Giving Thanks

FOR...

PIE-walnut streusel/pumpkin, chocolate cream, banana cream and home-made cheesecake. yum.

This year I appointed myself pie duty, mostly so I didn't feel guilty over my worthlessness in the feast preparation. Ashley enjoys cleaning the turkey, I enjoy blissful ignorance of what came out of the turkey. I make pies, it's bloodless and doesn't require gloves, safety goggles or Clorox.

EATING-My children enjoy the fruits of my labor, I'm pretty sure this is all they ate. Well, Jara did eat turkey with ranch and Jack liked hand-squished sweet potatoes.

PLAY TIME-the girls and the boy, who is currently not playing well with others.

FAMILY

TURKEY CARCASS-if you're Icky the cat


THE BEAUTY OF THE SKIES

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies,

For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flow'r Sun and moon, and stars of light,

For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.

Holiday Savings

Wondering what to get your toddler for Christmas? On a budget? Well, search no further. The following pictures are what my children seem to enjoy the most and may inspire you to look around your house before you purchase new gifts this year.


Clothing, to be specific, recycled, (can we say green) college, memorabilia clothing, which I can't seem to fit my left thumb into anymore. I really think that I've just washed them so many times they've shrunk down to a size 4T.
Not only is it practical (Christmas pj's anyone) AND green, but it is ALSO at this point probably considered "vintage."

Pens-this is beneficial for two reasons positive and negative, but results in a win-win situations

1)Maybe if they get really good at tattooing their sibling they can have their own show on TLC too. Sad, but hello cozy retirement home.

or

2)Maybe if they get it all out of their system at 3 they won't at 16.

PLUS-your child is learning writing readiness skills, trust me I'm a teacher. VERY IMPORTANT

*Examine this picture closely for the full effect, you can't view in small size.

An Oven-for safety purposes be sure it is not on, while in use with children. This gift can be used in many ways. It's great for kids of all ages. Adults can use it to feed their families and kids really like to use the bottom drawer to...

*Use as a trampoline

*Play fort

*Encourage family bonding and love, as you can tell from the picture.

THE TOILET-my kids' most FAVORITE past time. Here Jara is exhibiting how you can make alphabet soup in the toilet. Jack would splash for hours and hours in the toilet if it was, hmmm what's that phrase, hygienically acceptable!!!!

*for your own health and safety DO NOT enlarge this picture. Trust me there is nothing else you need to see.

after the above present you are going to especially need one of these

The Bathtub-look at the sheer joy on their faces. Good, happy, CLEAN fun you can't get much better than that!

Play Time

So, this is what I hear when daddy is in charge of playing princess castle...

"Who wants cow for dinner?"-barnyard cow is being offered as a golden sacrifice on top of princess banquet table.

"Princess watch out for the tractor, whhaaaa" (giggle, giggle, evil giggle-that would be Jara)

"Princess do you want to dance? dodoodododuhduhduhduh" scary carney, clown music you hear at the fair. Not my dream dance music but princess is down with it.

"Go to the tower Jack!" -Jara
Well at least it's not the dungeon.

New Moon

Comes complete with...
Snarling werewolves
Morose, depressed Bella
Sulky Edward
Tension
Creepy Volturi
and...
LOTS OF shirtless Jacob, oh my

Thoughts on this...
Is it wrong for old ladies in the theater, not me I'm not old yet, to be giggling like 13-year-old school girls when a half naked 17-year-old boy comes on screen?
Would I want my elementary-age daughter to see this?
Was it just me or was it really hot in the Red Hills Cinema Friday night?

Domestic Doings

Notice the ironing of the Play-Doh.

She doesn't get it from me.

November Babies

Jara 11.1.06

Minutes old

Days old

3 years-old

Jack 11.7.08

Minutes old

Days old

1 year old

Where does the time go?

TuTu Much

40=the number of tutus made
36,000=number of inches of tulle used to make tutus
25=yards of elastic to make waistbands
2=number of girls drowning in 36,000 inches of tulle

Come visit us at the Pomegranate Festival this weekend Nov. 6-7 (at the Fairgrounds) and mention my blog for a discount...
if you don't Jed may take Jack and go live in a man cave free of tulle.

See how adorable they are

PS if you can't make it to the festival and still want a tutu, let me know.

Trick or Treat

The party...

Jara's b-day is on Nov. 1 (a Sunday) so we celebrated on Halloween. We had a pumpkin pinata complete with mummy hands (filled with popcorn thanks mom), a pumpkin hunt (for Play-dough wrapped up like a pumpkin) and a spider web cake. My favorite part was dressing up in costumes. The kids looked so cute.

Pirate Mason, with sheer joy on his face in an attempt to break open the pinata.

A lost Unicorn. Ella was so plush and cute I just wanted to hug and squeeze her but I haven't turned into that auntie Dar, yet.

Swamp monster. My dad gets the prize for best costume! I'm still amazed he dressed up! He actually wears this thing when he goes hunting, not to scare away hunters but to better be one with his surroundings. :)

Here is a Sam-o-lantern. Ahhh the flexibility of youth, those days when you could fit your whole body inside the head of a pinata pumpkin.

The Cake

Harry Potter and Hermoine, Ron and Ginny were just pawns in our game for the sake of the book.

Book 8=Harry and Hermoine living in peace in the country raising the tortoise and the hare, that's what Jack and Jara were.