16 Years of Annie and Thanksgiving

 Our little Annie-girl turned 16 years old! Her birthday was on a Tuesday which is her busy day--piano lessons, voice lessons, teaching piano lessons, math class, and seminary. We were over-sugared from Halloween, and she was planning on having cake for her party later that weekend, so Annie just had some birthday ice cream. 

Also, breakfast in bed. 

I made a photo book for Annie with some baby photos we had recovered from a damaged external hard drive that we stupidly stored all of our pictures on with no back up. So there were some pictures in it she'd never seen before of her babyhood. And by a birthday miracle, the book arrived on time!

Here's an ode to Annie from the book:

"Happy birthday, dear Annie! We've loved you since before you were born! And here's proof that we've dressed you up in Halloween costumes since before you were born! Maybe that's why you love making costumes so much. You're welcome!

Getting you here to earth and raising you has been a team effort. We have loved being your parents. You have grown and changed and yet remained uniquely yourself through all the years.

We hope you enjoy this pictorial ode to your awesomeness. What would we do without you??

(We would eat fewer baked goods, step on fewer pins, have more available horizontal surfaces, and be very, VERY SAD!)"

And she went on a date! It was a stake date dance. We found a really pretty dress...and then I ironed a hole in the lace-like over-layer. Luckily, it was in the back, but I still felt bad/mad. Of course a hole in a dress could not keep Annie from looking tots adorbs! And she's so good at doing her own hair! Girl's got skills.

Annie has been blessed in her friends this year. Joining the evening seminary class helped a lot. It is very social there. The teachers usually let the kids chat and giggle for 10-15 minutes after class, and then they spend another five minutes turning off the lights and telling everybody that the Spirit goes to bed at 10:00. Annie doesn't have her license yet, so I wait in the parking lot and witness all of the teen hooligan-izing and shenanigan-ery. There is plenty. Also, flirting. Takes me back. Teenhood wasn't exactly the good old days for anybody, but it can't help but be a memorable time. Lots of learning and change and figuring out who you want to be. A raw and wriggling time of life. 

Annie also had a small birthday party. She wanted to plan it because that's half of the fun for her. They ate dinner outside by twinkle light and then made cards and then watched a movie and had a discussion. It was a great time. After everybody went home, Annie realized she never served the birthday cake she made. As her family, we graciously stepped in and supported her through this time of trouble. 

Thanksgiving was a little different for us this year because our Thanksgiving friends moved to Tennessee and abandoned us. (Alas! Alack!) But luckily we have some other friends, the Lundgrens, who we are also holiday pals with. We went to their house and had scrumptious food and delightful company. And of course lots of pie. We're very grateful for all of the friends who have been like family to us here in Texas! 

I succeeded in making pie crust this year! I found a recipe on Sally's Baking Addiction that really broke down the process. And I realized that I had been blending the fat too thoroughly into the flour. It was making my dough really thirsty and also non-stretchy. I followed her instructions very carefully and kept the ingredients and the bowl cold...and it worked! I feel like I can truly call myself a McCombs now. 

 The week of Thanksgiving was so relaxing. We had a break from everything, and I soaked in the restfulness. We did hit up the Giving Machine with some ward friends. It was in the lobby of a skating rink, so we also took a spin on the ice. I learned to skate backward! And all the women there were better than the men at skating, just sayin', and I think we're pretty much ready for our Olympic debuts.

The Giving Machine: it's genius! The vending machine concept is so satisfying, and it genuinely did bring me happiness to give to a good cause.

The weather turned cold after Thanksgiving. Charlie was shivering all the time, so we got him a sweater! He's loving it and life in general. He's a snuggle dog.

On to Christmas!