A Little Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving at my sister-in-law’s home.  We actually arrived the night before because there was to be a big snow storm Thursday.  I worked that night and came back in the morning.  I was secretly glad I had to work, it got me out of some KP duty.  However, the night before, I made Mrs. 4444’s Berry Mallow Bake, so I did my part.  [insert grin here]

I am thankful for family.  I am thankful for a husband who cooks WAY better than I do.

I am thankful for friends with good recipes so I can look competent in the kitchen once in a while. I am thankful for a warm house.

I am thankful for cousins that love to play together.  I am thankful that we are close enough to visit more than once a year.

I am thankful goofy kids who love to have fun.

I am thankful wireless internet.  Yeah, I said it.

I am thankful people leaving their drinks for JC to finish.  Okay, that one is a little specific.  But I am thankful.  For everything.

Pumpkin Guts

I know I’m a little behind on this, but I felt bad we didn’t get them done before Halloween.  Aria had been begging me for days to get these pumpkins carved.  I finally relented, knowing the mess and goo about to be spread around my dining room.  Also, I really don’t like pumpkin guts.  Especially on the floor, which is where they inevitably end up.  But being the cool mom I am, I broke out the carving tools and sharpies and we were off…

 

Piper was not at all impressed with pumpkin guts.  I ended up scooping hers out.  Bleah.

I’m not sure what Max was going for, I believe he decided on Yoshi.  I don’t think this version is the final.

Pumpkin carving isn’t complete without plastic vampire teeth.  Just so you’re prepared next year.

Ah, the final product.  Piper’s is puking (finally, a good use for pumpkin guts), Aria’s guy is eating the little ones (see the scared faces?!), Max’s…well, Yoshi, right?

Crabby

Sometimes this boy is more than I can handle. I love him to death, but there are days when it takes everything I have not to lock him is his room all day.

All I can say is “OH! You are SO….so….. TWO!!!”

I try diversions. I found Max’s neat little book. It came with four tiny trucks to traverse the roads and terrain on each page of the book. Max spent several afternoons driving the little vehicles around. He even managed to keep track of the cars, so we still have the complete set.

It always takes him a while to warm up to something new. Unless its something he’s not supposed to play with.

He decided the book and little trucks were pretty fun. It kept him busy for quite a while. Which was good.
Good enough to eat, in fact. Maybe we’ll have to wait a little longer before we play with these again.

Max turns SEVEN, and dad has stopped aging.

Seven years ago I gave my husband the ultimate gift, a son.  Maximus came along and freed daddy from every having to age again.  Now every birthday belongs to Max.  This year he was able to bring a treat to school, so we made cupcakes.  Two dozen.  Of course, they were Mario Bros. cupcakes.  (Just wait until you see what he got from us, my mom, and my grandma for gifts! Not until tonight….)

 

Happy Veteran’s Day

To honor those, past and present, who have served our country and made a difference in our lives and theirs, THANK YOU!  To all the families behind those men and women, thank you!!

My Grandfather served in WWII

My husband when he came home for leave on an 18 month tour in Afghanistan.

Us at the end of the tour!

Our Husky Friend – I mean Alaskan Husky

Aria’s favorite new toy has been her Aome Husky and the Husky x 3 toys.  We’ve been having fun posing them in fun pictures.  Adventures with H3:

Meet Aome, Rock, and Latte

 
Aome and the Book of Knowledge – I believe English is his second language.  Aome is from Hong Kong.

Aria broke her first board in TaeKwonDo.

Aome makes some new friends.

 

There is a Husky Cafe, only nowhere near here.  So Aria and I made one with cardboard, craft paper, and hot glue.

H3 also really like cookies!

H3 enjoying the fall weather.

 

 

Who doesn’t like sushi?!

Friday Fragments

Yep, here we are.  This week really flew by.  Thanks to Mrs. 4444 we can share all the little tidbits from the week with Friday Fragments!!

• We voted, did you?  We have to go to the next small town to do so, which means we had to eat out when we were done. Had to….
• On the way home, we like to travel off the beaten path and stop by Buttzville.  Yes, that’s really a town.  There are about 6 people living there.  Maybe.  I found a little post about it, with some neat photos, here: http://stephenbergmusic.com/id81.html

• Aria’s Huskyx3 friends and I have been having fun taking photos.

• All the ads are coming out for Christmas.  Once Halloween is done it seems the big marketing goes directly to Christmas toys.  I suppose there isn’t much beyond turkey that the stores can try to sell to us before then.  Piper keeps seeing toys on TV she wants.  Her best argument for a good toy so far is : “Well, it doesn’t spill popcorns.”  Not sure where this logic comes from.  Do her current toys spill popcorn?  Have I recently denied her a toy based on its propensity for dumping popcorn everywhere??
  
• Going to do some major food shopping and stocking up this weekend, I’m super excited.  I suppose its the mark of adulthood when you get excited about a full cart of groceries. And Sam’s club.  (Costco for you non-Midwesterners!)
  
• I painted Aria’s dresser with her new favorite characters, Husky x 3.  Pretty cute, huh?  Now if only she’d clean her room, I have big plans for it!!
  
• I painted just a slice of her wall to show her what we could do…if...she…cleans.  Our inspiration is HERE. 
• Our Alltel was bought out by AT&T so we are forced to get new phones (free).  I’ve had my CrackBerry for over a year and I really like it, but I’m leaning toward the HTC Aria, it seems like there are a few more fun toys for me to play with.  I’m just glad to get a new free phone :)

SEW – My Little Artist

Piper loves to color and draw, so I wanted to share her latest work of art.  She has some of those “magic” color sheets, but I don’t care for them.  Sure they have a princess on them, this one even has glitter, but it doesn’t allow for the kids to color outside the lines.  Being forced to color only within the lines really kills creativity.  I think outside the lines is where the best art comes from!  Typically, when the kids want to color, I only give them white paper and let them go.  Honestly, I don’t even think I’ve ever purchased a color book.  They usually come as gifts, which is cool with me, because even an artist wants to color a princess sometimes.

Canon EOS 7D
f/3.2 at 1/80 sec
no flash, just window light
1600 ISO
50mm prime lens

Canon EOS 7D
f/3.5 at 1/125 sec
no flash, just window light
1600 ISO
50mm prime lens

Piper’s watercolor done yesterday.  Don’t you love the color?!

Special Exposure Wednesday is hosted by the lovely gals at 5 Minutes for Special Needs!