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| November 7--What is this adorning the end of our driveway?! It's a mailbox! Paul waited ALL Saturday for Randy, our trusty mailman, to come so that he could help Paul determine its placement. The first words out of Randy's mouth: "Did you get your federal permit to put that up?" I thought he was serious... |
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| Lauren had some spectacular artwork. I cannot keep it all, so I decided to take pictures for a scrapbook. |
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| Lauren wrote the word OWL on her own! |
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| Here is her self-portrait...what large nostrils she has! |
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| Lauren can write her 1st and last name on her own! No model, no help! |
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| I asked her teachers if they helped her color. They said no! She doesn't usually do this well when we color but it's her own work! |
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| This was the first time Lauren added eyelashes to a drawing! |
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| November 12--Paul had Lasik Eye surgery on Nov. 11! He left the office seeing 20/20 and 20/40. After his check up on the 12th, we went to the Southern Christmas show! Too exciting! We got to see decorations, vendors, and so much more! We were all exhausted! |
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| November 19--Suzy was heading to Disney the day after her birthday, so we had to delay her celebration. Lauren helped me bake cupcakes for Suzy so that we could celebrate! What a little ham! |
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| We went to the Tap Room and had Pub Chips. Look at these dips! (Cara, Lauren, Chatham) |
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| Lisa, Carrie (with Harper), and Suzy. Happy Birthday, Suzy! |
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| November 23--Lauren's daycare had their annual Thanksgiving Dinner. I was off of work and Paul was able to come during his lunch time! Lauren was SO excited! |
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| Harrison and Suzy! Cara chose to return to her friends and Nick was being...Nick. |
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| Best Friends!! |
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| November 24--Mom and Dad arrived Thursday morning! Lauren was ecstatic to have her grandparents here! They colored, read, played games... |
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| November 28--While our annual Thanksgiving tradition is to put up our Christmas tree, we also watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This was the first year Lauren really "got" that movie. She was searching for the squirrel in the tree...Then when Clark was having a hissy-fit and cussing, Lauren said, "I won't say that, it's not nice. I'll say that when I'm older!" |
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| November 29--Lauren was upset that Papa and Grandma were leaving, but I got a good picture of us! Can you tell we are related? |
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| December 2--Lauren had her FIRST non-family sleepover with the Donleys on Saturday! Carrie and Chatham were SOOO excited! Carrie had a friend make matching Christmas shirts for the kids and took them to Alpine Village in Lenoir to Santa's workshop. Carrie said it was so awesome, and free, and that she would have gladly paid $10 a person to go! You have to reserve your spot, but it's free! |
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| Lauren and Chatham with their goody bag! Lauren sat on Santa's lap but Chatham had nothing to do with him. Lauren asked for a purple robe. I have no idea... |
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| December 1--Lauren dressed herself. Enough said. It wasn't worth the battle. |
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| While Lauren was playing with Chatham, Paul and I went to Boone to participate in Operation Christmas Child, packing shoeboxes for kids in the Republic of Congo and Southern Sudan. We met Paul's cousin, Jon, his wife, Jess, and some of their friends from their church in Ohio. This church group comes down annually to pack boxes. I can understand why they come down. It was amazing work! |
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| Smart-Alec Paul high-fiving a dude delivering toys |
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| One of the Ohio guys, Justin, grabbed onto the box drop! |
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| Jon and Paul, our boxers |
We packed over 60,000 shoe boxes on Saturday. This was the Boone facility's newest record! We were so excited to have participated in this new milestone! I cannot wait to go back next year!
