Thankful

Thanksgiving this year was much more low key and relaxed than in years past.  Instead of us making the rounds of eating delicious food at different family member's houses, we had our family come to us. My parents and Katie came Sunday to Wednesday followed by Nancy arriving late Thursday evening to Tuesday.  We loved having family around and enjoying Gulf Shores together.  Bobby did cook a 20 pound turkey for just the 4 of us.  Go big or go home is his motto! We will be eating turkey for the remainder of our time in Gulf Shores, but I have already told him we are not moving with the turkey.  When we moved to Gulf Shores, we brought with us salmon that he had purchased on sale.  We had so much stuff that the salmon was strapped to the roof of the car!  Ha! Good memories!

In other news, we have officially purchased our tickets for Europe!  We have been talking (and dreaming) a lot about where we will visit and what adventures we will have.  Thanksgiving is a time to slow down and reflect on the good things in life.  I often have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming and that my life is actually reality.  We are so fortunate to be able to work online which allows us SO much freedom and flexibility.  We are both able to spend lots of quality time with our children, playing and taking care of their daily needs.  It's a luxury, I know, having both of us around all of the time! Living on the ocean has been way above any expectations that I had prior to moving here.  I can't adequately express the daily merriment that we have because of our location. Tonight as I was putting Liam to bed, I was reflecting on how much joy Amelie and Liam bring to my life.  I am beyond thankful for these two precious gifts.  I was reminded that God delights in me just like, well more which is hardly imaginable, I delight in my children.  I am humbled by the immense love that He has for me.  Everyday, I wake up thankful that I don't have to rush to get ready for work, thankful that I don't have to hurry my children out the door to daycare, thankful that Bobby and I get to spend time fishing or playing at the park, thankful that we take turns making our daily meals, thankful that I have two healthy kids that keep me laughing, and the list goes on.  Truly, I am thankful.

~Kelly
(PS. I am supposed to sign my name and I keep forgetting. :) )

Halloween

 Ahoy, Matey!  Avast ye booty the Walker crew has pillaged this Halloween. 

Festivities started with "Boo at the Zoo." Our local zoo had fun games set up to play, animals walking around to pet, and a costume contest to take part in.  The entire family had a lot of fun!  Pictures speak a thousand words, so I will let the pictures do the talking.

Joined by another Lassie and Skully.

Blimey! What is trying to hornswaggle our booty?

Shiver-me-timbers, it is not easy playing golf with a patch over one eye!

Aaarrrrggghhhh, you scallywag, dead men tell no tales!  I will win this contest!

Heave Ho, batten down the hatches!

This old salt knows how to ring 'em.

Thar she blows! 

HaHaHa, I laugh in the face of danger.  Now let me out!!!

Let me have a piece of 'em!

What a crew! (Did I mention that it was mostly just children dressed up?)

Liam decided not to blow the man down for being an Alabama fan, the ferret was just too cute.

 Trick-or-treating turned out to be a super fun experience for us, like one you've seen in the movies.  A specific neighborhood in Gulf Shores was recommended to us to go trick-or-treating in.  As we neared the location, we were surprised by the high volume of cars parking outside of the neighborhood.  Immediately we knew this was going to be fun!  The neighborhood was blocked off to cars so it was nice not having to worry about walking around in the dark.  There were so many people trick-or-treating that the entire street was filled with people.  Most of the homes decorated to the nines.  If the house was too scary, we just walked by quickly.  Amelie went up to each person and said, "Aaarrrrggggghhhh, trick or treat!"  This turned out to be one of our favorite parts about the city of Gulf Shores.

All types and ages of people were out to trick-or-treat.

Liam road in his bike for most of the time, but when he was out he was not going to be left behind!  He's looking at the house as screams are coming from the windows.

Bobby and Amelie walking up to the first house.

Amelie is responsible for our costume choice this year.  She wanted to be a pirate princess (which I think she pulled off beautifully) so we all decided to be pirates.

Bobby and I enjoy dressing up with the kids, if you couldn't tell already.  We were contemplating how long can we do a family theme of costumes until Liam or Amelie won't want to participate or have differing ideas.  There is, of course, no way to know; but we will try to milk it for as long as we are able!