Our Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The week of Thanksgiving always seems to go so slow. I could hardly wait for 3:00 on Wednesday to get here so I could head up to Kirkwood for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving started early Thursday morning for us. All of the girls went to downtown Kirkwood for the Thanksgiving Day 5K Turkey Trot. Dane hung out with Papa and read a book as we headed out.

It was a cold, cold, cold, and wet morning. We were all bundled up.
And we were off.....

Amy, Kara, and Katie finished first, then I came in.

Then, the four of us all ran back to meet mom and ran in with her.

All of us at the end of the race.

At noon Kirkwood and Webster were playing the Annual Turkey Day Football Game. It started snowing, so Taylor was the only one to brave the weather for the game.

Even though we didn't go to the game Dane dressed to cheer for Kirkwood.

Mama has a nice pillow that sits on the rocking chair.

Dane will walk in and pull the pillow off to get on the chair to rock.

Watching football on TV

These two are always hugging.

Playing with Daddy

Our family ready for dinner.

Aunt Katie and her little man

Dane loved Mama's pumpkins with lights in them.

These two can not be left alone for a second.

Buddies

My mom put a battery operated candle at the kid's table.

Dane really enjoyed his first Thanksgiving dinner.

Our BIG family (part 1)

Part 2......

Part 3......

The little ones

Mama and her babies

Ready for movie time

Saying goodnight

Guess Dane doesn't want Claire to leave.

Baby Joseph Is Here!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I have so many pictures to go through, but I had to post about some very unexpected and exciting news!

Black Friday shopping got pretty exciting for our family. As we were all out shopping on Friday my sister's water broke at West County Mall. She was pretty shocked considering that Baby Knoll was not due until December 12th and she lives at the Lake of the Ozarks so she was 2 1/2 hours from home. She went straight from the mall to Missouri Baptist Hospital Friday afternoon about 4:30 p.m.

Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. our family welcomed Joseph Henderson Knoll. He was 6 lbs, 12 oz, and 21 inches long.

When we went to see Joseph Dane was a little wild. He played with his trucks and checked out the hospital room....until Papa held Joseph..............then he went over and pulled on Papa. Eventually it was time for Mama to hold Joseph again and when Papa gave Joseph to Mama Dane climbed right up into Papa's lap.
What a tiny little baby!

Dane was saying hi to his newest cousin.

He gave him a little hug.

Tammy was so, so tired. She had such a long night waiting for Joseph to make his appearance.

We were heading out so she could get some sleep, but we had to get the sisters picture first.

We have a picture like this from each of us when we were in the hospital.

Congrats Tammy and John!

We are so excited to have another nephew and Dane is excited to have another cousin!

Mommy and Daddy are bored!

Things are a little different tonight. I stayed at school until 6:00 working. Dave got home shortly after me and the two of us made a frozen pizza, something we haven't had in forever, and we talked about our days. Our house is pretty quiet as our little man enjoys two fun filled days in Kirkwood.

Last night Katie came to spend the night. This morning Dane woke up so happy and ran right to the spare bedroom to hop in bed with Aunt Katie. After breakfast Dane headed to Kirkwood with her for two days of fun.

I got a text shortly after 9:00 this morning of my little buddy on his way with his Aunt Katie. Katie said he was happy and they had a good ride up. Dane would say something, point to things, and Aunt Katie would have a little conversation with him.

Aunt Katie had to go into work for a bit, so Dane hung out with Aunt Kara and Claire.
He seemed to love Claire's kitchen set.

He loved her wagon, even though it was pink.

I am sure these two kept Aunt Kara busy!

Having lunch together

After lunch Kara, Claire, and Dane went to Plaza Frontenac

to meet up with our cousins who are in from Mississippi.

I think Becky is exactly one month younger than Dane.

Dane and Becky

This afternoon Aunt Kara, Aunt Katie, Mama, Claire, and Dane

went up to Kirkwood High School for the Turkey Day Pep Rally.

Walking to the Pep Rally holding hands...so cute!

Aunt Katie and her buddies

I am sure Dane loved all of the excitement!

He really seemed to be watching everything!

I am sure Dane had a blast today. I enjoyed getting pictures of him all day.

I know he will have another great day tomorrow!

We miss him and can't wait to run up to see him right after work tomorrow!

A Little Bit of Christmas

Dane and I went up to Kirkwood yesterday to start getting in the Christmas spirit.

Santa arrived on a fire truck.

Dane hung out with Taylor for a bit while waiting to see Santa.
Dane was a wild little man. He was so excited to spend the day with Mama, Aunt Amy, Uncle Darnel, Aunt Kara, and all of his cousins.

Mama and Dane

Claire and Mama

Mama, Taylor, Delaney, and Trey

Dane loved looking at the firetruck.

I could hardly get a picture with him because

as soon as I would walk near it he would start looking all over!

Delaney and Rylee kept Dane busy while we waited to see Santa.

Dane acted like it was no big deal to be sitting on Santa's lap.

I guess he noticed that he was dressed a little different.

Then he looked up to check Santa out.

We grabbed some lunch, watched Taylor and Delaney perform

with their dance studio, and then rode the trolley.

I almost didn't take him on the trolley ride because I could tell he was getting sleepy.

I was glad we did, because he loved it!

He looked out the window the whole time.

It was a fun start to the holiday season.

It worn Dane out! He fell asleep before we got to the car

and then went back to Mama and Papa's house and slept some more!