They Can Focus!!!

Ha ha! this picture really just made me laugh. It has taken close to eighteen months to get the idea of simple housebreaking through Emmy's head, and Jamie and Josh could tell a few stories involving some of Bentley's hard- headed moments as well, I'm sure. Just look at the intense focus they can conjure when there is a piece of turkey up for grabs! These dogs have more energy that you can imagine and they can be hard headed, but they are the most loyal breed that I have ever seen. I don't think I would ever own any other breed in the future.

Gobble Til Ya Wobble!

Another Thanksgiving gone by. It didn't go off without a hitch or two, but turned out nice just the same. Greg shopped for me and picked out a nice medium sized turkey. I later decided to get an extra turkey breast, since we have a lot of white meat eaters. I put the whole bird in the fridge to thaw on Monday morning and had planned to take out the smaller breast on Tuesday afternoon. Panic set in at about 7:00pm Wednesday when Mandy asked if I had taken the breast out of the freezer.

I hadn't. 

Upon inspection, I also discovered that the whole bird was still partially frozen. I went online to learn of the fastest way to thaw turkey and learned that you can do it in cold water, but that you have to change the water every thirty minutes unless you want to run the risk killing off your entire family with some deadly strain of turkey bacteria. Back in the fridge they went, and up early was I to start the water baths. It worked, and I soon had them all seasoned and panned up. Since we were doing the dinner at Jamie and Josh's house I sent Al off to their house with the birds (okay bird and a half) to get them started. The phone soon rings. It's Al saying that there is no way that they are both going to fit in her oven. Okay, regroup again. I decide that the whole bird is plenty big enough....just no leftovers. The breast goes in the fridge, the turkey goes in the oven, it's all good. We visit, we chat, Josh and Maddox go to the Governor's restaurant to pick up some rolls.......Once back home Josh is looking at the stove and calmly asks, "Is the oven on?"

It wasn't.

Okay, another regrouping.....Jamie was sure that the oven had been on and it did still feel fairly hot, but now we have no idea how long it will take to finish the  cooking process....Oven back to 325 degrees, some more snacking and a few more games of Memory with Maxie later we sat down to dinner. Not quite as scheduled, but tasty none the less. Jamie did a great job with the veggies, as did Mandy with dessert. Al makes a pumpkin pie every year, and this year's was delicious as usual.

MATCH!!!!

Let's eat!

Cinderella in red?????

Pretzel Mustache!

My Confession

Hello, my name is Kim, I am a 48 year old grandmother, and yes I am a Twihard. I'm not a camp out for 5 days to get tickets, "Team Edward" tee shirt wearing (Ahem, Jamie) kind of  Twihard, but it's true, I have been bitten by the vampire bug. When the Twilight craze began and Jamie was completely immersed in the book series I thought that the whole premise sounded simply absurd. A sparkly vampire??? Puhleeeeze!! Jamie tried her best to get me to go to the theater with her to see the movie when it came out, but I could not be swayed...."No, no, no", I affirmed over and over, "I have no desire to see that movie." Then one evening when there was nothing on television, and I was weak, I let her convince me to watch the Twilight DVD with her. I started reading the books that same weekend. And yes damn it! I LIKED THEM!!

I didn't care that Edward might be the bad guy, rather than the hero, I no longer cared that these were vampires without fangs, I didn't even care that Edward sparkled! I just got lost in the story. Stephanie Myers has somehow managed to reinvent the same old love story that has worked for so many generations. It's a fun indulgence, the books were an easy read, and the movies are a great two hour escape from the real world.

The Pillaging of the Park

Trick or treating.........it brings back so many memories. I think that it is the one thing from my own childhood that hasn't really changed all that much. The candy is a little different, but the kids in their costumes and the excitement is still just the same. Maddox and Mia were both pirates this year. Mia was sent off to Auntie Jamie's for her makeup and hair-do. For some reason we felt that Mia needed to be a glam pirate. Auntie Jamie did not disappoint, and Mimi was returned to us with a hairdo fit for a prom. Mia has baby fine stick straight hair and it was a breezy night.....needless to say the do was short lived.

Mandy proceeded to get Maxie into his costume and we were off. We were a bit concerned about how well Mia would handle the decorations and seeing the other kids in costume since she had already had a few melt downs upon seeing various Halloween related things throughout the season . Mandy had to shield her from the costumes in the stores, and she even fell apart at seeing Maddox's preschool teacher dressed as a cow! She surprised us all and did great. Both kids were well behaved and even remembered to say thank-you when they received their treats. They tuckered out after an hour or so and we all headed back to Jamie and Josh's for Pizza and cake and ice cream to celebrate Mandy's birthday.

This Picture came out very creepy with the lighting. I think I see some ghostly spirits lurking.

 Want some???

Awwwww! Look closely, you don't see this too often!

The kids were fascinated by this animated pumpkin.

Mama and Maddox

 

Papa and Mia

Auntie Jamie and Maddox

A bucket full of candy = One happy boy!

Enough Halloween, ready to go to Uncle Josh and Aunt Jamie's