Lucky Me..

I get to watch this out of my kitchen window every fall...

There was a break in the storm and I went outside to get these few pics.


We planted this "Autumn Glory" Maple 5 years ago when Brynn was born, and I think it is truly living up to its name!

Our Meat is In!

This is the second year that we have bought our meat in bulk from a local source. I love knowing where the beef comes from, and the feed put into it. The first year we split a quarter of a cow with another couple and it lasted almost an entire year, but this time we went big and bought an entire quarter for ourselves. We figure this will probably last us close to 2 years, but who knows...
Hard to believe that this much live beef...


...equals this much freezer space!

Hamburgers anyone???

"Decorations"

Cannon "decorated" the living room the other day. I made him take down the "decorations", but only after I let him snap a few shots of his work. Here are his pics...






Nice....

Giving Thanks!

We stayed home on Thanksgiving.
Mostly because of this....

Although it was a bummer to not be with our extended family, it was actually one of the best Thanksgivings that I have ever had.

During the day, while our "sick" kids ran around like wild animals on the front lawn, Rich and I worked on making Christmas presents. Yep, that's right, we crafted together! Can you believe it? (I think this is one of the reasons why it was my favorite!) We also accomplished a few "fix-it" projects around the house. Awesome!

Not being prepared to stay home, I think I pulled together a darn good Thanksgiving dinner. Even if I knew that I was going to be home I wouldn't have cooked a turkey. (Don't tell anyone, but I actually really, really, really don't like cooked turkey!) Also, I once saw it being prepared, and have since then sworn that I won't be putting my arm up in any turkey's body cavity to pull out a bag of un-named intestinal parts!

I pulled out most of Saturday nights dinner (hoping that we will be inheriting leftovers from the family dinners that we missed to replace Saturday nights meal...I am still crossing my fingers on that one!) and added some extras to it. Rich and I set the table with the china, with the exception of Maeve who has a habit of tossing her plate off the edge of the high chair when she is done.


I found some yummy sweets around our house for our "dessert plate" and two mini bottles of cheap wine from our little getaway a few weeks ago. We turned out the lights, lit all the candles, and ate by candle light.

I got lots of compliments on the food, and only one complaint.
From my son.
Who said that he couldn't see his food.
Really???

Here is our "Thanksgiving List" (in no particular order)

Me:
Supportive Husband
God with never-ending grace
Family who loves me
House
Health
Friends who I can laugh and cry with
Our first holiday at home

Brynn: my family
my friends
that we get a yummy dinner to eat every night
my brother and sister
my mom and dad

Cannon: "that I get to run around naked" (direct quote)
"that's it mommy" (also a direct quote)

Maeve: ice
Cannon
eat
uh-oh
(also direct quotes...although she really has no clue what I am asking her...)

Rich: God
amazing wife
time with family
job
home

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Good Friends, Good Times

Mmmmmmmn. Yummy....

My friends and I went out a week ago to celebrate the November birthdays, and I got to choose the place.


Vietnamese....yummy!
I have great friends! Thanks guys!!!

A Glimpse of Something Cool

A while ago, I wrote that I got to be part of something on my birthday that was amazing. Here is the story.
A few months back I approached some women in our church about starting a new ministry that somehow involved mentoring. Mentoring was something that was becoming more and more of a desire in my life, and through extraneous circumstances I found that it was something that others wanted as well.
We started reading about a program and ended up having its unofficial/official kickoff on my birthday. It was such an amazing experience. For this unofficial start, I called up some women in the church that I highly respect and admire, and asked them to be part of a 10 week pilot program for this ministry. It was a time to get all the kinks worked out, and figure out how this was going to work. At our meeting we had 5 mentors and 5 mentees, which was exactly the number that I felt God asked for. After some time of describing the program to them, we went around the room and did a short introduction. Part of the introduction was for the women to answer two questions: 1. Why are you here? 2. What do you hope to get out of this experience? I fully expected most of the women to say, "I am here because you called me and asked me to come and help you out!", but the answers that I got blew me out of the water. Every single one of the women there had been specifically praying, some for as long as a year ago, to have a part in a mentoring relationship!
The meeting ended, and the pilot program began, and God showed me, once again, that I am a lucky girl. I am lucky because I got to have a part in this cool ministry. I am lucky because God used me to start it.
Rich told me something, which of course I will butcher in repeating...
He said (and I quote this first part) "I don't want to bore you with the theology behind this statement "(isn't that funny, he knows that when he starts getting deep into some theological concept that I start to tune him out...) but basically there is a script that God has written. Once in awhile we get the opportunity to read from the script, and witness amazing things happen. When we do get to play a part, we feel pretty blessed.
I totally agree! Here I was thinking that I was the one to get the ball rolling, but in all actuality, I was just in the right place, at the right time. Its a pretty cool thought.
Anyways, we are pretty official at this point. We even have a page on the church website! (Am I really grown up enough to be "leading" this?)
Our official kickoff is the end of January, and I am pretty excited to see where God leads His ministry!

18 month Cutie

Isn't she just too cute for words???

18 months.

2 molars in, 2 more to go...

Talking, singing, and an absolute joy to be with.

Thanksgiving Crafts

Brynn had been home sick for a few days, but was feeling well enough to run around and drive me crazy with "I'm bored", and "Can I watch more TV?". (Is she really sick if she can play dress-up, do dances, play chase, and drive me and the other kids crazy?!? If only that thermometer wouldn't keep reading 100.7)
Our family has been reading from an old Thanksgiving book, and at the breakfast table we came to the "craft" section. I decided to help the kids make some Thanksgiving crafts to keep the boredom away while being sequestered in our house.
Thankfully, all the stuff for the craft was found in my house, so the kids made Indian shields, and Tee pees.

The Supplies:
Attach the paper bag handles to the back of the paper plate

Decorate the bottom of the plate

Brynn showing off her finished product, complete with Indian "writing".

For the Tee pees: cut up the bag into two rectangles and decorate with markers. Roll up and secure with staples and scotch tape.

Last I checked the tee pees housed 2 barbie dolls, and a variety of assorted hot wheels...

With all this "preparing for the holidays" upon us, I realized that I have really got to get crackin' on my Christmas projects...

Wait, what????

Is that a couch in your kitchen???

Why, yes, it is!

Its the totally new and hip way to watch shows that your cheap cable company doesn't provide....

Everyone is doing it....

I *Heart* Blog Giveaways!

I just won on a blog giveaway!

Thanks Penny Carnival!!!!

Looking forward to crafting some christmas goodies with this!!!

Our Vacation

Rich and I had a kid free two night get-a-way, that I will completely call a "Vacation". It was amazing! It has been 2 years since we had a night to ourselves, and it was well worth the wait.
On suggestion, we headed up to Mendocino, without any plan as to where we would stay, or what we would do. It was wonderful.
My favorite kind of vacation is the kind where you park the car, and don't use it again until its time to go home. This was that kind of vacation! We stayed at the Mendocino Hotel, right on main street and walked around all day. We window shopped, walked the streets, and ate at all sorts of little cafes. (Money wasn't a problem this trip, due to some last minute sales on Craigslist, and frugal grocery shopping this past month...)


We did drive around scoping out the perfect surfing spot (remember that I am married to a man that chases waves...) which was never found this time. We ended up at Sea Glass Beach collecting pieces of pretty broken bottles that I added to my "Someday I will make something neat with this.." pile.

Being the kind of wife I am, I wanted to give Rich something special for our trip. I put together a little story written on playing cards, and each card had a corresponding present to open. It was fun to watch him get excited about all his new little gifts. They were all little token things, but they made him smile, which I love. The cards read something like this...
"Once upon a time a girl met a boy. She really liked him, and he really liked her. Here are some of the reasons why...
You are a good lookin' beef steak --- Beef jerky gift
You are willing to try new things --- Sardines gift
You love a good cookie --- box of cookies
You are my leader, protector, my hero -- GI Joe action figure (to be re gifted to Cannon at xmas)
We have made a family together --- baby lotion
I want to grow old with you --- prunes
You never fail to romance me -- wine
You provide for me and take care of me -- band aid and two quarters"
Etc...

We also tried out the Sweetwater Spa, which was an experience in itself! Its an open air hot tub that is surrounded by a wooden fence, and the tub itself is wood. It was really great! The smell of the ocean, the stars above, the old fashioned wooden tub....ahhhhhh.

I got to bring home a little souvenir as well.

This was one of our first little meals. Organic carrot bread with Asian pear, chai tea, and salami sticks. Sooooo yummy!
Thankfully God made it easier for me to come home by making it rain.... It was actually nice to get in the car, and drive home in the pouring rain! It sure would have been harder to leave if the weather was 70 degrees and sunny! I think you would have had to pry me off the fence post and force me into the car.

I think one of my favorite things about the little town were the people. It totally reminded me of the town that I grew up in - Sebastopol. People just stop and talk, store owners are happy to chat while you browse, and the faint smell of pot, er, I mean, patchouli and incense in the air...

Can't Wait!!!

I am way too excited!!!

Rich and I get to go on a little vacation for 2 nights.

Without kids.

By ourselves.

I seriously cannot contain myself right now!

On that note, I hope you have a great weekend too!

True Love...

I have a funny story to tell. Just in case you need a good laugh right now.
Sooooo, a few mornings ago, I was taking a shower, and quickly trying to shave my legs before I had to get out. I was turned away from the water, and was rinsing the razor between strokes. All normal stuff right? Well, I was almost done, and I whipped my hand behind my back to rinse it in the running water of the shower, and I accidentally hit the shower door, which in turn ricocheted my arm back closer to my body, in turn SLICING MY BUNS WITH MY RAZOR!!!!
It stung a little bit, but I didn't think anything of it, until I put my hand back there, and pulled it away and it was covered in BLOOD!!!
I grabbed a washcloth that was in the shower, and put it on the cut, and then called to Rich, who of course didn't hear me! Right as I realized that I was going to have to get out of the shower (still dripping wet, mind you) and go get him, I felt the sting of the washcloth and realized that it was still covered in soap, so it was burning my cut.
Well. I finally got Rich's attention, and then ran back into the shower and pulled the soapy washcloth off my buns. He came in, and I warned him,"So I cut myself shaving, but its in kind of an awkward place....Before I explain what I did, just let me know if I need stitches or not." I turned around, and all I heard him say was "Oh My Gosh!". I kept trying to see what I had done to myself, but it was in a place that I couldn't see....you know how those bums are!
I rinsed the cut in the water again, so that he could clearly look at it, and he assured me that it was just a surface cut and no emergency room visit was needed. (Thank goodness - can you imagine explaining that one to strangers?)
A few minutes later, as I was drying off, he started to bandage me up.
My last comment, before we both were laughing to hard to talk was," This is true love right here. You putting antibiotic creme on my buns, and then patching me up with gauze and waterproof tape before I go on my way! That is how you know someone really loves you!"
I would take a picture, but I don't know how to capture just the cut, and not my crack, or all that lovely cellulite that surrounds it....

My Birthday

***This birthday managed to pass without a single picture to commemorate the day....Bummer!

Oh, how I love this day! I think birthdays are the best day of the year...besides Christmas that is!

Rich let me sleep in late, and even kept the kids from sneaking in the bathroom while I was taking a shower and getting ready for church. Since my day was busy, I was told that we were not doing anything to celebrate my birthday....but as usual, Rich had some tricks up his sleeve!
The doorbell rang at 8am, and my parents walked in the door, carrying some food to share with us for breakfast. Then, a few minutes later, my sis in law, and the kids walked in. Then a few minutes after that, the Meiriks walked in, and then my sister and her bf showed up! It was a regular party! At 8am! (Thank goodness I was dressed and all "purtied" up!)
Rich had secretly bought Cinnabon (my absolute favorite treat) rolls for breakfast, and so I shared a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls, eggs, fruit, and pancakes with people that I love!

We went to church, where people all over the place wished me happy birthday! How did everyone know??? Maybe because I have no qualms about reminding people that its coming up...

After church, I had an important meeting (which I will blog about at a later time) that went really well! I was blessed to be part of something pretty amazing, and couldn't ask for a better day to do it on!

That evening we had our weekly meeting with the group of young marrieds at our church, and one of the couples brought a yummy cake to celebrate with!

I fell into bed that night, exhausted, but giddy with all the memories of yet another great birthday tucked away in my head!

I am 32. I have been married to my best friend for 8 years! I have 3 beautiful, healthy children, a warm, comfortable place that I call home, a family who showers me with affection, and a God who never ceases to amaze me!

Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday...Happy Birthday to me!!!

Brynn's Class Halloween Party

I can't say enough how much I love Brynn's teacher this year! She is so creative, and full of fun activities for the kids to do. For Halloween the kids dressed up, explained to the class who they were, and then took a parade around the school. Then they had a party, complete with pizza, juice boxes and party favors to go! It was fun.

She was in line with some of her friends, waiting to head outside for the parade.

Ok. #1 - Is that not the perfect parade smile and wave?
#2 - I took this picture, so who the heck is she waving at and so happy to see????

The class picture. So cute!

Can I tell you how much I love my nephew? Yes, that is his hook in his ear....

Brynn and her teacher. Isn't that an amazing costume?

Halloween

Halloween was a holiday of many costume changes for my kids this year. Not only did they get to dress up multiple nights in a row, they also had the fun of changing it up EVERY SINGLE TIME.....

Wed night the kids were:
A Princess
A Swordsman
A Bumble Bee




Friday they were:
A Ballerina Princess
A Knight in Shining Armor
A Bumble Bee

Saturday they were:
A Fairy
A Half-dressed Sugared Up Sweaty Boy with a Cape
A Skinned Knee Bumble Bee (apparently the boots were a wee bit big...)




After a bit of trick-or-treating (which by the way I missed, due to some major laundry folding that had to be done...yes, I am a bit bitter!), the cousins stopped by for a quick picture! Can't you just imagine what they will think when they see this one 20 years from now?


You know why I love Halloween so much???? Its the day before my BIRTHDAY!!!!!