Late fall lately

Stu and I finally got to use a gift certificate that Nana sent us for his birthday last year to a new-to-us Argentinian steak house.  It was really good!  It was also nice to dress up fancy and go out without the boys (very rare for us these days).

I worked one weekend, so Stu had the boys.  The ended up at the Museum of Life and Science, one of our favorite spots (so thankful for our membership!).

We recently started nannying a newborn to help out a friend of Stuart's from work because they couldn't get baby girl into their daycare of choice before they had to go back to work, but also because it will provide us a little financial cushion when I take off time from my nursing job this spring for our own baby (no paid FMLA for this per diem!).  All that is to say:  we have all been adjusting to having another person around every(week)day.  Good practice for when Markers joins us, but also some growing pains.  So, we've been sticking pretty close to the house.  Above, we ventured to our favorite park down the street, Piney Wood.

We have mostly neglected our fall garden, but look at it!  All the greens!  And pea blooms (though now the peas are sad because we have had our first frost).

James has been *really* into sword-fighting lately.  Above, with Aunt Kay Kay.

Samuel got stuck here behind the couch.  Sweet boy.

Threenager.

"Mama, I need napkin." - Sam, after coloring on his face

Swings after church a few weeks ago

JAMES WRITES HIS NAME (mostly).  Can you tell I'm proud????

Sometimes everyone just has a sad day and your all-time favorite coffee mug gets broken.

More sword-fighting

Sunset over our lake (during our walk at 5pm...)

Lunch after Christmas shopping with Mema

We had our anatomy scan/ultrasound to check out baby Markers at 22 weeks.  We did not find out the sex!  But everything looks perfectly healthy.  Keeping this prayer near my heart, as it's impossible to separate this current pregnancy and anticipation of our new person from the two babies that we lost.

Impromptu donut shop outing with our people (Casey, Ez and Pax)

And we thought this little person had sprained his wrist, but pretty quickly he was back to normal.  Poor guy is rough on his body.  That's for sure!

Like I said... Rough (busted eyebrow, with almond butter to compliment).

My most handsome loves in church this morning (minus Sammy, of course)

And Stuart took some photos of me on the deck with the boys when we realized that there are ZERO photos of me and both of them from the past year (or longer?).  Goal: more photos of me with my people.

Pierce Christmas Tree 2016

Every year, we go to TROSA to buy our Christmas tree.  They always have these hand-made reindeer that we love!  We also snagged a live wreath this year.

(Samuel snacking on a candy cane)

Getting out all the decor and holiday toys (lots of nativity sets...)

And the Polar Express Train!  We don't do Santa in our house (we don't think he's evil, but we don't encourage our boys to believe in him as a real person, just a pretend character that can be fun), but James loves this train.  (Also, I promise I am happy, though I am worn out here!)  We love Christmas in our house, and we are excited the season is here!

Thanksgiving 2016

Since we have been back in NC, we have gone to Mema and P\paw's house for Thanksgiving each year.  Mom usually coordinates, while Katie, dad and I are sous chefs.  BUT 2016 is the year she decided to have a knee replacement (boo bad joints) the Monday before Turkey day.  Stuart was also on call, so he wasn't able to leave Durham for a day in Zebulon.  So, we hosted!

The boys decorated sticker turkeys to get in the mood... Sam was creative with his project.

Meanwhile, James re-did his 3 times because it didn't look *exactly* like the picture on the box, and he was very sad about that (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...)

Holiday snuggles

James collected fall-ish nature-y things, and we made a garland.

The to-do list! (And a rough schedule to follow.)

New tradition: try to remember to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that starts at 9am, but forget until 11:30am, last the watch few minutes, then YouTube last year's parade!

Katie showed up late in the morning to help get the meal together, and provide a delicious cheese plate for me (I mean, we) to snack on.

We did it all, entirely on our own! (Insert strong arm emoji here.) Also, look at me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen! (Another strong arm emoji.)

The table is set (though crowded) and Mema made it!

A blue ribbon turkey secret: dry brine x3 days!

The spread: herbed turkey, Mamma Barker's cranberry salad, mom's canned green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato casserole, yeast rolls, shaved brussels sprout salad, 2 kinds of pie (pumpkin & cherry) with apple cider in the crock pot.

The turkeys enjoy their meal.

Backyard fire pit (complete with s'mores) to round out the evening.  And here is where I realize that I never got photos of our family on the holiday.  My parents both joined us, as well as Matthew, Meredith and Canaan.  And Katie, of course, my partner in crime.  AND Katie's new boyfriend, Aaron, joined us for the backyard lounging.

And the next morning, the boys and I went for a long walk while Stuart was rounding on his people at the hospital.  We chose to forgo Black Friday and #optoutside instead.  Happy Thanksgiving!