Thanksgiving

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we packed up the car and headed to Kingsport, TN to spend Thanksgiving with Mimi, Poppy, Aunt Janet, Uncle Jarett and our cousins, Kate and Macy. On Wednesday afternoon, we went to a local elementary school playground. Jack and Mark had so much fun exploring a new playground. As we were leaving, Mark asked, "Can we come back here and play again?" That's always a sign of a good time!

Jack crawling through the tires! 

Mark balancing on the pole!

Both boys climbing up the tires! This was one of their favorite things to do!

Two brothers swinging on the tire swing!

Mark loved the swing and wanted to go higher!

On Thanksgiving morning, the boys LOVED watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! The loved the big balloons and the floats, but most of all, THE MARCHING BANDS! I never knew that two 3 year olds could be so interested in marching bands. These kids love music! Recently, they have been very interested in the band conductors. They were very disappointed that in the parade, while they got to see lots of bands, they got to see very few band conductors!

Mommy and her boys watching the parade! The boys having a lazy morning, still in their PJs.

The DeVault family Thanksgiving at Mimi and Poppy's house!

And the view from the other side of the table to better show Poppy and Macy!

After eating such a big meal, it was nice to get outside and play a little! A batter (Jack), a catcher (Mark) and a spectator (Macy)!

It's really  not a bad idea to have a back-up catcher!

These three cousins have SO. MUCH. FUN. playing together. They are only 9 months apart in age!

"You adults may have gotten enough to eat earlier and not need any dinner, but we are growing boys and we need to eat another meal today!" - Mark and Jack as they are eating dinner on Thanksgiving night!

On Friday morning, before we packed the car to head home after lunch, the boys had a lot of fun helping Mimi put up her Christmas tree! And, of course, when Mark and Jack saw the step ladder, it reminded them of the ladder that the band conductor stands on during halftime at N.C. State football games. So, after the decorating was complete, they had to take turns standing on the ladder pretending to conduct the band!

Mark, the band conductor

Jack, the band conductor

It's a Season of Giving

It is never too early to begin to teach a child all about giving and helping others. This year, Jack and Mark's preschool classes are doing class projects focusing on giving to help others in need.

Mark's class is participating in an Angel tree and getting gifts for a family with three children. We signed up to provide shirts and pants for a little one year old boy named Matthew. The size of clothes needed was provided and Mommy went to Target to get some good deals. Here is a picture of Mark on the morning that he took the clothes to school. He was so excited about helping another little boy!

Mark with 3 pairs of pants and 3 shirts for Matthew!

Jack's class is participating in helping to stock a local food pantry for those in need. He was asked to provide cereal and canned goods. He really enjoyed helping to pick out the food that he was going to take. Here is a picture of jack on the morning that he took the food to school. He was so excited to be helping those who are less fortunate!

Jack with lots of Cheerios and canned fruits and vegetables for the food pantry!

I hope that we can continue to instill the value of helping others while raising these two boys in the years to come! Ahhh, the season of giving is among us! May it continue the whole year through!

Fun in the Leaves

The boys had so much fun playing in the leaves after our Christmas card photo shoot that we thought they would enjoy some more time in the leaves when we got home. It was really cold, but Daddy used the leaf blower and made the boys a big pile. Then, it was time to jump, jump, jump! Jack and Mark had a blast. It was so much fun to see them having fun and playing together. We just love quality time like this when we all have fun together as a family. These times are precious!

Watching Daddy blow the leaves and get the big pile ready! 

Jack dove in first!

And then there were two of them having a blast!

The look on Jack's face says it all! F.U.N.

Leaves + FUN = the look on Mark's face

Tackle! If I heard it once, I heard it 50 times while they were playing in the leaves!

And Daddy joins in on the fun!

Mark and Jack help Daddy blow the pile to the street after having so much fun playing in the leaves!

Christmas Card Photo Session

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we attempted our annual Christmas card photo shoot. These types of photo shoots typically require patience and a positive attitude, especially since Mommy is a perfectionist and wants the very best picture possible. Getting a good picture with two three year olds can sometimes be a challenge. This year, rather than hiring a photographer, Grandpa offered to take some pictures for us. The week before, Mommy was scoping out a good location for the picture with a pretty background. As she was driving through SAS campus one day to go pick the boys up from preschool, she found the perfect setting. Here are some of the pictures that we got:

Everyone laughing (Granna was entertaining the boys with some of their favorite stuffed animals!)

I'm thinking this is the one we'll use for our Christmas cards this year!

Jack and Mommy

Daddy and Mark

Playing in the leaves after we were done with the pictures!

The American Flag

The boys love of bands manifests itself in several ways.  One way in particular is that they love to sing the national anthem.  They make sure that everyone has their hands over their hearts.  They know what the American flag looks like.  However, Jack doesn't call it the American flag, our country's flag, or something along those lines.  To Jack, it is called:

   O Say Can You See

That is so cute we had to document it.  Plus, he really enjoyed his Veteran's Day craft at Sunday School.  Check it out:

Jack loves the flag.

Pumpkin Pie Party and Turkey Feathers

Around the beginning of November, the boys were sent home with homework for the first time. Homework? On a school night? In pre-school? Uh-oh. Well, at least it wasn't due the next day. The assignment for each boy was the same even though they are in different classes. They were given a plain turkey feather and told to decorate it however they wanted. Here is what their feathers looked like:


 

 

Mine is so good looking I can see it with my eyes shut.  - Jack

 

                              This is one intricate turkey feather.  Very autumn looking.  - Mark

On Tuesday, November 13, Heather and I visited Jack's room as we were invited to a Pumpkin Pie Party.  The kids all helped make 5 pumpkin pies.  They all took turns stirring the pumpkin mix.  We tried a piece of the pie, even though we are not fans of pumpkin pies normally.  But it was pretty good.  We were both impressed.  Afterwards, Jack took us around and showed us what he does when he goes through his lessons.  Here are a couple of pictures from the event:

 

 

Daddy and I stand next to the class turkey.  Or is the turkey my daddy?  Nope, Daddy isn't a turkey.  He looks cool wearing my pilgrim hat I made.  - Jack

 

Mommy and Daddy having a good time with Jack in his classroom. 

 

Mommy, this book is really good.  - Jack

 

We now go back to our original scheduled programming.  Group reading time.

Jack's TV Debut

Right before halftime, our cell phones started buzzing with high frequency.  We quickly found out that the cameraman had put Jack on TV for a good six seconds.  He was the main focus of the shot.  One of Heather's friends recognized Jack and quickly took a photo of Jack and sent it to her via Facebook.  Then, using his DVR, replayed Jack on TV and saved it to his phone and then uploaded the video as well to Facebook.

Here is the picture:

His picture was not just captured by one of Heather's friends.  It also was captured and sent out via Twitter by DeMario Pressley.  Pressley was a defensive lineman for the Pack around 6-7 years ago.  He played for a few teams in the NFL, last playing for the Carolina Panthers last year.  Here is his tweet:

Here is the full picture on Instagram:

One more thing.  We have the video as well.  It is now on youtube.  Enjoy:

NC State vs. Wake Forest

After last week's debacle versus Virginia, we went back out to Carter-Finley Stadium for another ACC contest.  This week, it is Wake Forest who is coming to play the Wolfpack.  We wound up tailgating as usual, having some marinated chicken as our main dish.  After letting the boys play some in the grass by throwing the football around, we went to Wolfpack Fan Zone.  At the fan zone, the boys got to get up in a John Deere tractor, among other things.  They really enjoyed that.

The game was just like the previous game.  The final score was 37-6.  Last week it was 33-6.  The only difference was that this week, the Wolfpack absolutely dominated the Demon Deacons.  It was a much more enjoyable game for everyone.  The team played well, the band performed well, and Mr. and Mrs. Wuf  did the pushups after each score very well.

Here are a couple of pictures from the day:

This is where the food is going to be.  - Mark

 

It's lunch time for the boys.

 

While playing football, the boys started playing with a kid name Sammy.  Throwing the ball eventually became tackle the boy with the ball.

 

This is perfect form.  Ask Peyton Manning.  - Jack

 

Wow, my brother does have perfect quarterback form.  - Mark

 

Hmm, now that I have mastered quarterbacking, what should I do next?  - Jack

 

Jack and Grandpa relax a few minutes before we start heading for the stadium.

 

Daddy gives Jack and Mark some fatherly advice before game time.  

 

Jack, Mark, and John Deere.  It doesn't get any better.

A warm Mommy and Jack are all smiles near the end of the blowout Wolfpack victory.

 

Jack was on TV today.  I am the man.