Happy Thanksgiving from the Potter House

With the COVID rules being what they are right now, we didn't get to invite anyone over for Thanksgiving this year.  The kids still wanted to do a full dinner, so we did.  We had it all:

Turkey, Ham, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Cornbread, Pumpkin Bread, Stuffing, Yams, & Green Bean Casserole.  I thought my belly would burst.

It was really nice to sit down as a family & talk about all the wonderful blessings we've received this year.  As we did this, we planned out a fun youtube video we're working on for Christmas (coming soon) to remind us that even though this year was ROUGH, there was a lot of good that came from it too.

We also tried to settle the yearly debate of:

Mixing food on your plate . . .

or separating food on your plate.

I voted for separating food, but Lorien & I were outnumbered 6 to 2.

Cadence said it was the best Thanksgiving ever which is great because next year she will get to make dinner for herself & her roommates.  It will be a whole new fun experience for her.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

Oh Christmas Tree!

Since Halloween was cancelled & Thanksgiving & Christmas weren't looking too promising either, we decided we needed our Christmas cheer early this year.  So we put up our Christmas tree on Veteren's Day.  It was just what our spirits needed.

It's always so much fun to go through all the ornaments & talk about the stories behind them all, all the memories we've had together as a family.

And this being Cadence's last year with us, we let her put the angel on the tree.

I love these small moments we get to have together.  Christmas is such an amazing time of year.  It brings so much light, joy, & service.  I love it so much.

 

Pumpkin Carving

Since Halloween was cancelled due to COVID

(which was devastating to me)

we decided to go pick pumpkins at the pumpkin patch & carve pumpkins for fun.

The kids LOVED getting their hands all gooey & gross from the innards.  Taya & I helped everyone else (we both had already carved pumpkins a few times this season & decided that was enough for us) & I think everyone did a really great job.

After carving pumpkins, we decided to take the 180 full sized candy bars I had bought to hand out at our church & squadron trunk or treats to all the kids & teens we knew.  We hopped into the car & visited over 50 homes (it took us 4.5 hours ON Halloween night) to deliver them.  Because of COVID we couldn't actually sit & talk to anyone, but we at least got to give everyone a little piece of Halloween fun in the form of a full size candy bar.

It was just what my soul needed for the day.  It made me feel happy that I could give them some Halloween joy & it made my waist happy that I didn't have 180 candy bars beckoning me to eat them every second of the day.  Win/Win.  :-) 

 

Mid Life Crises = FUN

So with Cadence finally old enough to be able to legally drive in Germany, we decided it was time to get a 3rd car.  Between after school activities, play practices, & more, we just were having a hard time balancing it all between 2 vehicles.  I was a little skeptical at first because I knew it would cost more in insurance & gas, but let me tell you . . . BEST DECISION EVER.

Cadence now does extra grocery runs for me.  She runs her siblings to church activities (when we have them. . . COVID has stopped them for now) & play practices.  She drives herself home from school since she only has half days.  It's GLORIOUS.  I all of a sudden find SO much more time during the day to get things done because I'm not running people all over Germany.  It was a good decision for right now.

SO. . . we started looking for a car.  And as a family of 8, of course we bought a 2 door mini cooper convertible.  ha ha ha.  Totally NOT practical, 

but SO SO SO SO SO FUN!!!

Call it our mid-life crises, or call it our acting the way we feel rather than our age, but Trek & I are having an absolute blast with this adorable little speedster.  We love going on dates where we put the top down & just drive.  Germany is gorgeous & we enjoyed every last color changing leaf of fall together in his cute little convertible.

Wine country in Germany is gorgeous in the fall.  Now that winter is upon us, the top will have to stay up for now, but I can't wait for more adventures with my sweetheart in this beautiful country with the top down.