Thanksgiving

As I was looking over these pictures, I was reminded of how much we have to be thankful for! This year, we added many new memories to the list:

My firstborn's first class Thanksgiving party---

Giving thanks before we celebrated

This was the cutest craft---we traced each member of our family's hands, and then brought them to the party to put together as a turkey.

The official party snack

We also made "apple" turkeys---and went home with our faces stuffed! :)

My two cuties in their Thanksgiving duds. Shout out to Mindy!! Thanks for letting us wear the adorable turkey dress!

The night before Thanksgiving we had a shrimp boil with my family, and we laughed because it looked like Clark was hanging on for dear life just before he was catapulted out of the bouncer. :)

We did lots of cooking! (well, really Gigi did, but AM and I gave our two cents)

Gigi gave us matching aprons

The cousins had a conversation on the floor

Brooks did a lot of rolling while Clark quietly observed (and hopefully took some pointers)

Aw....the cousins. Sweeties!

Notice Clark's shirt. Yes, child, we do feed you, as often as we can. In fact, I think that is all we'll be spending our time (and money) on in the coming years. :)

Everything's Bigger in Texas...

...and that is definitely true with this place we visited Saturday night!

The Jurgensen fam went to the "Deathstar" or "JerryWorld" as it is affectionally called to see Texas Tech play Baylor. (It's really Dallas Cowboys stadium.) If you haven't been, you would not believe how HUGE and NICE this place is. For sure a sight to behold! I was very impressed. The big screen is right in your face and GIGANTIC. The seats are cushy, and the concession stand/bar/restrooms/gift shop areas feel like you're in an airport---well, a little fancier.

Before the game we made a pit stop at the Smith/Purdy clan tailgate. Thank you for the yummy food, Smiths!! :) I did NOT get enough time visiting with my bestie, Cary, but a little's better than nothing! :) We also got to see the Shepelwiches (who we also miss a bunch!)--they were lost in a sea of red and black.

A little out of order, but here's AM pounding on Uncle Lukey's head after the game.

We were the only crazies to bring the kids along to this game, but AM still had fun amongst the grown ups at the tailgate. Guns up!
Our family in front of the monstrosity.
After the game---the Red Raiders were victorious!! yay!

Mom and Dad sporting their "neutral" wear. Well, maybe a little BU sided.

I tell my bros that I always root for Baylor unless they're playing Tech, and then I have to support my DH. :)

side note---J, J, and B were there too, but I failed to get a picture with them. :( Seems like Julia and I always have our hands full with babies!)

The last shot of the night. This was taken at about 9 p.m., and it was definitely time for us to head south. I would like to report that my kids were A-N-G-E-L-S going to and fro. Really! They slept the entire way coming and going! It was soooooooo nice.

Thanks for this trip, Mom and Dad! We had a great time!!!

Turkey feathers

AnnMarie came home with one of her first homework assignments which was to decorate a feather any way she liked to contribute to the class turkey.

One guess as to what she chose?

drum roll.....................

It's a shocker folks: Cinderella!

Actually, I was glad she chose that because we had plenty of supplies around the house!

The finished product:
Sleeping Beauty with her creation:
The cute class turkey (Thanks, Sally, for taking this picture since my camera was MIA!) :)
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!
When I think back over all the things we have to be thankful for this year, I am overwhelmed!
Love to you all...

Breakfast with Santa

We had our first exciting event of the Christmas season! The Jr. League in Waco puts on a really fun Christmas market called,"Deck the Halls". Of course, the shopping is great, but they also have special events for the kids. My sweet friend, Brooke, invited us to come to the Breakfast with Santa Saturday morning.

Clark was a little angel and let AnnMarie and I enjoy the breakfast!

Mrs. Claus stopped by just as we were writing our letters to Santa...

And then the man in the big red suit arrived! AnnMarie was so excited and nervous that she could hardly look at him!
The kids heard a Christmas story...
Even the H.O.T. sweethearts were there to paint faces (and hands).
We gave our letter to one of Santa's elves!

AnnMarie with Niyah---one of Brooke's PRECIOUS daughters! She and AM do lots of giggling.

AnnMarie and Niyah's little sister, Alayna---preschool buddies!

(aren't these two sisters the cutest things you've ever seen??)

The best part about the breakfast for her----the Baylor cheerleaders!!!!!!!!!!! (random, I know---still not quite sure why they were there, but they made my little girl's day!) :)

On our way out of the convention center we stopped to take some pictures by a Waco landmark that I've been meaning to come and see. Friends had told me that they had seen our name on the "Freedom Fountain" downtown.

The fountain is very large, and has the word "freedom" in many different languages all around it. Since Svoboda means freedom in Czech, we made the cut!

Guitar Hero

Aka: Brooks

The other day I had the priveledge of keeping my Aaaaaaaaadorable nephew, Brooks. It was so fun because my kids were asleep so I got him all to myself! :)

He took a liking to AM's guitar:

Sorry it's pink, buddy. How does it taste?
Ok, Aunt Katy, that's enough pictures. I could just squeeze him!!

He is so funny because he loves to babble! He will just squeal and scream---it's hilarious. Very different than his cousin, Clark, but reminds me alot of his older female cousin....hmmm...

Clark's dedication

Last Sunday was one of the most special days in our life as a family. We dedicated Clark to the Lord. Now, of course, we did this in our hearts since the minute we knew he was in there "cooking', but this was our opportunity to really declare what our intent was for him and his life. We are so thankful for the children God has blessed us with, and we know that we have a responsibility to raise them up in a home that honors Him.

Pictures got a little out of order here, but oh well:

Most of our family was able to come in for the service. What a blessing!

Sorry about the quality of this picture, but here we are proudly showing off our little man with Pastor Toby.
Clark and Brooks checking out each other's church duds

Wittle buddy... nothing beats those knees... :)

Our great grandparents were there too! Didn't get a picture at church, but we snagged one at lunch afterwards. (of course Gigi prepared a delicious meal!)

Princess Manners

Recently I bought AnnMarie a Disney princess tea party cd full of syrupy sweet songs about minding your manners, having tea, meeting your prince, dressing up, etc. (aka: songs that get annoyingly stuck in your head for hours on end) Why did I buy it again?????

Anyway, as we were driving along the other day listening to it quietly, AnnMarie piped up and said, "Mommy, how do you let your pinky extend?".

:)