Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Some turkeys from our turkeys...


by Brett (age 7)

by Davis (age 4 1/2)

and by Libby (age 20 months)

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

Life with Me

Go to my mom's blog...

She photographed a book my sister Becky (aka Reebs/Rebecca) wrote (in the '80s) called "LIFE WITH RACHEL".   <--- click here

[p.s. I still like fruit roll-ups & granola bars]

S'mores AND Hot Chocolate

(Here I think Libby looks like a grumpy housewife having her morning coffee to perk up)

I love a good challenge... I love trying out new recipes just to say I've done it. Well, I bought a box of Hershey's Cocoa Powder about a month ago [getting ready for Christmas baking] & I saw a recipe for Hot Chocolate. I'd never made it from scratch... and for some reason I really wanted to try it. You know the saying "1/2 the fun is getting there" ... well, I just wanted to take the time to measure, stir, heat, etc. I can't say it tasted better than the packets... but it was delicious. Actually... it was REALLY GOOD before I added all the milk. It was hot, rich Hershey's syrup. YUM. Anyway... I've just been on a "making it from scratch" kick. (Remember my pizza?) It's nice to s l o w d o w n & enjoy it every once in awhile!



Then, Friday morning when I took the boys to school it was 20. TWENTY degrees. Davis got on the topic of S'mores... so I promised him after school we could build a fire & have some S'mores. They were yummy... but mysteriously the chocolate disappeared in a flash.




(Wiping her mouth with her shirt...)

So, it was a good week of chocolatey warm goodness. (You're wanting some chocolate now aren't, you?)

Ten on Tuesday

Too much to fill you in on... luckily it's TUESDAY!

1) Kyle & the boys went to the happenin' town of TULSA on a quick little get-away. They really went there because Kyle knew they had a hotel there with an awesome indoor water park. (well, for a 4 & 7 year old it's a water park) Here's a link to the hotel's pool... Leapin' Louie's Lagoon. Not bad... and it was just a quick 45 minute leg via SWA! They had so much fun!!! They sent me many text message photos & it really looked like a good time!!!!!

2) I was just going to spend those 2 days & night in Kansas City with Libby & Daisy... but my mom had sent an e-mail describing what her house looked like & how much work she had to do after getting her BRAND NEW CARPET earlier that day... so I "put it out there" that Libby & I were available to come if she wanted it. She took the bait & WITHIN AN HOUR I had me, Libby & Daisy packed up, the house secured & we were on the road.

3) Libby cracked us UP. She really loved the chance to have all eyes on her... this was her on Saturday night right before bath time. She danced & pranced around the living room, spun in circles 'til she got dizzy & we all watched the many close-calls careening into the furniture & fireplace after she was all dizzied up. My dad, mom & I got many belly laughs from her.


4) I really wish we had before & after photos of all the rooms we worked on... but it started out as just the Family Room. We put away about 62 CD's, 43 DVD's, 951 VHS tapes (most are just being used as "fillers" to bump up the DVD's to the front of the cabinet), all the frames & knick-knacks and I would hate to forget to mention the 9,537 books we put away & arranged. Oh no, make that 9,564 - I forgot we found that other box when we thought we were done. Leah & Becky - I am protesting buying ANY book for mom & dad off of their Amazon wish lists... I was told all those books they're keeping are because they haven't read them yet & are waiting to. Here's a photo of Libby helping... big helper loaded up the rolling cart with what looks like 9 drink stirrers, a pair of ice tongs & a cork screw. Apparently, we put the toddler on liquor cabinet duty.


5) Working on the Family Room, also turned in to arranging furniture, moving out furniture, swapping out wall decorations & picture frames, organizing drawers & closets, and of course vacuuming, dusting & sweeping in almost EVERY SINGLE ROOM in the house. It was fun - sort of like musical chairs. But at some point on Sunday (the day I had to go back) my mom looked around & said "Maybe you & I weren't the best ones to do this... you & I are so ADD we can't finish one project before we start another!" It was true. There was a time where almost EVERY SINGLE ROOM in the house was a disaster zone. But I promised I wouldn't leave until we got it all done. Finally, it took a turn & things started finding their place - and I think we were VERY happy with the results!!!

6) Helping organize the house had its benefits... I got paid in the form of a new lamp, new bookshelf & new quilt for Libby's room. Truth be told - none of it is new. All of it is probably more than 30-40 years old.

6a) The lamp used to be in mine & my sisters' room when we were little. It's milk glass... so pretty & dainty.


6b) The quilt my mom got at a garage sale, I didn't ask when, but it is handmade. And it is BEAUTIFUL. I'm going to have some mending to do... one of the hot pink fabrics hasn't aged well, so those might have to get replaced. But it is sooooo beautiful & bright & perfect. It even has RED which we all know I love - especially when paired with bright pinks & purples.


6c) And the bookshelf was my grandma's, but before that - it came out of her SCHOOL. Which makes it almost 100 years old. I have come so close to buying those laminate white particle board type bookshelves... I am so glad I held off.

7) Last night Brett had his Thanksgiving Program at school. I think it was my proudest moment yet. He NAILED all the songs. Tune, words, hand motions... We were in the 3rd row & he was on the end nearest us, so we got to read his lips & hear his voice. I had tears in my eyes, and if anyone saw me they probably thought I was a bit dramatic over a 1st grade performance... but he just continues to impress us. To watch him perform with his peers & do as well as them, singing & pronouncing all the words, all while BEAMING with this adorable, ear to ear grin on his face... it was a proud moment.




8) Unfortunately, Libby spiked a 102 degree fever while we were there. She was burning UP. She's still not feeling so great... bless her heart. Libby couldn't look more pitiful if she tried.


9) Last night I made a homemade pizza for dinner... made the dough in the breadmaker (hadn't used it in about 3 years), made the sauce from scratch... YUM. YUM. and 1 more wouldn't hurt... YUM.


10) Here's one more photo... Davis & Kyle at the performance! :) Davis always loves going to these things... all his buddies have older brothers in 1st grade, so he gets to see all his best buds. [This is photo attempt #3. The tiger truck kept getting shoved in front of the camera... and Kyle - always my photo sabotager - kept telling Davis to do it.]

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Last week it was in the 70's & I knew a few days later it was supposed to be a high of 40's... so I thought I'd do some leaf raking {make Kyle happy, make the neighbors happy}. I worked over 5 hours raking & bagging... filled up 8 huge bags... and the next day we were no better off . I know I grew up in the mid-west... but for 8 years Kyle & I lived in Florida & South Texas, where our "Fall" was maybe picking up a palm frond or 2. Plus at the house where I grew up , the trees were pint-size in comparison (& I was so pampered, my Dad did all the yardwork) ... I'm thinking this is just the time of year you just wait 'til the last leaf falls off the tree. It's just not worth it. Although these photos were. :)

Libby helped me during the day while the boys were at school...

then when the boys got home, they grabbed their shovels & helped me bag up the last few piles.



Before we finished, I of course let the kids jump in one of the piles.

Libby's 1st Day of School

We got a call last week that the school down the street from us had an opening for our Miss Libby on Mondays! So today was Miss Libby's 1st Day of School!

What on earth does a 20 month old need for her 1st Day of School?

A good night's sleep.


A new bag, hand-painted by cREaTe. {thanks, mommy!}

A sassy pinafore {from Lassie Girl on Etsy} & a healthy breakfast of juice & dry Lucky Charms.

A sippy cup, bib & crib sheet - all labeled.

A new lunchbox.



A smooch from Daddy.



Some lovin' from Mommy.

A little attitude... so it makes it easier on Mommy to take her baby to school.

Fun toys that lure a girl in.



And some friends. :)

And it was right about here, where I backed away & tip-toed down the hall. Report is, Miss Libby had a WONDERFUL DAY. She had about 20 minutes of tears in the morning when she realized I had left... but she had a great day.