Thanksgiving Break

The week of Thanksgiving was relaxing and exhausting all at once.

Monday I attended the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Conference in Dallas where I got to spend the day listening to some great seminars and getting some ideas for my classroom. The highlighted speaker was Josh McDowell who had a convicting message at the end of the day. Tuesday and Wednesday Dave worked and Luke and I got ready for Thanksgiving by making several trips to the grocery store and the outlet mall :)

On Thursday Mark came over in the morning and helped entertain Luke while Dave worked (they have a HUGE Thanksgiving brunch at the club), mom and dad went to pick up my Oma and Tante Anneka from the airport, and I cooked Thanksgiving dinner.

My mom's family is from Holland and Oma is dutch for Grandma and Tante (pronounced "tunta") is dutch for Aunt.

We had a fantastic dinner (am I allowed to say that since I cooked it???) and lots of fun catching up.

Mark reading to Luke while I worked on diner:

Oma (my mom's mom) and Luke

Oma put socks on Cadence - this is a prime example of the antics that ensue when Oma is around

Me, Oma, Mom (Gibi) and Luke On Friday we headed to Willow Bend for some Black Friday shopping (I forgot my camera)

and Saturday we headed down to the square for "Dickens of a Christmas"

Here's Luke all bundled up and ready to shop:
A trip to the square wouldn't be complete without a visit to our favorite store - Ambrosia - and a visit with our favorite "Ambrosia lady" - Tammy.

Along with a visit to Ambrosia, no trip to the square would be complete without a piece of chocolate chip pie at the Pantry. Here are Luke and Oma enjoying the pie (and the warmth) inside the Pantry: After the Pantry we headed to MCA's Nativity booth where I got to see several of my students (and their siblings and parents) put on the nativity store. There were different casts putting on the production every hour Friday - Sunday. The next two pictures are Luke strapped into his big boy carseat happy to be out of the cold wind:

After a nap, we headed to Cheesecake Factory for dinner. While waiting, Luke made a new friend - a random woman who he kept wanting to sit with.

Here's Mark and Oma:Mom, Luke and Anneka
Apparently the Cheesecake Factory makes Luke happy... me too :)
I can honestly say that for years everyone has been telling my mom and I how much we look alike, and it wasn't until I saw this picture that I kind of saw the resemblance... maybe it's the glasses