Happy Thanksgiving

We had a very fun Thanksgiving week. Brad finished his 5th quarter of school last Friday. He did so well and the Chambers family was in much need of some R and R. But on Friday night a bunch of us girls went and saw the Twilight movie. Saturday morning we left for Branson, Missouri. It was about 5 hours south of Kville. We invited some friends to come with us and share our condo. We had a fun filled week with lots of games, treats, good food,trips to the park, giggling and running kids, shopping, and to end the week-a homemade Thanksgiving meal. Here are some pictures of the week.

The meal.

The girls after hardworking in the kitchen. We should've added Trenton to the picture because he did a good job with the turkeys.
The 3 of us decided we would do the midnight shopping thing. None of us had done it before and we thought why not try it out. Wow! Crazy busy stores. We only went to 2 stores and it tooks us over 2 hours!

We got a lot of personal attention from the Santa at one of the shopping centers. He volunteered to take this picture with the group.

some more Thanksgiving...

Santa decided to get out of his chair because dear Chloe was just crying. He said he'd let me sit in the chair and then pose himself in the back (seriously, nicest Santa ever. When I asked him if he was really married to Mrs. Clause, he said "no, but I wish. She is cute!) I love how Chloe is looking at him and as for me? well, I am always ready for a picture (laugh)

Taegan, Brad and Chloe.

Obviously, we get very excited at what Chloe gets excited at. You can't see her reaction to the water is equally as big as my reaction to her.

You can always count on Chloe ot take a free ride. Here she is with her little friend Olivia. I can't believe they are only 1 year apart. Chloe looks SO big.

I am Thankful for so many things. But my tops list (and pretty standard list from year to year) is My Brad, My Chloe, Starsky, our families/friends, a warm house, good health, food and not just basic food but like really good food and yummy recipes and lots of options, living in the USA, Brad pursing his dreams, my imagination, my talents, my faith, and the Savior without which none of the above would be possible.

This is why you don't leave your keys in your car...

So, sometimes I leave my keys in my car. Think and say what you will, but I think my $45 lesson is enough for me to not do it again. Today, I left my keys in the car as I went to exercise group. We had a great run and I was ready to get home and get showered so I could make it to book club (previously mentioned last night). I find that although I have left my keys hidden in the car a dozen times I didn't anticipate the dog and his amazing abilities. Apparantly he stepped on the automatic lock and that is how this whole mess happened. I had several people try and help. One man even stood in front of the car and tried to make Starsky real mad so he would step on the lock button again. An on looker said, "that was probably 1 in a million shot that he did it the first time so I bet he won't do it for you again. He was right. Curse him. Eventually I had to call a locksmith. The only time i got really frustrated in this 1.5 hours was when the triple A lady kept transferring me back and forth between offices and personnel and she kept saying my name was mare-A-knee (that's how she pronounced it) The frustration came to the surface when I kindof too loudly said, "my name is Melanie...it's a normal name, not Mare-a-knee. Then I had to spell it for her and she understood!! So I paid 45 dollars to the nice locksmith man who kept laughing at me as he first said, "lots of peoples dogs lock their cars and boy you must be cold". You think. I had been standing outside for about and hour and had the sweaty afterrun feeling. Chloe and I did get some good "choo-choo" in on the curb and she walked round and round the flower garden. I missed bookclub (sad face) but made it just in time for another appointment I had at 1130.
And an apology...I tend to lose things. I always, always forget my phone or don't answer it because it's on silent, I often forget silly things on vacation like a brush or toothpaste. I am usually the mom without a dipaer when I need it but always have it when I don't need it. Chloe takes everyone elses snacks. Chloe likes to use markers and pens so they are all over our house. I only vaccum occassionally because our vaccum stinks, literally. But all in all, I'm a good friend, I always do what I say I am going to do, and I would get your back whenever you need me. (smiles)

Nickel and Dimed...

Well friends...if you read this blog then you will be surprised to read that...
MY TOOTH BROKE AGAIN!
So Sunday morning I had to remove part of my fractured tooth from my own mouth for the 4th time in 2 weeks. Seriously, why oh why would you ever want to be a dentist. Oh, I just felt like crying. I got another appointment because the dentist "guarantees" her work. Nice of her! and I got my tooth fixed yesterday. I had to have tons more of the original tooth shaved down so they could add more fake stuff. Does that make any sense to anyone else?On my way out of the office she says to me, "you really should just try and let that tooth be more for cosmetic purposes and try and use it as little as possible." Umm...thanks but it's my front tooth and I'm pretty sure we have teeth for a reason. But today, I found myself eating a sliced apple and biting it from the left corner of my mouth. It wasn't a pretty site, but a funny one i'm sure. Anyway, I am just crossing my fingers that this tooth lasts longer than a week and then I think I will be in the clear-well, in the clear for a little longer.
Changing subjects, last week I went to the library to check out a book and I rented one of those quick reads that you have to read within 7 days or they charge you 2 dollars if it's late and you can't renew. Well I got this book called Sunday and Tiffany's and began reading it with gusto. About that same time I obtained a copy of our book club book for the month called Nickel and Dimed (something in America) and I had to read this one quick. So here I am reading 2 books at the same time and trying hard to not favor one over that other because they were both good and different. After 3 days I finished the book club book and after 5 I turned the last page of the Tiffany's book. I love the feeling of finishing a book and after finishing 2 i felt especially proud. I kinda smiled when I put the books down and turned off the light for bed. Reading really makes me feel smart.

In case anyone is keeping track...

...my tooth broke, again. 3rd time in one week. Yikes! This time I decided to change my approach. I went to a different dentist and as a result paid less and ended up getting a refund for my previous work. This time it only took them 2.5 hours! Seriously, I was there forever. I don't think I was the number one priority on the block. The dentist tried to give me a shot! (what for??) I pleaded no. She tried to take an x-ray(what for??) I pleaded no. Needless, to say I hope I am done with this stuff.

A good Halloween.

Hope you all had a fun filled Halloween.

Some Halloween

The hit costume this year was the monkey suit. These are 2 of the cutest monkeys, Chloe and Olivia.

We went to two trunk-or-treats. This was my attempt at decorating out car.

And here is Chloe dragging her super full bag of candy.

These are 2 of our Chloe's friends, Sam and Asher. The cutest little boys live in Kirksville-Chloe is a lucky girl:)