Feast Your Eyes On This…

Thanksgiving is such a beautiful time to remember the daily blessings that we often take for granted, isn’t it?  We have SO MUCH to be grateful for…it’s truly overwhelming!

I hope you were able to enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend, not only the meal and the gathering, but the bountiful blessings as well!

We survived hosting, and were grateful for the opportunity to have loved ones in our home. Here’s a glimpse of our own family celebration with Brad’s side of the family.

Gramma came over the night before to help us dress the bird. 

The Reynolds Cooking Chart called for an internal temperature of 180 degrees.  I think we nailed it!

 

Great Grandma helped Brad with his first Turkey Carving…

The Pioneer Woman’s Creamy Mashed Potatoes were melt in your mouth goodness!

How in the world did the Pilgrims and Indians Cook Thanksgiving Dinner Without the Crock-Pot Invention? 

We got all 19 heads seated and served!

And No Thanksgiving is Complete without a Little Tossing Around of the Football Make That a Blue’s Clues Stuffed Animal

Thank you Murray/Cronkhite Family for sharing Thanksgiving 2009 with us!

I’d love to see how your family celebrated Thanksgiving.  If you are blogging about your festivities, feel free to leave a link to your blog post via MckLinky.  You’ll gain some traffic for your own blog, and be able to connect with other blogging families! If you aren’t a blogger, you are welcome to share with us in the comment section! 

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****Also, if you haven’t yet checked out The 4tunate Holiday Gift Guide, please do so in the post below or by clicking on the button on the top right side bar.****

Falling For You

   

 

And The 4tunate Halloween Photo Contest Winner Is…..

Little Bo Peep and Her 2 Little Sheep! 

Email me, Holly, and I’ll give you the details to claim your personalized Chocolate Silver Design Necklace!

It was certainly a close race and nearly 1,000 of you voted!  Thanks for making it so much fun, AND for not making ME pick the final winner! 

If you’re name isn’t Holly and you haven’t lost your sheep, have no fear…

There’s another exciting giveaway just around the corner here on www.4tunate.net !

November Letter

My Sweet Boys,

How can I express the love that fills my heart for you as you quickly approach age 3? These past few weeks have been some of my favorite.  They have been weeks filled with watching you explore, pretend, play with each other like never before, and hold these wonderful conversations that get lengthier every day.

Although I would not have picked for your daddy to lose his job, I must admit that the panic has been replaced with a deep fondness of this precious time we have together.  And even as I pray daily for a new job and opportunity to present itself, I dread him telling you goodbye that first morning back to work.  You are your daddy’s boys through and through, and I love him all the more for the father he is to you boys.  It’s been a joy to watch him grow to know you even better through these last few weeks and watch you giggle multiple times a day as he tickles, chases, and tackles each of you. 

You boys are so incredibly blessed in so many ways. You are easy to love.  And I’m thanking God for your miracle lives yet again today.

~Your Mama

4tunate Halloween Photo Contest Top 5

Before you send me hate mail, unsubscribe to 4tunate, or egg my car, please know that I had a VERY DIFFICULT task of narrowing the 60+ entries down to a Top 5. If it’s any consolation, I made a photo montage, so everyone can admire the tremendous originality of your costumes and beauty of your children. Seriously, you are ALL one creative, adorable, sensational bunch of Trick or Treaters! 

**** Here’s the Top 5: Vote For Your Favorite (Poll Located at the Bottom of the Post).  One vote per person. Share with your family and friends!  Voting Closes Wednesday, November 11, 2009. ****

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PHOTO #1

Campbell the Pumpkin

Submitted by Micah

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PHOTO #2

Will the Alligator

Submitted by Megan

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PHOTO #3

The 50’s Girls

Submitted by Kimberly  

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PHOTO #4

“Pride and Joy”

Submitted by Michelle 

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PHOTO #5

Little Bo Beep and Her Sheep

Submitted by Holly

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And now for the prize!  So excited to be giving this away!  I’d LOVE one of these for Christmas myself (Hint, Hint, Nudge, Nudge)!!! It’s a personalized “Kayla Charm Necklace” from Chocolate Silver Designs.  Isn’t it just elegent and classic?  (Swoon.) You should go check out all the great pieces they have at Chocolate Silver Designs. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with one (or seven) too!

 

And Here’s My 68 Favorites in Video Form:

Music by David Benoit “The Great Pumpkin Waltz”

 

 

Still Going Bananas Over the Monkeys!

So here’s the “Pumpkin Day” Play by Play:

The morning started off with pumpkin photos sporting our $2 Old Navy Halloween Tees…(Clark, Henry, Brooks, Isaac)

(There’s more group shots over here….)

After some breakfast Clark and Henry went with Daddy to Lowes to buy some materials for the “float”…

Meanwhile, Brooks and Isaac helped Mama bake a pumpkin cake…

Daddy helped with the icing and sprinkles and we posed for yet ANOTHER picture…

After naptime it was finally time to get on the Monkey Suits and Load into the Bed…

 

Each monkey (Henry, Isaac, Brooks, Clark) behaved in a “tame” manner as we “jumped” from house to house singing “Trick or Treat” in unison…

 

We were so caught up in enjoying the evening that we forgot to take any video until it was getting dark….

All the jumping wore us out (Mama and Doctor included)…

And soon enough there were…

“4 Little Monkeys SLEEPING in Their Beds! 

They Were Off to Slumber, All 4 Little Heads.

Mama Hugged the Doctor and the Doctor Said,

“Thank God for the Monkeys Sleeping in Their Beds!” 

PS Stay tuned later today for the Top 5 4tunate Halloween Photo Contest Finalist!  You’ll get to vote for your favorite entry!

Monkey Exhibit: Zoo Boo 2009

Our Monkey Madness actually began last weekend at the Indianapolis Zoo Boo.  They host a great kickoff event and opportunity to get another wear out of the year’s Halloween Costumes.Our first attempt at going with Uncle Ryan and Aunt Kristy was a wash (literally),but it was a good practice run and the Mexican grub afterwards more than made up for the lack of candy. Our second attempt with Gramma and Grampa was a hit!  We didn’t go through the trouble of making the “bed float” for our visit, but a lot of other families picked up on our theme of  “Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed”. 

Hope you’re in the mood to “Monkey Around”, because there’s bound to be monkey overload on the ole blog this week!

 

Love the curly tails!

Not too shabby for a group shot with 4 two year olds!

Brooks Makes Monkeys Look so Innocent

Isaac Doing His Best Monkey Impression

 

The leaves on the trees were even better in person. 

Who Needs Stroller Rental When You Bring These Wheels?

 

Checking Out our Fellow Jungle Friends: Elephants

 

Clark (left) and Brooks (right) Monkey Twins

Brooks Humoring Mama for One More Picture

Don’t forget it’s not too late to enter your monkey, princess, superhero, critter, etc. in 4tunate’s Halloween Photo Contest.  We’ll be picking our top 5 favorite and posting them this Thursday, so send your entries to quatro_mama AT yahoo DOT com to be considered!

Which monkey shot is your personal favorite?