To Irvine for my birthday and Thanksgiving

We headed up to Irvine for a week of fun since both kids were off for the full week of Thanksgiving.  We started with a fun play date with Mattie.  These kids are too cute.  They headed out to the play house where they played "house of course" and Tatum was the nurse maid and Mattie and Ty, the queen and king, were getting married.  You never want to forget to bring your fishing pole to your wedding ceremony. :)

"Now you may kiss the bride".  Ty was all for it but Mattie wasn't so sure.  The funny thing was it was her idea but I don't think she thought he would go through with it.  That's Ty!  Just so you know, there was no kissing, the two of them were all talk. :)

Garrett had to work so the kids, Grandma and I celebrated my birthday at Fashion Island.  The kids were quite impressed with this huge tree!

And Tatum loved sitting up on these gift boxes.

I realized, thanks to these photos, that Tatum's pants were just a tad too small for her, and we passed them on to a friend.

Look how big it is!!  And so impressive when it was lit!  We walked around the mall, checked out the escalators, walk around the fountain and admired the koi pond.  Then it was time for my birthday dinner at Yard House.  I hadn't been to the Yard House for years and remember going for their delicious happy hour drinks and food deals.  We use to stand in the bar and enjoy the people.  This was a different kind of visit to the Yard House.  Ty started out with a bad attitude so after forcefully taking him outside to a bench and using my very scary angry Mom voice, we had a talk and he changed his attitude, thank goodness.  We had a pretty pleasant meal after that, besides the four trips I took through the bar to the bathroom with both kids, one kid, all combinations.  And I only have two kids!  My ice cream with a candle was pretty melted by the time I made it back to the table and I had to scarf down my food and down my delicious wine, but hey, it was a fun night out.

 

Especially since these two were with me.  As much trouble as they cause, they are both such loving kids and sweet to the core.  It was a wonderful birthday celebration.

Then it was Thanksgiving!  This year the Beaston's were kind enough to invite us to their Aunt Judy's house and include us, as always, in their family Thanksgiving festivities.  Tatum loved that Aunt Judy had a tether ball in her backyard since this is one of her favorite recess pastimes.

The Mom's. 

Lauren also joined us this year.  She's from Michigan and was just home for her brother's wedding in August and will be heading home for Christmas so she was in town this year for Thanksgiving. 

We love our GM!

This group of girls are just amazing.  I've had the pleasure of knowing them since 1998 and they're always so loving, gracious and include me, calling me the fifth daughter. :)  I'm so lucky.  Thanks sisters!

And the kids just love them all too.  Here's  Toni getting lots of love.

And these two are like two peas in a pod.  Papa Rick, as the kids call him, and Garrett have everything in common, from beer tastes to golf swings.  A match made in heaven.

These two really are starting to enjoy each other.  They love to play together, Tatum running the show for the most part.  But it's nice to hear them enjoy each other and get along.  Most of the time. :)

And my Shauna.  We've been together since we met before our London Abroad program and we've been close friends ever since.  Talk about something to be thankful for, she's a wonderful friend but also an amazing Godmother to the kids.  They absolutely adore her, we all do.

And Tatum just loves Amber.  Tatum was the flower girl in Amber's wedding and ever since the event, every time we see something that symbolizes weddings, Tatum talks about Amber.  And she's so interested in weddings and how "the boy kisses the girl and then they are together forever".  She was asking Amber at Thanksgiving if she had a baby in her belly yet since that's what people do I guess.  You can just see Tatum's wheels turning.  Weddings and babies, she's such a girl. :)

And here's Grandpa.  He's an avid card player, winning most of the time. 

Speaking of cards, the boys all enjoyed a game or two with Grandpa, even Ty.  Thank you Beaston's for including us into your family and loving us.  Love you!!