Thanksgiving Weekend - Part 2

So, Saturday we spent the day organizing, cleaning up and cleaning out. There is a clearance sale at the Hansell's and EVERYTHING must go! We have so much crap that Andy and I, together because otherwise it wouldn't work, have made a commitment to de-clutter our house. I know it won't happen overnight, but one room at a time we are getting rid of whatever we don't need right now or in the immediate future. It is hard letting go of some things, but when the box is covered in dust or has not been opened since you received it at your wedding 6+ years ago, it is time to let it go...
Saturday night we got a sitter and went to dinner at Big Bowl and saw Four Christmases with a group of friends. Andy and I both really liked the movie. There were some laugh-out-loud parts and it was nice to get out without the kids after a very family orientated weekend. We love the family time but need some alone time too....
Today we started what I hope becomes a yearly tradition. We went to my parents for a great breakfast and then spent the day making Christmas cookies. We attempted to make my late Grandma's recipe, but like most things, no one does it like Grandma. They are good but nothing like when her and my Grandpa did it. I know they were watching today getting a good laugh.... The kids had a blast playing and "helping" and eating. The perfect finish to a perfect holiday weekend. Hope everyone else had as much family, food, and fun as we did!

Enjoying waffles and pancakes and bacon and.....
Grandma & Maria

Parker and Jules doing a little measuring

Maria & Mommy

All this baking is making my hungry!

Following the leader....

Thanksgiving Weekend - Part 1

We have already had a wonderful weekend and there are still 2 more days to enjoy! What a great feeling....
Thursday we went to my parents for a turkey dinner bonanza! Good food, family, and football/ad reading. What could be better? It was a great holiday! I did end up with a stomach bug on Thursday night and went to bed super early and slept in late so I missed Black Friday shopping for the first time in a long time. I did wake up feeling better and made it to the mall to hit Gymboree where I felt like they were practically giving stuff away - between the sales and the coupons it was nuts.
Friday afternoon we ventured out to get our Christmas tree. I can already tell this year is going to be so much fun! Jules is WAY into all things Christmas and was so excited to pick out a tree. We got a big one and came home and decorated it together. It should be interesting with Maria - she likes to mess with the tree so we will have to keep a close eye on that.
Stay tuned for Thanksgiving Weekend - Part 2

The Girls on Turkey Day

Julia at the tree lot

Looking for the perfect tree

Girl hug

Trimming the tree

Happy Turkey Day!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Turkey Talk

So we have been talking a lot about Thanksgiving around these parts the last week or two and it has been the topic of learning at Julia's preschool. I am pleased/proud/emtional/exstatic that Julia proclaims to be thankful for Mommy, Daddy, & Maria on an every time asked basis along with a host of others thrown in there every now and then. (Grandparents, aunts & uncles, Parker, Molly and Kendall - and a little boy named Zachery from her daycare. Is that really starting already?) I struggle with how to convey to a three-year-old just how thankful her Mommy is for HER. She doesn't understand "You are my dream come true" or "You've made my life better" so I am settling for I love you sooooo much. Doesn't seem to do the feeling justice, but I know she knows, in her 3 year-old way, that Andy and I are so thankful for her and her sister.
On a lighter note, Julia's preschool teacher asked her "How do you cook a turkey?" and this was her response:
"Stuff the turkey with pizza, put chocolate sprinkles on top, cook turkey in the oven at 9 degrees for 5 years."
That made me laugh so hard. They printed all the kid's answers and they were all pretty cute. Below is some pictures of all the turkey themed art work that has been coming home. We are really looking forward to Thursday and are very aware of all we have to be thankful for.

Maria's Hand Print Turkey

Julia's Foot & Hand Print Turkey

Barbies & Doughnuts & Spaghetti - Oh My!

We went to my sister's today to officially celebrate my niece Molly's 4th birthday. We had a ton of fun and as expected, Julia spilled the beans on the Barbie house. "Open the barbie one first Molly!" Oh well.... We had awesome food, watched the football game, and as an extra special treat, Julia got to stay and play with Molly and her loot for a couple of hours. Oh, and the doughnut cake was a huge hit!

Molly blowing out the candles on her doughnut cake

Maria, Julia, Molly & Parker

Buffalo Wild Children - Thanks Joe!

Today we went to my brother's restaurant and had lunch. Julia LOVES to visit Uncle Joe at work and to make it even better, Mimi and Molly and Olive, Ambee and Hazel were there too. Last time we visited Julia put crayons behind her ears so she could be like Uncle Joe, who had a pen behind his ears. She asked a lot of questions about why he had it there and she must have decided it was a good idea because soon she was following suit. Very cute! Anyways, the kids had a blast, lost a bazillion balloons in the ceiling which Joe kept replacing, poor guy. They even got to wear funny crowns and check out the kitchen. It was a WILD success!

Maria could not get enough of the crowns...

You can see why we may have lost a balloon or two...
Olive, Julia & Molly

Yum, this food is good. You should eat at Buffalow Wild Wings!

Buffalo Princess X 2

I am still here - physically anyways. My mind is another story...

Yes, I know. I have been neglecting the blog. Life has gotten in the way of my cyberspace addiction these past couple of weeks. I guess a couple of ear infections and the fact that I feel like it's 10 pm at 5 in the evening have gotten the best of me. The good news, maybe? is that I am back in the saddle and hoping to stay better on top of things. My friend Robynn and I decided we need notepad earrings so we can keep jotting down all the crap we need to do or keep forgetting to do. If it is not physically attached to my body chances are I will forget it somewhere too. It has gotten so bad I would forsake my fashion sense, which I don't have much of anyways, if it meant staying better on top of all areas of my life... I am trying. I guess that's all I can ask of myself.

So, a blogging I will go.