ThAnKsGiViNg WeEkEnD!

Craig got some time off,

so off we went to Cabella's Black Friday sale

where N8 and he happily roamed the store,

while Chels mingled with the native elephants.

Then, up to Tahoe to relax while

the land was being covered with a serene blanket of snow.

Then, home again, home again....

to enjoy relatives.

Here's a picture of the four Schank boys.

(I'll take the one on the right!)

It'S bEgInNiNg To LoOk A lOt LiKe ChRiStMaS

Oh, man! We forgot to bring our camera to Gma's delicious Thanksgiving meal.

(We would have captured some photos of our fun relatives.)

So, in lieu, the kids have been dressing up the animals in holiday fashion.

And what would you like for Christmas?

The only thing the cat wants is just not to be dressed up!

WhAt ThE wInD bLeW iN...

Okay, so last week brought the wind that blew down the fence,

but....

it also brought darling, little Carter, beautiful Marie,

and handsome Der.

What a great week!

HaViNg A bALL iN fALL!

Okay, so you saw last week's photos...

what did we do with those

leaves????

Well, Veteran's Day came,

and we raked,

and raked,

and raked....

and then hauled them to

our burn pile.

Then, jumped for joy

when the job was done!*

(Note: This is not our yard. Only in Nevada can you find a mattress at the side of the road.)

Time to rest!

N8 and Chels also entered pictures

in the local phone book cover contest.

Here's N8's.

(He likes it, because it looks the same

right-side-up or upside-down.)

And, here's Chels's.

SiGnS oF fAlL

Signs that fall is definitely here:

1. Nathan begins doing ballet in his snow boots.

2. Chelsie discusses the biological implications of photosynthesis.

3. You can swim in a backyard of leaves.

4. Nathan commences devising new modes of transportation

for the cat.

Happy Autumn!!!

('Think I can blow all of the leaves in one corner and rake 'em up??? I'm goin' try it!)