Hi and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! What are you up to for the holiday? I want to hear all about it in the comments! I’m sure I’ll be posting all about our day soon. For now, here’s a family picture 😊

We’ve had a busy week around here thus far. We attended a beautiful memorial service for Jimmy’s uncle, Dakota had her nine month check up, we spent time with Jimmy’s family, and did the usual school work and hanging out around the house. One of our littles got sick, too, which was sad! Here’s a look at life lately.

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Dakota’s Checkup 🩺

We kicked off our week at the pediatrician for Dakota’s nine month check up! It’s standard for doctors to check a baby’s lead and hemoglobin levels, and Koko had her routine test this week. We found out she’s anemic—poor baby girl. I’ll share more about it in her nine month update.

Other than having low hemoglobin, Dakota is doing really well! It’s wild to me that her next appointment is her one year checkup. Where has the time gone?! Here’s to hoping our next visit really is her one-year checkup—and not a surprise stop for an ear infection or some other ailment. 🤪

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Family Time 🤍

This week, we attended the memorial service for Jimmy’s uncle at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. In honor of his service in the Army, he received a beautiful military ceremony with gun salutes and a flag folding. Though it was a sad day, we were thankful to be there to support his family—especially Jimmy’s mom.

Funerals are incredibly heartbreaking, but they also have a way of bringing family together from far and wide. Since some of Jimmy’s relatives came all the way from New York, the kids got to meet their second cousins for the first time, which was a sweet silver lining.

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Everyday Life 🏡

The kids and I got outside a few times while it was warm and sunny! Now, as I write this on Thanksgiving, it’s snowing—classic Pittsburgh.

Sadie brought her babydoll on a bike ride and I was a little alarmed at how she carried her along for the ride. 🫣

Sadie also drew the sweetest picture—our family having a dance party. She is the coolest.

Dakota hung out on mama’s lap while we waited to enter the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies on Monday. The kids were well-behaved during the service!

We did some of Sadie’s schoolwork at Starbucks! I’ve been loving going out of the house to do school when we can.

And poor Mordecai got sick! He woke up coughing and had a fever. He was pitiful for a day but is on the upswing now!

I enjoyed the extra snuggles from my little guy!

It has been a different and busy week, but a good one. I’m looking forward to a semi-relaxing weekend. We have Mordecai’s birthday party on Saturday and church on Sunday and that’s about it!

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Other Notes and Thoughts 📝

• Mordecai has been coughing since being sick, and we’re trying to teach him to cough into his elbow. He was hanging out with Dakota, and I told him not to cough on her—but he covered her mouth with his hand and coughed all over her face. 🥴 🤣
• I recently bought Bean Boozled (a chance-based food game where every jelly bean is a gamble between sweet and disgusting) recently and Sadie thinks it is so funny. I love this age! 🫘
• I just ordered one of my favorite cleaning sprays. Do you have a favorite scent for cleaning? 🧼
• Scripture I’m loving: Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. Psalm 128:1 🧎🏼‍♀️

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There you have it—a peek into our week full of highs and lows and everything in between. I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving!