Decorating for Christmas

Decked out in comfy jammies we set about getting the house ready for Christmas.
It is a Dorsey family tradition to put up the Christmas decorations Thanksgiving weekend.

Our family tree- decorated with love and ornaments of memories.

Lillian vacuuming up the mess. What a little helper.

With the downstairs decorated, it was time for the kids tree!
The girls tree is up in the family room and is off limits from Mommy- they can decorate or undecorate it as many times as they wish over the holiday season.
As long as it does not fall over, Mommy doesn't care how it looks.


Our little mate has finally spoken....



and the word is ELMO!

Happy Holidays!

Aliza's Golden Birthday: 27 on the 27th

Happy Birthday Aliza!

I had a fab birthday this year.
Shopping in the morning with my Mum and sister (Black Friday sales), lunch at Applebees together, a leisurely afternoon nap, and dinner at Sweet Home Chicago with family and friends.

My friend Niki (and her husband Kevin) joined us for the celebration.

It was awesome to spend my birthday with my sister and her husband Sean (a perk of spending Thanksgiving in Indiana together)

After dinner, we shared a Dairy Queen ice cream cake for pudding.
Lillian LOVED the pink icing.

She even had to have her own spoon.

Yummy

When will Mommy get a bite of her own birthday cake?


After dinner, Beth and Sean, Niki and Kevin, and Rob and I went to the local bowling alley for a few games.

As always, Kevin had a great game- he was the only one to break 200.

Beth had a few good frames too.

Sean didn't do too bad either.

Final scores!


There is no better way to have spent a birthday!

Drumstick Dash

Thanksgiving morning dawned cloudy, overcast, and 35F. Not exactly the perfect day to run a race, but that is exactly where we were headed.

My sister Beth and I, along with my friend Melissa from Church headed to Broadripple for the 7th annual Drumstick Dash. The "dash" consisted of 4.5 miles.

Just edging around mile marker 2- almost to the half way point at the water station and having a great time.


Just over 1 hour from start to finish- not too bad (especially in a crowd of 8,000).

A final photo op with Melissa and the Turkey before heading home for Thanksgiving!

We did it and it was awesome!
I am looking forward to the next race- a 5k Jingle Bell Run on December 12th.

Thanksgiving Feast

A Candy Turkey to start the festivities!

Our two "cheese balls"

Wednesday evening- prepping for the big feast. The sisters making sweet potato casserole.

How does that taste? Needs more sugar.

Our beautiful bird- all the way from New Hampshire!

Basted to perfection by Chef Liza

A table fit for royalty- Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet tator casserole, corn casserole, stuffing, red cabbage, green bean casserole, and crescent rolls.
Pudding: Homemade pumpkin and apple pie

A family gathering with Nana and Pa, Aunt Beth and Uncle Sean and the 4 Sparkman's.

Madi loved all the food- she had seconds and thirds.

Thanksgiving Beauties

Cheese!



Lillian enjoyed visiting with Loki- she just did not enjoy sharing her toys or food.

A game of Phase 10 ended our evening.

While Daddy and Lillian enjoyed watching football.

Climbing Mt Bunk Bed

Lillian's favorite past time is climbing the bunk bed ladder.

She does a great job.

Look at her stretch for the next rung.

Climbing back down- time for bath!

Clean and dry and back to climbing

Cheese!

Our little "calvin"!

Badges for the Brownie

Madi loves Brownies.
She is proud to wear her sash and to show off her badges.
She loves having her Pot of Gold and sharing stories of Rainbows with her American friends.
She has earned 2 additional badges (Dance and Crafts) that will be added soon.

Her troop 1905 is having a sleepover this Saturday and will be caroling for Christmas at a local nursing home.

We are so proud of her!

I want my MO (monkey)

Inside Outside Upside Down

Lillian's favorite book!




Her favorite part of the book is the last page " Mama Mama I went to town, inside outside upside down"

Highchair Climbing

Visiting Omi and Opi

No trip to Chicago would be complete without visiting Omi and Opi.
Lillian quickly settled in with all of her cuddles and monkey.

She greeted the giraffes by the door before heading off to find Omi.

Lillian enjoyed snuggles in the kitchen with Omi while Madison and I played a couple games of Yahtzee.

I love visiting my grandma and hearing her funny tales.

Check out Lilli's new "smile face". What a cutie!

Madi visited with Opi and loved telling him about school and Brownies.

In the zone.

Catching a quick hug from Opi before heading to the kitchen for dinner.

Lillian was a bit shy around Opi but as soon as he ripped open the Ritz chips, she was his biggest fan.

Another one, please.

Can I have one?

Licking off the flavor...

I hope she isn't putting it back in the bag.

Can't wait until our next visit.