by Mee-Maw and Paw-Paw and Giving
H: Hugs, Hot Chocolate, Health, House and Helping Hands
I: Ice-Cream, I-Tunes, I-Carly, Internet and Icing
J: Jesus, Jumping, Jump Spot and Juice
K: Kaylee, Kisses, Kindness, Kristin, Katie and Kool-aid
M: Montessori, Miracles, Movies and Music
N: Numbers, Night-Night and November
O: Oranges, Ovens, Outlet Malls and Oceans
P: Pizza, Playtime, Ponies (as in My Little), Parents and Peace
Q: Quilts and Quiet
R: Rain, Rainbows, Running and Reindeer
S: School, Siblings, Sarah, Sunshine, Shows, Shopping, Santa, Snow and St. Jude
T: Teachers, Turkey, Toilet Paper, Time, Toys and Thanksgiving
U: Umbrellas and Underwear
V: Violets, Valentines, Veggie Tales and Vacations
W: Water, Watermelon and Waves in the ocean
X: X-amples and Xerox machines
Y: Yo-Yo's, Yellow and Yo Gabba-Gabba
Z: Zoos and Zooming on the 4-Wheeler

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! What did you give thanks for?

Wedding Bells

Last weekend was Brian and Sarah's big day! We were all very excited to celebrate with the happy couple. Although Brian and Sarah have been together for quite sometime it was a little surreal to me that my little brother was getting married. How is that possible isn't he like 8? Apparently not.

The girls were especially excited to be flower girls! We had the rehearsal on Friday and they all did a great job. Saturday was a long day. Ainsley was disappointed that we had to go to the church "again" and we weren't just going to the big party. I explained that we had to go to the church again because Saturday was the real deal, the day before had just been for practice, but the big party would definitely happen after the church.

Ainsley was a little teary eyed coming down the aisle but I think it was a little overwhelming for her, and the organs were a little loud. However the all made it down the aisle and posed for all the needed photos. I would say for two 3 year olds and one 5 year old they did fabulous!

After the church we headed to get some photos at the reception site and then the bridal party headed to Miller Park on the party bus for some more photos and after a couple stops on the way back we made it to the reception. There was much dancing by everyone and lots of fun! What a great day! Thanks Brian and Sarah for letting us share your day!

Sarah giving the flower girls their bracelets after the rehearsal at the church was over.


Kaylee opening her bracelet.


Bridesmaids with Sarah at the rehearsal.


My mom with her siblings, and their wives, also known as the Riker Clan.


Sarah, A.K.A. Little Orphan Annie, getting ready.


The flower girls spending some time playing My Little Ponies before they had to get dressed.


Keeping busy coloring while waiting for the ceremony to start.


Brad and I walking down the aisle.


The Flower Girls


Mr. & Mrs.!!


Running through the bubbles.


The girls and I at the church shortly after the ceremony.


Brad carrying me into the reception as we were being introduced.


Brad, Brad's Dad, Mom and sister Kristin at the reception.


My other little brother, Brandon, and I.


Brandon's girlfriend, Nichole, and I.


Brandon dancing with Sarah during the dollar dance.


Kaylee and Uncle Brandon


Brad, I and the girls.


Brandon and Nichole


Ainsley busting a move.


Kaylee doing some twirling.


Doing the Cha-Cha Slide.


How low can you go?

Happy Halloween!

We had a super fun Halloween this year. Much better than last years, since I was able to be a part of it. We had Ainsley and Kaylee's respective schools parades that day. Saturday was a fun-filled day at Brad's parents with carving jack-o-lanterns, making taffy apples and pumpkin pops, and Sunday we visited Mee-Maw and Paw-Paw for some trick-or-treating and then up to Grandpa and Grandma Duffy's for more trick-or-treating and a wiener roast. It was a little chilly but the sun was out and their was little wind so it really wasn't that bad. Here are some photos of our fun Halloween weekend:











Hope everyone had a Sooktacular Halloween!