Game Night Antics

Working full time and going to school full time is really starting to get to Mikey.

Michael is one UGLY hula dancer for Halloween. Love the arm pit hair. I am so glad to have him part of our lives.

Oh, but we do have a fun time at game nights. We have set aside Saturday nights to play with friends and family. I am happy for the time that I can spend relaxing from the week and enjoying the people I love. Even if they are a little...off.

We played hard tonight and finished off with Amanda telling Gracie a story. Gracie is so animated. Love the little bug.


Gracie listening to the story of Princess Gracie getting lost in the forest. She kept responding "Oh! So Coooool!!"

Fantastic Sis and Naughty Puppy

My sister is one of those women. She is one of those amazing women who has a spotless home, her laundry done, her kitchen clean, her hair and makeup done, and is a gracious hostess. And, as if that isn't enough, she is more thoughtful than anyone else I know. Her name is Teresa. This week, she offered to teach me how to can applesauce.

Backup - I am the least domestic person I know. I love to cook, I tolerate laundry, but I hate sewing (the word hate is not nearly strong enough) and I made my first pie crust last year. And I probably won't do it again. I didn't know if canning was my "thing".

But she got apples from my nephew and niece. And they were yummy. And the applesauce they made is beautiful. And my son will love it. And I enjoyed the process. And I loved spending time with my sister. And my son cried. The entire evening. Teresa was so patient and didn't seem to mind a bit.
Teresa, I owe you. We made 24 pints of applesauce for Aiden. But Teresa, being the thoughtful person she is, threw in 4 quarts of potatoes and 4 pints of tomatoes. And offered to help me can apple pie filling next week. I might learn to enjoy being domestic.

But don't hold your breath.

When I came home from canning, my dog had found the chicken package in the garbage. Naughty puppy.

Evolution of man

Today Aiden discovered the coolest body part yet. TOES! Not just any toes, but his big long gecko-ish toes. The boy has the largest feet I have ever seen on a baby.
The story goes something like this... he was supposed to be sound asleep in the back seat of the car when I had to stop and fuel up the car. I peeked into the back seat to see my cute son with one sock on, one sock off. And totally fascinated with the new thing he had found... his toes.

I am one of those moms that things of a baby without at least socks as the equivalent of an adult not wearing shoes in public, so it is very rarely that Aiden has his socks off. He enjoyed the change.

Necessities

I cleaned out my purse today. The following picture shows the things that obviously I consider to be necessities.
#1 - Cell phone
#2 - Lipstick/gloss
#3 - Excedrin
#4 - Hand sanitizer
#5 - (and most important...)Binkies - always more than one
Notice that all these things mysteriously ended up next to the only other necessity that does not fit in my purse - Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. I am an addict.

Fingers... Mmmmm....

Aiden found his fingers. And finds them tasty. He attacks them with a fierocity I find thoroughly hilarious. It is a pleasure to watch my son learn. And grow. And grow.


He is a television junkie. If it is on, he is glued. If the computer can be seen, he is glued. Hmmm... It is good for me to see it and realize how often the television is on (even if it is History Channel and a documentary and even if it is just background noise while cooking). We have turned off the television lately and focused on books. Big, bright, tractor books.

And he loves them.

Why I love fall

Today is overcast and brisk and windy and... perfect. I love the day. I wish I was a better photographer to truly capture the beauty of today. I love the way the wind infuses everyone with rosy cheeks and breathes life into those faces. It is the season of closing down of the year, but it is still so full of life. The lethargy of summer has passed and once again, we are ready to be active. This is the time of work for our ancestors - the gathering, hunting, harvesting, readying for the long winter ahead.

I suddenly need to be domestic at the onset of fall. I want to a bake spiced apple things... and put a roast in a slow cooker with big potatoes and carrots. And I want to snuggle my smiling son and watch his cheeks get rosy in the late afternoon walks among the leaves.

Soon winter will descend and we will want to cozy in, but for this moment, we will embrace fall.

My Smiley Guy

I love this little man...

Top 20 nights

Tonight, my brother treated me to one of those nights... one never to be forgotten. A very, very fancy Japanese dinner for a very select few. I have always considered myself to be an adventurous eater and this was worth every culinary adventure I have taken thus far.
the menu. 9 courses and 3 that were not on the menu.

Scallops, salmon, and tuna. My personal favorite of the night.


Chestnuts, shrimp, chicken and small potatoes. Who would think to put these together?

Tangerine curd for dessert. Delectable.

*sigh* Unforgettable

****thanks to Smeds for watching Mister A. It was my first night out since he was born****

Oh that crazy internet...

There are so many things to be done to waste time on the internet. I love my computer. I can do so many constructive things with my computer. This is not one of them...

This is as close as I could get to looking like myself on this crazy program on the internet. Notice that I also picked a chunky body style. Honesty hurts to see.

Happy Birthday Mom

Love you, Mom.