Happy Thanksgiving!

It was a good day, and virtually stress free! I got up, got the turkey in the oven, and got my workout done. Tyler was sweet enough to wake up in time to babysit while I did my workout and took my shower.

Jeff was up and dressed before Scott & Amanda arrived. Amanda ran around with Tommy while I got dinner made. My grandpa stopped by for about an hour, before taking dinner w/him to share at home with a friend. My mom and Daymon showed up just in time for dinner.

I made most of dinner, but Amanda brought green bean casserole, and Tyler made the biscuits. That was probably the most time-consuming part of dinner. We made butter from cream (everybody had a hand in that, it's so time consuming) and then we used the left-over buttermilk in the biscuits. It was fun to have Tyler's fresh, hot biscuits smothered with our homemade butter!

It was a fairly simple meal: turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, green bean casserole, mixed veggies, and pumpkin pie.

It was all ready to eat just as the game was starting. So I announced that I was going to sit down and watch the game and let somebody else dish up and serve me. I then poured myself a glass of wine that my grandpa brought over, and tried to stay out of the kitchen. Well, I mostly stayed out of the kitchen. Mom brought me my plate, thanks, Mom!

We watched Dallas trounce Seattle, then spent a few hours playing Rock Band. I think everybody had a good time. We all took turns, and I ended up playing every role at one time or another. It was fun. I told Melissa that everybody except Mom and Tommy played, but Tyler reminded me that Tommy had sat on his Daddy's lap and played the drums. Hmmm, I guess only Mom didn't play.

Mom did help clean up the kitchen. It's nice that I don't have to worry about that. The dishwasher is running for the 2nd time, and I know the boys will empty it in the morning.

Jeff doesn't go back to work until Monday. That's a first for us. He usually has to work the day after Thanksgiving, and the Saturday after to make up for the holiday. Instead, he gets to go hunting with Scott in the morning. Good luck, guys!

Well, that's all for now. We'll probably see Melissa and Geoff sometime tomorrow. If not, we'll get together Saturday. I want to go to JoAnn's to buy a pattern for a potential Christmas present....can't say more here, the kids read my blog sometimes.

Good Night!

The Night Before Thanksgiving

I can hardly believe it, but I am feeling no stress! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, we're having dinner at my house, and I am not the least bit worried about any of it: not about the condition of the house, not about the food, not about the people. What a freeing feeling!

I told my boys I would blog tonight to tell the world what a blessing they are to me. They have been incredibly helpful this week...I'm not sure what's gotten into them. Maybe Jeff's reminders that they need to do what I ask them to do when I ask it, not later. However, that doesn't explain Travis loading the dishwasher while I was gone yesterday morning. At any rate, I am appreciating their wonderfulness very much.

We were talking about making a thankfulness tree, and writing what we are thankful for on the leaves. My boys....Travis instantly said "family" and Tyler said "what the Lord has done for us." I think they are on the right path.

Tommy got a special treat this evening, he got to walk through the grocery store instead of riding in the cart. Travis was his escort, and I'm not sure who enjoyed it more. I was very impressed with Mr. Thomas when we got home. I took him out of his car seat and he headed straight for the front door. It's a good milestone, when they don't need you to carry them or hold their hand every second.

So, it's getting late and I have an early morning. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, and that you have plenty to be thankful for. Personally, I'm thankful for a loving, supportive family; kind, generous friends; a caring church home; a good social circle for the whole family; the roof over my head; the food in my pantry and freezer; the van in my driveway; and most of all a Heavenly Father who is loving, forgiving, and patient with us humans.

Good Night All!

Melissa and Me!

Ugh! No make-up! What was I thinking?

Time Flies…

Wow! Where does the time go? I can't believe it's been so long since I logged on to my computer. I have to catch up on everybody else's blogs.

So, the kids and I were sick last week. We still have a terribly cough that just won't go away. Somebody advised me to rub Vick's Vapor Rub on our feet and then put our socks on before going to bed. It worked! I finally got a decent night's sleep when I tried that, instead of waking up coughing every 15 minutes or so. I don't think I even turned my computer on last week. When I did finally check my e-mail on Friday, I had over 500 messages! Yikes! Then I didn't check it again until today, and I had over 100 more. I may have to unsubscribe to my homeschool group if people are going to continue to be super chatty.

We made it out to Costco on Saturday. Yay! I really wanted to get some Johnny's Garlic Spread, and I can't find it anywhere else. I also really like their pumpkin pies. That was a busy day. Travis and I headed out first thing in the morning for a decorating/work party at the church. Our mission: to help decorate 6 bulletin boards throughout the church. We both had a good time. Travis was a huge help, hauling stuff to the far ends of the church and up the stairs, some of it was heavy stuff too. He basically took all of the supplies to the various bulletin boards. He then helped to put the borders up on a couple of them. I was assigned the bulletin board near the church nursery. I was handed directions and supplies to make a 3-D angel on the board out of gold wrapping paper and aluminum foil. I think it turned out pretty good. I'll try to remember to get a picture of it. While I was finishing the bulletin board, Travis played pool. He first faced off against a church elder, then against a lovely young lady from the church.

The fellowship hall was set up for the congregational Thanksgiving dinner, and I couldn't help feeling a sense of belonging as we walked through there, knowing I helped to get that set up. Travis was feeling it too, because he said something about having set out the salt and pepper shakers.

On our way home we swung by Lowe's and picked up the kids' project for Tyler. I wasn't able to take him down there, and he wasn't feeling well anyway. I got home and started to make dinner and do the housework. My mother-in-law came over, and shortly after she left my sister-in-law came over. After she left, my mother came over, she watched the kiddies for us while we went shopping.

On Sunday we went to church and the Thanksgiving dinner. That was fun. We sat on the pews along the walls where Travis has set out the individual tray tables for overflow seating. That fellowship hall was packed! But that was the point. After we got home I turned on the game and fell asleep before the Seahawks finished losing.

Monday was Scout day. Only 2 out of 5 of our Bear Den showed up, 2 were home sick and 1 is in Idaho visiting relatives for the holiday. We couldn't really do our skit with only two boys, but the Webelos were very helpful and quickly learned the skit. Tyler ended up having the punch line, which pleased him. I had originally told him he couldn't do it, and assigned it to one of our absent scouts…I can't have Tyler in the lead role every month, no matter how much he wants it. However, under the circumstances Tyler was the only scout who knew the joke and the role, so he got to do it.

They boys got their popcorn selling prizes last night. Travis earned a survival kit—two pocket tools: one with a knife, spoon, and fork; the other with everything else (corkscrew, knives, screwdrivers, etc…). Tyler got a Wal*Mart gift card.

After Scouts, Melissa and Geoff came over. Yay!!!! Yay!!! Yay!! Yay! Wow! She looks great! I am very impressed and very happy for her. Geoff watched wrestling with Travis while Melissa and I chatted in the kitchen. The boys had been chomping at the bit, waiting for them to show up. I had to convince them that we don't need to squeeze everything into the first hour, or even the first day. They wanted to tell our guests everything, show them everything, I thought they would burst! Today they were antsy waiting for M & G to come back, but I think I have finally convinced the boys that they will have plenty of time to spend together and to just relax for awhile. Obviously, Melissa and Geoff are important people to my guys.

I am pleased to report that I have gotten my work-out in almost every day, and have walked at least a mile every day. Travis is a good one for reminding me to walk. He likes to get out for the exercise and the fresh air; he also likes to buy chips at the store that is .6 miles away from our house. I registered a loss at my meeting this week. Cool! I also have a non-scale victory of having dropped a pant size. Cool, cool!

Well, that's all the time I have for now. Don't know when I'll be back. Hope you all are doing well, you're in my prayers! Happy Thanksgiving!

Coincidence

Read Rainbow's post today?

I kid you not, I opened up the new file posted to my home school group today, and the very first thing on the page is this:

Taco Soup

Ingredients

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 14 oz. can tomato sauce
1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes w/green chilies
1 4 oz. can chopped green chilies
2 cans corn
2 cans dark kidney beans
1 pkg. taco seasoning

Toppings (not included in nutrition info):
Frito chips
Fat-Free Cheese
Fat-Free Sour Cream



Directions

Brown ground beef over medium heat.
While cooking beef, simmer the following items on low heat in a large pot: tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, green chilies, corn, kidney beans, and taco seasoning.
Add beef. Bring to boil, and then simmer for 15 more minutes.
Serve and enjoy. Garnish with chips, cheese, and sour cream!



Not exactly the same recipe, but pretty darn close!