A Weekend of Thankfulness...

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!  

Oh heck, I love any excuse to decorate, but the Fall and being around people that give me the warm fuzzy feeling- hands down the BEST.  Pete and I really have spent a lot of time making this house a home, but as cliche as it sounds, it all just means so much more when we're together with family enjoying it all.  Ya I know- did that make you throw up in your mouth a little bit?!  HA!

This year, we began Thanksgiving celebrations a little early.  The girls were home on break from school for Veteran's Day.  We invited my parents out to enjoy the long weekend with us and celebrate a little early, as we knew we wouldn't be able to make the trip back for Thanksgiving weekend.

  

In true O'Connell fashion, there always needs to be a hiccup in the plans and some sort of project happening, around the holidays.

The hiccup part of that: Ms. Maggie had spent 6 weeks too long fighting colds and ear infections.  Enough was enough for our little one and we were able to get an appointment with her ENT to get ear tubes put back in (hers had fallen out) and adenoids removed.  She (and her amazing Daddy;)) went in early on Thursday morning and she did SO well through the procedure.  I manned the home front and of course was Nervous Nelly the whole time...

Megan (and her adorable kiddos;)) to the rescue for a fun playdate and yummy lunch out!

{Of course this is the best of the pictures I was able to get of the bunch-ha...but they're still so cute- right?!}

Anyway, Maggie did very well and the doctor said her adenoids were HUGE and that she should for sure start to feel better!!  7 Days out and not a runny nose in sight!  She's sleeping better, fever free, and in the best mood- I say that was a win!!

Thank you, Pete for never seizing to amaze me with Maggie.  My nerves get the best of me whenever it comes to ailments in our kiddos.  You truly wear the cape when it comes to them and showing them how to be brave and strong- thank you so much.

...and then, as soon as Maggie woke up, her Nana and Papa were there to make it all better.  Papa scooped her up immediately and cuddled her.  These two have a bond I tell ya, and she was out like a light.... the SWEETEST!!!

...and a belated birthday gift came at the PERFECT time.  A cozy twinkling, little star... Maggie was in Heaven!!

Thank you, Uncle Aaron + Natalie- you hit the nail on the head with the gift!!

The GIRLS spent 4 days soaking UP their Nana and Papa.  We just couldn't get enough- and really didn't let them rest much... ha!  Harper and Nana got out all of my childhood American Girl Dolls and played for hours in the basement- love that Harper loves those dolls just as much as I did growing up!!

 

 

...and of COURSE there is always silliness.  Lots of Lego building and LOTS of tickling... ha!  Spoiled girls for sure!

 

The project part of the weekend: installing MUCH NEEDED backsplash in our kitchen!  Pete sprung this on me when they arrived and I was slightly apprehensive of doing it... seeing that I was going to be preparing my FIRST Thanksgiving dinner for my family in that kitchen he wanted to tear up- ha!  

Well, I'm so glad they did it!  These two always bond over projects- who was I to stand in the way?!  The tile saw made me nervous, but they worked quickly and stayed pretty clean- high five guys!

 

LOVE the backsplash and LOVE the new cake platter from my mom.  So funny, this is one of those things I LOVED about my childhood: mom always had a dish on the counter and it was almost always filled with some sort of homemade yumminess.  Thank you for helping me bring that to my home, mom!!!

 

Nana's mini me was all about doing ANYTHING Nana was doing... so sweet watching Evelyn just watching Nana...

...and dressing up!  HA!  This child would like to have herself completely adorned every waking moment- ha!

{I do love my chaotic bunch of munchkins}

...and then it was time!  I did it (with Pete's help).  Not sure why I thought it was a good idea to try SO many new recipes, but ya... my parents were amazing sports to put up with the wide array of foods throughout the weekend!

{So thankful to them making the trip- great GREAT memories}

One last final project before they left: Turkey Disguise.  Harper was to disguise a paper turkey so it 'wouldn't be eaten at Thanksgiving dinner'.  She chose how she wanted to disguise and Nana was ALL over the craft- ha!  

Her choice of disguise: Darth Vader (she is SO her father's daughter;))

{the finished Darth- no turkey in sight- right?!}

Thank you mom for your effort and PATIENCE in helping with this- much appreciated... you are better woman than I- ha!

Yes this post is a little cliche, but this time of year I'm feeling it guys.  It happens.  I even bought this 'Grateful Tree' for our dining room table.  Even the smallest blessings are worth speaking about.  All the little things that make this life so sweet- I am grateful.  

Thank you, Mom & Dad for making the trip out here.  It had been so long and we were more than ready to shower you with all our craziness.  Thank you for your new-house wisdom, an awesome shopping trip, and helping out soon much with the girls.  Thank you for being so patient with all of us and allowing the girls to soak up their Nana and Papa... it was so SO great!