Happy Thanksgiving!

The baking/cooking is done and I have 2. 5 minutes of down time before we are off to my sister-in-law's for dinner. I made yummy mashed potatoes with plenty of cream cheese and sour cream, roasted squash and apples, sweet potato rolls, cranberry apple relish, a veggie platter and a cream cheese dip. It was a fun morning in the kitchen!

We had a pie night earlier this week with some friends. Since I am always so stuffed on Thanksgiving to really enjoy dessert, I thought it would be fun to have friends bring their favorite pies and sample them all. It was my first time making a pie on my own, but it turned out a lot better than I thought it would (the crust especially).We had a berry (mine), pecan, banana cream and chocolateRice Krispy with Reeses Pieces pie. It was a very yummy night. :)

And of course, we have kept busy making Thanksgiving crafts and Thankful lists.

I am so thankful for these two crazy kids. My life would be a whole lot more calm and organzied without them, but I would also be bored, lonely, and have my hearing.

I am so thankful for a hardworking husband who still thinks I'm beautiful despite the fact I have food all over my clothing, chocolate on my face, and stress lines around my eyes.

I am thankful for a free country, a warm home, 2 cars that continue to work, a job that lets me stay home with my kids every day, family in the area, friends who listen and watch my kids, and a body that keeps up with my kiddos.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Now, let the Christmas chaos begin!!

Transitions

Lindsey has made some big transitions in the last few weeks. Since she is rapidly approaching age 3, we decided it was time to move her out of the crib. As we were looking around for a toddler bed, she lost her binky one day during nap time. We searched the room high and low and never found the thing. She did okay without it- a little fussing, and a decision not to nap anymore :(. We set up the bed last weekend while she was staying at Clint's parents' house so she returned to a real "big girl" bed. We also found the binky- hidden deep inside a box in the closet. (?) She loves her new bed (and so does everyone else). Now, if we could only get rid of the 2 am wake up call every morning ("I have to go tinkle!"Yes, we really use that word at our house. For some reason I hate the word "pee") Her tiny bladder can only hold it in for 6 hours at a time. Any ideas?!?

And just for a chuckle... scuba steve. You can't really see it, but he's wearing a backpack for an air tank. The imagination of this kid never ceases to amaze me.

"Do you have a doggy?"

A weekend of Halloween activities began with Clint's office Halloween party. The kids trick or treated at about 2 desks (whoopee!!now, come on people....)and munched on some cupcakes. I brought some super cute treats (sorry, no pic) and no one touched them. Next year, I am NOT slaving in the kitchen all morning-I'm bringing cupcakes.

A little pumpkin carving.....

A playgroup party: pin the nose on the pumpkin, dancing with scarves, beanbag toss, cookie-decorating, and plenty of goodies.


Halloween dinner at Grammy and Papa's

The Karren posse getting ready to saddle up

Highlights of trick or treating:
Jack- (after 5 houses) "Can we go back to Grammy's now?"
Lindsey- "No, just one more house, okay?"
Jack -"Trick or treat."
Lindsey- "Do you have a doggy?" after hearing a dog bark inside every house. She then insisted on seeing the doggy, petting the doggy, and taking at least 5 pieces of candy from the bowl extended to her. The girl knows how to work it.