{Turkey in Charlotte}

Thanksgiving in Charlotte...

(my parents)

(my grandparents)

(K-I-S-S-I-N-G)

(our boys!)

(our girlie girl's 1st thanksgiving!)






Well, we are home.
but things wont be slowing down for a while. busy busy.

Our trip to North Carolina was nice.

seeing family is always a real treat.
This year we broke the traditional thanksgiving mold & ate at the yacht club my parents belonged to when they lived in Charlotte.

We made a lot of memories there. It was nice to revisit the area.
The spread was out of this world!! You name it & it was there!

Amongst the sclater favorites--Artichoke heart salad, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, carrot cake. But I can confidently say there were over 40 sides, 3 kinds of meat, & somewhere around 15 dessert options. The chef at the club has yet to let us down. Sadly, The tummy bug had really put a holt on my plans to eat eat eat.

I am grateful that we were able to be together for this thanksgiving.

with Rod away so frequently I do not take these sweet

& precious moments together for granted.

{full circle.}

When Maddox was born he came at...how should I put this nicely?
NOT a good time at all.
The Sclaters ahd been hit hard with a horrible tummy bug.
(read all about it here & here)

& Ironically enough this Momma & all her chicks all had the tummy bug again this thanksgiving.
How awful. & Poor Rod even got it just as the little ones were getting over it.

I suppose you could say we have come full circle!

We went to Charlotte to visit my grandparents for the holiday & they had a party for our Maddox. It was incredibly thoughtful of my parents & grandparents!
The boys were smothered with snuggles, good food, & gifts!










Maddox, your two now. You ae just as sensitive & sweet as ever. Your brothers love to hug & kiss your little noggin when you are screaming or crying. Your sister s not afraid of your approach anymore, rather she smiles that big open mouth smile for you. Your daddy & I just love your cheesy grins & the way you like to sit on the counter all day long. You are our baby boy & no amount of birthdays will change that. I know when you are 16 you wont love the way I play with your ears & kiss your belly. so if you could...pleas pardonthe way I will smother you with kisses in the next few years. You are my sunshine...

xoxox

--okay really---thanksgiving pics to come soon.---

lots of sick-os & a full calendar here :)

{Presley's 1st dance recital}

It never gets old over here!
this year our family has too many people so....
Rod & I put away our dancing shoes & made way for a Special guest! (OPAH! aka: my dad)


(thanksgiving pics to come.)

{Thanksgiving}

Each year around the 1st week of November we get a note from T's school about the thanksgiving party. & each year the children can dress like indians or pilgrims.
Rod & I made an indian get up for the big boy! Not too bad for an 11pm endevor!

We are traveling for th enext bit!
Hope your travles are safe & comfortable!

Lots of love!

{a first for everything}

Presley has her 1st cold/tummy bug/cough.
Its has nearly broken my heart in two.

You Moms understand. It hurts to see your little ones uncomfortable.









To let Prealey have a more mellow day & to allow me to get some travel prep done

Rod took T & Britt to the arcade after school. Just big guys time.

-----THANKS STUD!-----

anyway...

That left me with my baby he & baby she.

Baby he turns 2 on Wednesday.

Presley being sick & such a good sport about it let me have some time with my little guy.

On Mads last day as a 1 yr old he...

played soccer

tried broccoli dipped in ranch & liked it

played with trains

Helped Mom with the sick sister

Read books with Mom

Followed Dad around the house

& sadly--caught the tummy bug too.

It was a nice way to finish out another year with sweet Mads. (except for the sick kidd-os part--which is why I am upso late/early. everyone is sick to their tummys except Mads so Im on overtime. Well worth it! )

{Dear Tre's Wife,}

I was given a pink envelope today.
It made me laugh & sigh. Your husband had a
big imagination when he was 5.
He sat at the kitchen table quiet for a long while working.

Inside is a letter & a beautiful necklace decorated with beads, jersey scraps from my sewing kit, & even links from a broken set of handcuffs.

Its for you.

Tre has a plan.

college, mission, you.

He tells me that you wont smoke, because thats gross.
He tells me you will be modest & that you wont wear a bikkini like those girls on the covers at the check out line in Kroger.
He says when you are a mom you will be better then me because you will never say "no" to our grandbabies.
He says you will be pretty.
He says he will take you to the temple because its where families can be together forever.
I know he will find you.

I am excited to give you the pink envelope.
I am excited to see Tre turn red in the face & see your heart swell.

He loves you already. He is a silly boy, already planning his life.

I will keep the envelope in my drawer.
It should lend us all a good laugh one day.

It will move when we move & be ready when he brings you home.

I love you.

Your Mother-in-Law

ps: Ill try not to be too scary! (Try)

{Chocolat}

The Other night as I contimplated the degree in which I hate trying to loose weight after having babies

(I still have 12 lbs to go & they are stuburn pounds!)

I Face Booked "I want food."

& an in pouring of sympathetic responses followed.

One of which was a friend from church, Teresa,

who made the suggestion we have a chocolate party.

Okay! I thought----DONE!

lets do it!

I wrapped chocolate bars in pink & black with an invite on it.

Passed them out...
& this was the outcome.

These awsome gals can cook up a storm!
I was in a chocolate comma last night!

(it wasnt pretty! I literaly had chocolate gravy running down my face! class act!)

Presley was all gussied up for the party then decided she wanted to go to bed on time rather then watch mom scarf an unjustifiable amount of chocolate. I was bummed since I had even put together a little headband for the occasion. But a girl needs her beauty rest!

Everyone brought a chocolate dish to share! Bekah made BBQ with cocoa in it--I died!

& Teresa sent her cute daughters with southern Bisquits & chocolate gravy! ARE YOU KIDDING?!

nail polish in neon pinks for the ladies...

tags were all in francais! Nice french lesson!

now back to fighting the baby buldge....

b-l-a-h!

Love you ladies! xoxox

{5 months...}

The past 5 months have been 5 of my favorite.

Presley at 5 months has every single last heart of her family.

She is her Daddy's "Diddy" & her Mommy's "Lee-lee" & "Miss. Pretty"

Her brothers' "Pres" & "Pretzel" & "Princess."

Here is our precious Presley girl @ 5 months old...

& let us not forget the boys...

Goodness they are sweet babies!