Parade of Lights

Gracie's Girl Scout Troop entered a float into Rapid City's Parade of Lights which they worked on decorating for the past week.   We offered to use our trailer for their float, so the rest of the family got to sit in the truck and experience it from a different point of view.  We had an ABSOLUTELY perfect evening and it was all because it fit Lexie and Eli to a tee.  We didn't have to fight the crowds, weren't freezing and no sensory overload due to the noise or the people. They had fun playing on the float until it was time to go and then watched it all happen from a safe and comfortable spot.   It's always crazy how something so small can make a huge impact on our family while making it an enjoyable experience rather than a horrible one.

Thanksgiving in South Dakota

If anyone has ever thought that I should become a full time blogger, this post should really convince you that I'm an embarrassment to the blogging world.   These next 4 pictures are the only pictures that I took all of Thanksgiving weekend and they're not even the best quality.  It's slightly embarrassing, but I have a really good excuse.  I was just so busy creating memories with our neighbors and our kiddos that I didn't reach for my phone or camera as much as one should.  There were 8 adults and 14 kids and since the weather was absolutely gorgeous, we stayed outside all day which was very memorable, but not a well documented Thanksgiving. ;) 

The day before Thanksgiving meal.  We're awesome like that.  

It was really windy so the kids took refuge in our cramped garage.  

Homemade Pumpkin Cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving Breakfast

Kid Table 

Grown- up Table 

Eli's First Thanksgiving Handprint

He was so tiny and new. 

Girl Scout Day Journey and Sleepover

The Brownies and the Juniors came together one night to accomplish a Journey in a Day and we finished it off with bowling and a sleepover.   The girls learned about energy and conservation.  They made door drafts, sun tea and creating new items using reusable materials.  

Halloween '17

Ethan was V for Vendetta 

Gracie was a greek goddess 

Gracie and Eli were naughty prisoners 

Gracie requested that I dress up with her again this year and I couldn't resist.  

My favorite costume yet! 

Our neighborhood decided to hand out candy together.  It was the perfect assembly line for the kiddos. These ladies rock!  

One neighbor even brought over the yummiest Apple Cider ever.  I'm not even kidding. I totally asked for the recipe.  Just typing about this is making we want to go and make some. HA! 

A couple days before Halloween we had our annual scary movie night.  

We watched Gremlins and ate ourselves silly.

It's technically a Christmas Movie, but oh well.  

Gracie's school hosted a BOO BINGO, so her and I escaped our scary house for a little scary time with her classmates.  She, of course, won one game and looked adorable accepting her prize.  

I was this close to black out!  Darn it. 

Gracie and the ever adorable Landry twins.