Thanksgiving 2017

Our Thanksgivings are always spent together, just the five of us.  We have built our own little traditions and each year, we add a little something to it.

I woke up extra early and set the breakfast table really cute. Even Darren looks forward to this.

Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, muffins, orange juice, and fruit!

The turkey plates were BEYOND simple... seriously just throw stuff on a plate and add a turkey face.  My turkey faces came from Thanksgiving napkins I had.  LOL! I wish I was an artist, but I am just NOT.

I set out all of our Drumstick Dash items: t-shirts, bandanas, and hot hands.

Even though this breakfast was healthy, I felt like it was time to  "Break Out The Stretchy Pants".

We set out for the race! We always walk it because the dogs can't run.  Simon is terrified of all of the pot holes and comes to a complete stop, which is like slamming on your brakes on the interstate, when we are about to cross over one.

I am thankful that there are perfectly good strangers willing to capture our entire family.  I am also tickled that the dogs even posed.

Jax wore this Santa hat the entire time AND made it to the Roanoke Times newspaper/online gallery because of it.  Haha.  

I always love capturing our beautiful downtown buildings.

Pre-Race photos.  

It took us quite a while to get to the 1 mile mark.  The beginning race is just so congested.  We always like to beat our time from the year before, but we could tell we probably wouldn't do so.  

Santas...

Capturing our time during the walk.  My girl didn't complain ONCE! I was beyond proud.

Hotel Roanoke!

This turkey always helps us to know we are VERY CLOSE to the finish line.  He stands about 1/4 mile from it.  He personally thanked my kids and said, "Because of you all, others are able to eat today!"

And there you have it... we didn't beat our time from last year AND WE WALKED crazy fast. The crowds were just too difficult to gain any kind of speed the first 35 minutes.  Last year, we finished in 1 hour and 6 minutes.  Oh well... who's keeping score.

We snagged the news reported, who captured Jax Santa crossing the finish line and asked her to take our photo with my cell phone.  Love THIS photo.  

We came home and ate breakfast again and relaxed.  Some of us were exhausted.  Even Jax and Sadie took a cat dog nap!

We didn't have to worry about spending hours and hours in the kitchen cooking. Darren treated our family to dinner at Shula's.

We took a few photos to capture our time together.

Ty desperately needs a haircut, but has decided to take a bribe and try to grow it out.  Ugh... such a bad time of year to grow out your hair.  He has a fro.

Our waiter was Virginia Tech tight end Dakota Jackson.  He even had on his VA Tech bowl ring.  It was gorgeous.  

After dinner, we went to see "Daddy's Home 2".  This may just be another new added tradition.  We literally had the entire theatre to ourselves.  

The movie was funny, but slightly inappropriate for my twins.  It was rated P-13, so Jax received one of his Christmas gifts that he requested from Santa that night... hahah. He asked Santa to "be able to watch PG-13 movies".  LOL! Weird request, but true.  I will be doing a post on the piñata later today.  I hope you and your family or friends had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Virginia Tech Vs. Liberty University 2016

 

Today, we traveled up to Hokie Nation to watch Virginia Tech play Liberty University. A few days leading up to the game, I decorated and drove up to Blacksburg to pick up some new Hokie attire.  The kids grew out of EVERYTHING they had. Check out my adorable Lillybee University Hokie colored shoes.  #LOVE!!!

I wasn't born into a family that was raised on FOOTBALL, but having boys has helped me gain a small love and appreciation for it.  I am certainly glad I snatched Darren before he knew what he was marrying.  LOL!  I am not a football crazy, but I am trying in my own ways.

We had a SMALL tailgate MOMENT.  Like 6 minutes.  We have got to get better about getting there earlier.  

Lane Stadium

We parked in our usual spot and while the boys through the football, Lilah and I had a small photo shoot.  Hehe.  I really just wanted to snap a photo of Liley in her new Va Tech dress, but then she wanted to take a picture of me.  Okay, okay!

The weather was gorgeous, slightly hot on our side, but it beats rain and harsh cold winds.

Stadium food: nachos and turkey ostrich legs.

The corp of cadets.

Liberty University is a Christian University.  I caught one player praying before the game started.

Let the games begin!

Enter Sandman!

I always like finding odd/funny things to capture, while people watching, just about anywhere (the fair, the beach, and sporting events). This woman came to the game with a pretzel necklace? I guess incase she gets hungry. LOL! What a wise way to avoid price gauging.

Football players.

Cheerleaders.

Dancers.

Canon Ball Shooters.  LOL!

We stayed until the scoreboard was less than even!!! Hokies won! Sorry LU, but our team is better than your team!!!