Thanksgiving Dinner

 Thanksgiving Dinner

This year, I inherited Alan's Grandparents Cherry Wood Dinning Table. I already received the Hutch & Buffet when we were first Married. I am sooooo excited for the final piece to the set!!!! It's gorgeous with 2 Inserts to fit 12. We will probably update the chairs over time. But for now I am absolutely thrilled. 

For the Holiday's I bring out our Best China & Silver & go all out. As Alan calls it "Tiffany Style". Every year Alan lets me get something new for the Table. (These photos didn't have silverware or place cards out yet.) This year we had Alan's Family, a total of 10. I have Music playing softly, for my Thanksgiving Mix.

Food Table

It doesn't show in the Photo... but I made a Menu & framed it on the Food Table. I love Cooking & Baking. This years food selections had a European Influence.

Fruit Turkey for the Kids! It was a total Hit.

I Love Hosting, & making these Beautiful. Now off to Bed... Alan & I are going Shopping in the Morning. :)

4th of July Weekend
Part II

The Morning of the 4th we enjoyed Our Backyard...

Savannah wanted Pigtail Braids with Red Ribbons.
Here is a Somber Savannah... which is not a common Site..
Brenton was Running around NON-Stop pretending to be a Car!! (A very common thing for him to pretend) This is the only photo I got of him!!

Brenton begged to have My Photo taken as well...(Thanks Brent!)

Getting Ready to Go...

Dubuque Botanical Gardens

We live about a 3 minute drive to the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens/ Marshall Park. We love visiting these at least every other week! Its always changing with the seasons and flowers. The kids love smelling the flowers and exploring the many paths. We also take advantage of the park's playground. It's FREE and we take all of our visitors here.

Here is a typical day of Our Adventure...

We park and notice we are being watched...
(crazy for the middle of the day!)


Playing at the Playground...

Being Silly on the Slides...


Playing was fun!! Now time to Explore...

Checking out & smelling the Flowers...

Three Billy Goat Gruffs...
The story is laminated and the kids love when I read to them and act out the story on the bridge!!


Exploring the Paths...

Trying to see some Koi Fish at the Big Pond...

Looking at the many waterfalls...

Checking out the Frogs at the small frog pond...

We always see hundreds of tadpoles in the water all through out the park...


Meet our friend Wyatt, he works at the park...
He took us for a ride in his golf cart to show us something very special...
One of 3 New Baby Deer... Which explains why we saw Mommy Deer earlier! ;)
Before we know it, 3 hours has passed! And we decide, it's time to head home for lunch! :)