Our Thanksgiving Weekend Wrap Up Part 2

Yesterday, I shared our Thanksgiving part one, but our weekend was so much fun, that I had to split the post in to two! So, today, I'm sharing our Black Friday and our Saturday.

Every year, the girls and I head to my mom's house for Thanksgiving, and the morning of Black Friday, we all load up and head to Branson for a weekend of shopping. This year, we decided that we needed to stay home since my grandmother hasn't been feeling very well. And, it's a good thing that we decided to stay home, because it rained all weekend long! We would've been miserable and wet and cold on our annual girls trip. I was sad to miss out on this tradition, and so were the girls, but once the weather set in, it was here to stay, and it was awful. So, we made the best of the situation, and made some new memories! 

Friday morning, my mom, Adalyn, and I headed to Wal-Mart. She wanted to do some holiday baking with the girls and needed to pick up a few things. I wanted to scope out their black friday deals, and managed to get the 4 things on my list. I do love that Addy is still young enough to be with me while I Christmas shop and she won't remember a thing! 

Once we got home, we let the big girls make their first Christmas craft. 

Reindeer Candy Canes!

These were super easy to make. You just stick two candy canes together- i'd recommend taping them tight first, and then the girls wrapped one pipe cleaner around to make a face. We attached googly eyes, and a red sequin nose. 

And now they have super cute reindeer that will probably hang on our tree, because they're too cute to eat! 

Next up, we made puppy chow! I love puppy chow, but I've never made it before. It was so easy and so yummy! The girls had fun tossing the mix around, and I enjoyed eating it afterwards! Just kidding, I shared.... a little bit! 

Up next, were our snowmen on a stick. These were fairly easy to make, but they took more time than the reindeer and were a wee bit messy. I think if we had brand new marshmallows, they wouldn't be as messy! 

You take a candy cane, and break off the hook. Then, you need three marshmallows. Simply get a straw wet with warm water, and then punch a hole through the marshmallow. The marshmallow will then slide on to the peppermint stick. 

Next, "glue" on a hershey kiss using icing, and tie a twizzler around for a scarf. I'd recommend getting the peel twizzlers, versus the larger ones. 

Next, add three m&m's for buttons, and glue those on with the icing. 

Add your chocolate chip eyes. You could also add a chocolate chip nose or mouth! 

Voila'

A super cute snowman that would be adorable sitting on a glass of hot cocoa!

And, I had to include this! We were trying to get a photo of all of the girls and their snowmen, and my niece's buttons fell off! This was her face! LOL- it's priceless!

And, the girls with their snowmen. Since these were pretty messy, we went ahead and let them eat their snowmen!

After we made snowmen, we let the girls make chocolate covered potato chips. 

Now, I know what you're thinking. Chocolate Covered Potato Chips?!?! And to that, I say, "they're the best thing you'll ever eat." They're sweet and salty, and amazing. We've been making these since I was a little girl, and they are the best. 

See, Gretchen loves them, and you will too! 

Friday night, the girls went to my mom's for a bit and I headed to visit one of my best friends, and then I headed to my cousin's high-school football game to watch them play in their semi-final game. My cousin is a cheerleader and her twin brother is in the band. I have never been able to go to a game because of work and our own football schedule, so I was super excited that I'd be able to go to this game. And, a random aside, but I use to work with the head coaches wife and their son, who is a senior, I took care of when he was 2 and 3 years old! So, I really wanted to go. Unfortunately, it had rained all day, and the rain had settled in for the night. I twas pretty cold, and even though I was prepared with my rain gear, we ended up leaving at half time and sitting in the car for the rest of the game. And, while i'm use to standing during football games, I had to stand the entire first half thanks to the over flowing student section! Needless to say, I couldn't see my cousin cheer and the band couldn't play, so I was fine with listening to the game on youtube and staying warm and dry in the car!

Plus, Tulsa was playing Tulane and I was able to watch the game on my Watch ESPN app. We had two phones and two games playing at the exact same time. This game was Tulsa's final game of the season, and a win would mean that our team would be bowl eligible. In the 4th quarter, our defense intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown. With a minute left to go in the game, it looked like Tulane would score and we would lose the game, but we intercepted the ball again and ran it back for another touchdown! I'm pretty sure I hyperventilated a bit and cried! It was the most amazing feeling knowing that our players would be getting to go to a bowl. 

Saturday morning, I woke up to two of the girls twinning in their pj's, and Meggie wanted in on the picture too. 

After breakfast, my brother headed to the duck cabin, and all of the girls gave him lots of love before he left. 

After two and a half days of the girls being stuck inside, we decided that they needed OUT. We found a new indoor play place where my mom lives, and found out that the price was reduced for first time visitors. #winning

The place was amazing! The girls had tons of fun and were able to play as their little hearts desired. Gretchen pretended she was a sheriff. She's tipping her pretend hat in the picture!

One room was full of cars and bikes, and the girls loved it. 

There was kinetic sand, an indoor slide, a place to build and race cars, a pretend kitchen, a wind tunnel, a "sand' box with tire chips, basketball goals, and a wall to color on. 

Seriously, the girls had the best time. We ended up ordering lunch and eating there, and stayed for almost three hours. It was exactly what we needed after three days of being stuck inside! 

Once we got home, I made myself a bowl of puppy chow and chocolate covered chips!

We settled in for some 80s movies watching. Sixteen Candles anyone? And then we went to my mom's house for dinner. 

After dinner, Gee and her grand girls made cookies. 

Adalyn was serious about her sprinkles. 

The girls had baths, we watched some football, and then they settled in for Christmas movies, while my sister in law headed back to her house to do some picking up and laundry. My mom brought them home just in time for bed!

We got up Sunday morning and headed home. DJ had been home since some time early Saturday morning, and we couldn't wait to see him! The drive was rainy, but the girls slept a little and perked up after a quick lunch. We made it home to a brand new Christmas tree, and our elf, Sally! (more on that to come!)

Have a great one my friends! 

Our Thanksgiving Weekend Wrap Up: Part 1

The girls and I had a great Thanksgiving weekend! We headed to Arkansas to my parent's house, as is our annual tradition. DJ had to stay behind, because the team flew out Thanksgiving day for New Orleans. Thankfully, he was able to have a good meal with the team on Wednesday, so I didn't feel too terrible about leaving him behind, but I do hate that we haven't had a Thanksgiving together in about 5 years! Tis the life of a football wife......

Wednesday morning, the girls and I were up and ready to go by 10. We ran a quick errand and then hit the road. The girls did great in the car. They're really becoming perfect little travelers. Addy was setttled in watching Frozen, Gretchen brought tons of books to read, and Meggie had the ipad. We listened to Christmas music and made the best of it!

The weather was so nice when we got to my mom's house, so the girls played outside and ran around a bit. Gretchen hid under their ginormous bush, and Meggie was trying to find her! 

And then their PaPaw, took them for a ride in his jeep. 

After the jeep ride, we headed inside to start baking pies for Thanksgiving. I ended up making two pumpkin and a pecan pie for our meal, and Addy Pearl was a great little helper!

After we baked pies, the girls headed down to my brother's house and my mom and I went to the rehab hospital to visit my grandmother. We made a quick stop at the grocery store, before heading home to my brother's homemade chicken alfredo! I may have had two heaping helpings! 

We got all of the girls bathed and in their pj's, and started to get them settled in for the night. And, then I realized that Addy and I had to head back to my mom's house to pick something up, so I let her drive. 

Don't worry, my brother and my mom live down the same drive way on 40 acres of land in the middle of nowhere! 

She's learned to make silly faces and it cracks me up when she makes this face!

Once we got the girls settled in, my brother and I made homemade yeast rolls using my grandmother's recipe. Except, when I wrote it down, she told me it took 4 cups of flour, and it clearly took 10 by the time we were said and done. 

The rolls were ready to go in the oven!

Thanksgiving morning, the girls were up bright and early for breakfast. We watched the parade, and then my brother, Addy Pearl and I headed to the rehab hospital to bring my grandmother home! 

I think the most precious thing ever is watching the love between grandparents, great-grandparents, and their next generations. As we picked up my grandmother, she and Adalyn held hands walking out the door, and it totally brought a tear to my eye. Once we got her home, Addy crawled up in her lap and wanted to know all about her hospital bracelets. This Thanksgiving, we are extra thankful that my grandmother is home and is much improved!

We spent the rest of the morning getting ready to have company at my brother's house. The girls were ready for turkey day in their outfits that my mom got, and I was just thankful I didn't have to work on any last minute shirts for them!

Happy Thanksgiving from The Welte Girls! 

My mom was scheduled to work on Thanksgiving, but she made it home right about the time we were fixing our plates. The girls were super excited to see her! 

The rest of the afternoon, we spent with family. Exactly the way it should be. 

The girls played dress up, and eventually everyone headed home. 

And then we had pumpkin pie for dinner. Because. Thanksgiving.

I'm super thankful for my little princess. 

And, this one too!

We ended the night with a movie and more cousin time. 

My part two will be up tomorrrow! Our weekend was too filled with lots of fun for just one post! And, if you missed my stocking stuffer ideas yesterday, you can check that post out here. 

And, you can follow along with lots of Christmas cheer on Instagram. Just search for #hpaholiday

Weekend WrapUp

Hey friends! I'm so glad you've stopped by today. It's Monday, and I totally think I can make it because we only have a two day work/school week and then we're off to Arkansas for Thanksgiving! 

Addy Pearl may be feeling my Thanksgiving excitement. 

After our sick day last Thursday (Adalyn had an upper respiratory infection) we were all much better on Friday and we all headed back to school. I took Adalyn to daycare and DJ took the big girls to school. 

This came across my facebook memories feed, and it made me reminisce on how young we were ten years ago. We were just a few weeks out from being married and I was able to travel with a friend from the student activities board to the Arkansas State vs. Army game. 

I mean, look at us. Things have changed so much. (Notice DJ's phone attached to his hip!) We were young and in love, and ready to be married, and little did we know at the time that we'd be spending our honey moon at yet another football game. Football is our life. It's always been our life. 

Friday morning, Not Your Grandma's Cupcakes brought their food truck by the school. I indulged in a Death by Oreo cupcake, and let me tell you, it was worth every bite. 

After school, Gretchen, Megan, and I headed home so Gretchen could get ready for her princess cheer camp. Megan through an epic battle of wills because she wanted to go as well, but I promised her a fun night out with mommy, and that still didn't top the fact that Anna and Elsa were suppose to be at cheer camp. Thankfully, I was able to calm her down by telling her Anna and Elsa would not be there, and that her big sister was telling her a story. Which, may not have been the case, but a mom's got to do what a mom's got to do. 

#canIgetanAmen

We got Gretchen dropped off at camp, and then Adalyn, Megan, and I had dinner at CFA before heading to Target. I'm telling you, we have pretty exciting Friday nights around here. 

We headed back to pick up Gretchen and Adalyn had the time of her life playing with the balloons. 

And Anna and Elsa did in fact stop by and Megan was thrilled! Gretchen was too, but she reminded us that they were just people dressed up in a costume. 

#becauseshesgettingtoobig

#evenforherself

That night, Megan showed me how to draw a house before she went to bed. 

And I stayed up way too late working on orders. 

And then this came across my timeline, and I had to pause that this 2 1/2 year old is now about to turn 8. Which, boggles my mind. 

We headed to the grocery store Saturday morning, and the girls danced to Pop-See-Go while I was checking out. Pop-See-Go is a brain break activity that they do at school. 

DJ came home for about an hour and we had lunch and then he headed to the football office, and the big girls and I spent the next 40 minutes dragging Christmas out of the attic. 

I may have too many Christmas decorations. Said no one ever. 

We spent the next several hours getting the house decorated and then Adalyn woke up and decided to make silly faces. 

I told her to smile, and this is what I got! I think she's been hanging around her big sisters for too long. 

Around 5, we started getting ready to head out to our last home game of the season. 

The girls and I huddled up in the suite since it was freezing outside. They played, I watched the game, it was pretty perfect. 

Until we lost, but that's neither here nor there. 

Addy was looking for her daddy. 

It was pretty awesome seeing Navy and our team praying together after the game. As the girls and I were leaving, I was telling them that the Navy players would be fighting for our country one day. That these men would be working on big battle ships and protecting our freedom. It was pretty humbling walking through their players, families, and equipment managers after the game knowing how much they're sacrificing. Because sometimes, it's not just football. 

Megan bundled up in her coat and sunglasses, because we need sunnies at 10 pm. 

Sunday morning we all slept LATE! Adalyn slept until 10 and we had a lazy morning. Two nights in a row of staying up late just wore me out. DJ headed back to the football office, and the girls watched some t.v. while I finished decorating in the kitchen and then worked on cleaning the house and getting everything back in order. 

I let the girls skip their naps since they slept late. They went upstairs and made Christmas cards while I got ready for dinner at the football offices. 

I found that Adalyn had colored all over herself, so a bath was in order. 

She was pretty proud of herself, but the marker needed to go. Plus, this meant that she didn't need a bath when we got home after dinner. 

On our way to football, Megan started singing Jingle Bells, and then seconds later she was out. 

And when dinner was over, the girls and I drove around the U on campus to see the blue Christmas lights. 

Once we made it home, we cuddled up and watched some of The Wizard of Oz. Gretchen went to bed with a slight fever, so after a dose of children's tylenol, and oils on her toes and back, we called it a night. 

I'm hoping that by this morning she feels better and can make it to school, although I could probably use a three day weekend and a one day work week! Ha!