In Memory

As many of you know, last Thursday (November 19) marked the one year anniversary of my father's passing. While the year has been very difficult, I am so grateful to my friends and family who were so supportive over the last year. What a wonderful month to be able to express my gratitude. I feel so blessed to have all of you, and can't tell you what it meant that you not only remembered, but cared enough to call, drop notes, etc. on this very hard anniversary. While I have spent the year realizing my loss and I know I still have a lot of healing to do, I can't think where I would be without all of you. My deepest thanks go out to you; I know a beautiful man up above who is also so grateful for the way people have come together for his wife and daughter.

November Crafts and Activities

TURKEY TREATS




The kids and I had so much fun today making these adorable turkeys. (I'm not sure if they were more fun to make or watch the kids eat them.) If you'd like the recipe, visit www.ricekrispies.com.

FALL PLACEMATS


Every Fall, Jack and I go on a "leaf hunt" and write a book about the leaves we gather. He loves reading the book we write and usually ends up having it memorized because we have to read it so many times. This year, even after the book, he kept wanting to go out for a walk and hunt for more leaves. We decided to make leaf placemats for the kids table at Thanksgivng. We took our favorite leaves and pressed them between two sheets of contact paper.



THANKFUL TURKEY


It is so important to me that Jack understand the meaning of Thanksgiving. We decided to make a thankful turkey this month so we could keep track of all the things we are thankful for. Daddy drew the turkey for us, since I am a terrible artist. Jack and I traced his hand several times and practiced his scissor skills cutting them out. Now anytime we think of something we are thankful for, we write it down on one of the hands we cut out, and add it to our turkey. Slowly but surely, our turkey is gaining a lot of feathers!

JACK'S FAVORITE THANKSGIVING BOOKS...
What Is Thanksgiving by Harriet Ziefert
Gus, the Pilgrim Turkey by Teresa Bateman
A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland
'Twas the Day After Thanksgiving by Mavis Smith
Franklin's Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Michael Berenstain
Give Thanks to the Lord:Celebrating Psalm 92 by Karma Wilson
The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli

MAREN'S FAVORITE THANKSGIVING BOOKS...
Spot's Thanksgiving by Eric Hill
Happy Thanksgiving Biscuit by Alyssa Capucilli
Thanksgiving Parade by Jodi Huelin
Courderoy's Thanksgiving by Lisa McCue

Jack's Class Party

Jack had his first class party last Thursday, and it was so fun for Maren and I to be able to attend. Jack had no idea how much fun a class party could be. He and his friends started off with giant cookies (Maren was delighted that she got to have one too). Next, they played lots of games and filled their treat bags. Finally, they were each able to color their own halloween puzzle. Nobody ate lunch when we got home, but a good time was had by all!