Turkey Day & Mr. Fix-It...

We had a lovely relaxing Thanksgiving!  It started out a little stressful- I pulled the turkey out and it was somewhat frozen in the middle, and I started to panic, and then Doug and I turned to each other and said, "Hey, what the heck, we're not on a schedule.  What are we worried about."  We just cooked that bird ALL DAY-- to death... in a manner of speaking. :)  It was very well done by the time we had our evening feast, but still tasty.  While we waited for the bird to cook, we watched a couple fun new shows we added to the collection, played games, and the girls put on the cutest pilgrim play that they wrote themselves and rehearsed a ton. :)  (The script was very similar to the Charlie Brown's First Thanksgiving that we recently watched. :)  This is them taking a bow. (They tried to involve the boys as wild Indians- it was very fitting.)

Just low key and simple- fun to start some little family traditions.

 

It says a lot about the cooking when the cherry jello was everyone's favorite part of the meal. :)  Or it just means that I almost never make jello... which I don't.  It is somewhat of a novelty around here. (I will say that Doug made some awesome mashed potatoes and green-bean casserole!)

But as for me, it's all about the pie.  Always has been, always will be. :)

 

I can't get this picture to turn, but that pumpkin pie was so darn good, I just don't have the heart to leave it off. :)

Doug doesn't rest for long.  He was so sweet and got started on a little side project.  Our entryway has become a dumping ground and I'm usually tripping over things.  This picture doesn't do it justice- I started cleaning it up and put away at least 30 pairs of shoes before I took a picture. :)

He gets a pretty good deal on wood and building supplies.  Additional motivation came from his new, very powerful impact drill- early Christmas (with some thanks to his parents!).  He is so good at this kind of thing- careful measuring, etc.

He definitely has a fan club. (Not all pictured- I'm in it too.)  We're a little hard up for good entertainment too. :)  He was quite patient about it and involved the kids by having them take turns handing him screws.

 

 

There, now isn't that nice!  Thanks best friend!  It was worth the neighbors inquisitions from the hammering and drilling. :)  I love how this man makes my life easier/better in so many ways!
 

Blame it on the Rain...

When decent kids are resorting to this for entertainment... 

(Seth definitely started this one!)

...it's time to get out of the house, and head to the Appaloosa Museum. :)

It was a cold, rainy day, the girls were out of school for Thanksgiving, and Doug was trying to finish a side-job design amid the distracting youngsters, so I loaded them up and they just played until the museum closed.  It was great!  I love this place... especially on rainy days.  There are only so many places you can go. 

 

 

 

A Pilgrim Potluck...

Amberlee's class had a fun Pilgrim's Potluck.  The students read a book called, "Molly's Pilgrim" and created a play out of it to present to the parents.  It was a really fun idea and there were so many delicious dishes.  We were supposed to bring something "traditional" from our family, so we brought Grandma Alma's Dixie Salad.  Now, I say there were delicious dishes, but I'm guess I'm not speaking from experience.  I was in way over my head- I was tending a little 1 year old in addition to my rambunctious boys.  We were at the end of the line, and by the time I got them dished up, it was time to head over for the play.  Sigh.  I was one of those desperate looking mothers, wrestling crying kids, not enough arms, and wondering why I left the house.

 

 

HOWEVER, what I say of the play was really cute.  Amberlee did a great job!

I wanted to get a good picture of her, but alas...

...Seth instead, being where he shouldn't and distracting the audience.  (I totally took this on accident. :)  Brigham was headed the other direction.  I was quite frazzled.

Amberlee seemed quite tickled to have us there though, and she tried really hard to be helpful- even dished Seth up. I'm proud of her- even if she didn't get my very much "divided" attention. :)

So my smart-shopper hubby has been saving up his Cabella points for years, and he finally cashed in.  He got an awesome deal on a really nice Kelty tent.  He also picked up a nice camp chair, so he is set to head out with the scouts now!  Free tent, free chair- nice!  He was sweet and set it up for the kids to have a "camp out" in.
 

As you can see, they were thrilled...

Surprisingly, they slept really well.  I'm thinking we should move it outside and make this permanent. :)

Amberlee has been taking piano lessons.  She is loving it!  She has an awesome teacher that is very firm, but fun too.  She is really picking it up and learning fast.  I'm excited to see her progress.
 

The Pink-Eyed Scientist...

Miss Amberlee missed three days of school for a bit of pinkness in the eye... (Most aggravating!  It sounds and looks like the plague, but she was perfectly fine!) and on the 4th day she (and I) threw in the towel.  She was not about to miss her long awaited science fair.  :)

She worked so hard on her experiment on the Law of Inertia. (I know- I think I maybe studied that in college? :)  I was proud of her little presentation that she did pretty much by her self.  I have to admit science was never one of my stronger subjects, and I was none too thrilled when the paper came home exclaiming "science fair!" knowing as a mother the work that entailed.  However, it was really neat, and we actually had a fun time putting it together.  These are such smart kids!  I know I didn't know half so much at their age! 

 

  

 

 

Our final harvest.  The girls picked the last of the tomatoes.  Quite tasty as they have ripened!  Our porch seems quite naked with out them. :)
 

 

Seth adds art-work to the wall daily.  He was really worried that we didn't have a "picture of mom and dad" so he added us... twice.  It was hard for me to take them down. :)
 

In the right place at the right time...

I sat across from Seth at the dinner table, and couldn't help but chuckle at the coincidence caused by Doug's banana plant behind.  He was sweet to humor me. :)  Oh- the little things.

 

She's Gone Country...

I'm not a big country fan and I've never been much into American Idol, so I was kind of an unlikely candidate for a Scotty McCreery concert.  In fact I'm abashed to admit I didn't even know who he was, but I wasn't about to pass up a fun girls night out. :)  Sure glad I didn't.  I haven't been that "silly" in a while- dancing, cat-calls and all.  I'm lucky to have such sweet friends!  It was clean, VERY LOUD, and fun.  I enjoyed the deep, "manly" voice of this 18 year old.

...And I definitely gained a whole new appreciation for country music.  I think I was scarred for life from those long bus rides of my youth where Cindy turned up the country radio and we were forced to listen to stories about men getting drunk and women getting even.  I can still remember cheering and singing along with the rest of "prisoners" to our favorites like "Don't Break my heart, my achy breaky heart..." or "Fishin' in the Dark..." or "I got friends in lower places, where the whiskey runs and the beer chases my blues away..."
Forgive me for being too blunt, but even in my youth, I recognized a clear lack of intelligence running through most of the songs. :)  And even with the passage of nearly 20 years, it aprears the haven't raised the bar much.  Just last week, I flipped the radio on to, "I'm a little drunk on you, and high on summer time."
HOWEVER... I will say this.
There is an occasional country song that you just can't help but tap your toes to.  And there is an occasion country song that can really paint a picture and tell a story.  They might even make you shed a tear or two.
(Please read that last sentence again with a bit of a twang.)
Ok- and there is something fun about that, too. :)

 

This was one of those 'afore mentioned "story" songs that I could really identify with at the concert:

Dirty Dishes

Mama hollers "Supper time,
And don't make me tell you twice
Wash your hands and wipe your face.
The table's no place for your toys,
And try to use your inside voice,
Don't dig in 'til we say Grace."
So we put down our forks and bowed our heads
And then she prayed the strangest prayer ever said:

"I wanna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen
And dirty dishes."

We all got real still and quiet,
And daddy asked "Honey, you alright?"
She said, "Dear, ain't nothing wrong,
Noisy kids are happy kids,
And slamming doors just means we live,
In a warm and loving home,
Your long hours and those dishes in the sink,
Means a job and enough to eat.

So I'm gonna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
My husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen

For my little busy bees
Beggin' mama, mama can you please?
Always wantin' me to call their name
Loads of laundry pilin' up
Crayons crushed into the rug
In those little sticky kisses
And dirty dishes,
And dirty dishes..."

And maybe, just maybe, I shed a tear or two. :)  Just don't tell my brothers.