Black Friday!

I don't know what it is about this day, but I think it is one of the funnest days of the year. I can hardly sleep the night before. I love the anticipation of waiting and hoping that I get all the great deals I want. This was a great year. I think we all got pretty much everything we all wanted. We had a bigger crew this year, since everyone was up here for Thanksgiving. We almost got mom to join us this year and then she remembered how much she just loves to shop! Julie, Mindy and I got to left for Walmart at 3:45. Lisa and Jess met us at 4:15. There was something to them that felt better about getting up in the fours not the threes. We all had a blast and some pretty good laughs. Can't wait until next year.

Mindy, Kristi, Julie

The van was packed full of stuff and this was only one van. Lisa and Jess brought the other van home a little early.

That evening we had a rocking party with Rock Band, with Alan, Lisa and Jess!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving the Blakes came up North. The Johnsons were great hosts for Thanksgiving and we had so much great food and company. We had a super fun weekend playing.

Jessica, Kaitlyn, Alyssa, and Melanie all ready to go eat the big feast!

Alan had the job of carving the turkey, of course along with Dad's supervision!

Jessica and Kristi

Matt, Melanie and Alyssa

Kaitlyn, Makayla and Sam

Kristi and Brad!

Look at all that yummy food, we stuffed ourselves silly!

After dinner all of us girls scoped all the adds planning our next days attack!

Lisa, Julie, Jessica, Mindy, Kristi

Get to Know Matt, Melanie and Kaitlyn

A while back I asked all my kids these questions and here is what they said. It was so fun to here all the different responses each of my kids gave. Oh, how I love these kids and am very thankful to have them!

MATT

Favorite animal: Teddy Bear
Treat: candy bars (tootsie rolls)
Favorite song: Magic School Bus (The wheels on the bus)
Favorite things to do: play cars, read books, jump on tramp, play with toys
Favorite place to go: Grandma's
Favorite food: Ramen
What are you excited for: Grandma and Grandpa





MELANIE



Favorite animal: Bunnies
Favorite Treat: Donuts
Where do you want to go today: Go to Lillian's
Who is your best friend: Hannah and Alex
What are you sooo excited for: For my birthday
Favorite song: Belle Songs
Favorite dinner: Meatballs and Rice
What are some of your favorite things to do: Jump with Dad on the tramp, getting pushed high on the swing, sit with mommy when I cry, ride my bike, play Polly pockets with Kaitlyn






KAITLYN



Favorite animal: Monkeys
Favorite Treat: Swedish fish
Where do you want to go today: Library
Who is your best friend: Makayla and Addy
What are you sooo excited for: Christmas
Favorite song: Catch a wave (Beach Boys) and High School Musical songs
Favorite dinner: Hot dogs
What are some of your favorite things to do: Watch movies, play with cousins, jump on the tramp, having family night, playing barbies and Polly pockets.

First Snowmen of the Year!

This last Saturday It snowed all day long. Kaitlyn begged me all day to take her out and play in it and build a snowman. I kept saying no. Brad got home from work and took all three kids out to play. I kept telling them there wasn't enough snow to build a snowman. Well they proved me wrong, they built two baby snowmen and had a blast with Brad. Thank goodness for dads!!!!

Melanie, Kaitlyn and Matt

All bundled up to play in the snow!

Kaitlyn and Melanie

Matt, look at that smile, now that is priceless. He was so happy to be out int he snow playing!

Matt, Kaitlyn and Melanie

With their snowmen I told them there was not enough snow for! Sadly they are almost all the way melted today!

Look at Me I'm Dad!

Matthew just cracks us up most days, he is seriously so funny. So Brad came home for lunch one day and set his glasses, keys, wallet and cell phone on the kitchen table. We are all just sitting at the bar eating lunch when we hear Matt say "Look at Me I'm Dad!" running circles around the table. This is how we found him.

Doesn't he just look like a miniature Brad. Side note, he has this thing going on that he thinks he doesn't need to wear a shirt because he is a boy. i have no idea where he learned this from. It's not like Brad runs around the house with no shirt. Oh my how boys are so different that girls!!1

Reflections!

Kaitlyn had so much fun doing her reflections for this year. She decided she wanted to do a photography piece. The theme was Beauty is . . . She ended up taking a lot of pictures of nature and called her entry "Cute" her description was because it is cute and it is nature! I just love this girl. She had a lot of fun at the awards night. She was especially excited for the trophy and sucker. Here are the three pictures she put into a collage.

Kaitlyn's principal giving her the trophy!

The Big 30!

Brad turned the big 30 on November 5th. We celebrated the Brad Hiatt way, small and simple without any big flare! He really hates to be in the spotlight. So I thought I better respect that on this big day.

Kaitlyn, Brad, Matt and Melanie

The kids were so excited for a birthday party for dad!

The whole fam!

Lots of help blowing out the candles!

Me and my sweetheart!

We topped the party off with a good game of chutes and ladders! what a great dad he is, to play a game with his girls on his birthday!

Halloween!

I have to be honest Halloween is not my favorite holiday. The kids had a lot of fun so I guess it was a success. We spent Halloween down in AF and had a lot of fun being with family.

Kaitlyn the witch in her Halloween parade at school.

We had pumpkin pizza for dinner!

Melanie as Belle, Matt our little cowboy, and Kaitlyn our witch!

Out on Grandma's swing ready to go!

Trick or Treat!
We got way too much candy!

The kids loved Aunt Gwen's m & m pumpkins!

Painting Pumpkins!

Since we weren't going to be home for Halloween we decided to paint our pumpkins instead of carving them this year. The kids all had a blast making each of their pumpkins unique. Kaitlyn was super excited that she grew a pumpkin this year, but was nice enough to let Matt paint it. She wanted to paint a bigger one and Matt loved the small one. She is such a great big sister!

Matt, Melanie, and Kaitlyn

Ready for some painting fun!

Grandma happened to be up at our house visiting when we painted the pumpkins. It was fun having her help us with it.

Matt with his pumpkin, all blue.

Kaitlyn and her finished product!

Melanie and her finished product!

Matthew decided to add some green, purple and white to make his finished product more metallic!

Pumpkin Walk!

We had a lot of fun going to the pumpkin walk with my sister Julie and her kids.

Kaitlyn, Melanie, Matt, Makayla, Luke, Blake and Hayley

Kaitlyn, Makayla and Melanie

This year they had you find a m&m in each scene. The kids had a lot of fun with that.

Matt with the light saver at the star wars scene.

Kaitlyn and Makayla dancing with MJ.

Melanie with the cows!

Matt

Melanie

Kaitlyn

Blake, Melanie, Matt, Kaitlyn, Makayla, Hayley and Luke

Everyone with the witch!

Kaitlyn , Melanie and Matt