Its called gratitude...and that's right!

Every couple of months or so I get up from the computer and unplug. Its been one of those times lately. We've been spending a lot of time with friends, old and new, and family and it's just been a great, peaceful time around our house lately. We had my lovely sister-in-law and her husband in town for several days before Thanksgiving and had a ball with them. Being that they live in Florida and we don't get to see them as much as we'd like, it's just so heartwarming to see the relationship between them and the girls growing each time we see them. Plus, my husband and I absolutely adore them and share their love of dumb comedies, which always makes for some good times.

Early into their trip, I suggested that my SIL and I surprise Annabelle with tickets to Disney's Finding Nemo on Ice. The most surprising thing was how much SIL and I enjoyed ourselves. The show was spectacular. I loved seeing how they brought the movie to life on the ice and the costumes were phenomenal. The other surprising thing: cotton candy for $10? Kids lemonade for $10? Yeah, that's why we don't do these things too often, but it was SO worth it, if I do say so myself.


During SIL and BIL's visit, we also hit up Red Robin and did some Christmas shopping. I was happy to have completed and wrapped my holiday shopping for the Florida family and sent the gifts back with SIL and BIL when they left.


We also spent an evening and the following morning working on our monster "soft-house"(AKA fort). Annabelle discovered a book at the library last week all about a brother and sister making a soft-house out of blankets, sheets, and pillows, and she had to have one of her own.








I even had the opportunity to bring my daughter to work with me on Monday night, and suffice it to say, she totally hammed it up.

It was a great visit, and we can't wait until they come see us again.


And next thing I knew, it was Wednesday, as in the day before Thanksgiving, and it was time for me to throw on my apron and get work. Other than a couple of times we visited others during the holiday, I think I've made and hosted Thansgiving at our home for the better part of the last ten years. Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays, and this year, although it was to be the four of us for the very first time, I was just as excited to host our dinner. I played around with my menu, trading some of my traditional recipes for a few different ones and I must say it was a hit.



Thanksgiving Menu 2009
Martha Stewart's Perfect Roast Turkey
Oyster and Bacon Sourdough Stuffing
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cream and Brown Sugar
Yeast Rolls
Pumpkin-Banana Mousse Tart
Beaujolais Nouveau

While I happily worked away in the kitchen, this is what was going on in the family room. Doesn't it just warm your cockles?


Soon, it was time to sit down with the three people I am most thankful for and indulge in our feast.



I wish I could say that the girls gobbled up the dinner, and that there were many smiles and much laughter at the table, but the reality is, Sabrina ate NONE of her dinner while Annabelle gnawed on her yeast roll (the ONLY thing I didn't make from scratch). There was a lot of "Sit down properly!" and "Sabrina, don't throw your food on the floor!" and a dash of "If you don't finish your dinner, you wouldn't get any dessert!" and a pinch of "Oww! Mommy! Sabrina's poking me in the ear!"



All in all, despite all the fussing, Hubs and I agreed that it was probably the best Thanksgiving ever and I honestly couldn't be more thankful for my family and now, I'll take a deep breath and get ready for Christmas!

Under New Management

So I'm feeling a little change coming on...Bear with me while I renovate my new space. I hope to be back soon with a whole new look!

Wordless Wednesday: Not Quite

I know, I know. I have been a pretty lame blogger lately. I've spent the last couple of weeks stepping away from the computer and living in the real world with friends, family, and lots of new adventures, all of which I'll fill you in on when I don't have a Thanksgiving feast I'm in the midst of preparing breathing down my neck. In the meantime, it is amazing in the last couple of weeks how much wee one is growing and changing.


Wishing you and your family a happy, safe, and delicious holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Girl Talk Thursday- My Fictional Top Five

This week's Girl Talk Thursday is another top 5 list with a twist. These are my top 5 fictional characters that totally do it for me.
*Wink-wink-nudge-nudge*

1. Lloyd Dobler: I first met his aquaintence somewhere around 1989 in a sweet movie called, "Say Anything". I still say you'd be hard pressed to find a better written male lead character than the one John Cusack portrays in that movie. He's funny, sensitive, everybody's friend, has a great sense of personal style, and an awesome taste in music. I totally <3 him.

2. JD: The first time I saw the movie "Heathers" I was speechless. A total original from the sets and costumes to the unforgettable and totally quotable lines, the movie also introduced me to Christian Slater as bad-boy JD. I mean is there really anymore of a bad boy than the jet-black haired, motorcycle riding, cigarette smoking, strip-croquet playing, clique-killing, JD? Me thinks not. Just hot, hot, hot.

3. Don Draper: I could and have gone on and on about my deep love for Don, despite his womanizing ways. I look forward to Sunday nights at 10 so that me and my man can spend some quality time together. The new season ended on Sunday, and I don't quite know what I'm going to do without him. Thank goodness for DVD.

4. Andrew Largeman: A quieter, more modern, and even more sensitive than Lloyd Dobler is my #4 on the list. Andrew Largeman from the film "Garden State" had me within the first five minutes of the movie and is one of my all-time favorites. I think it is impossible to watch that movie and not be completely taken in by that character.

5. Edward Cullen: Okay, okay. I know this is completely un-original and, at this point, a cliche even. But unlike most people I know, I was not immediately taken by this character when I saw the "Twilight" movie. I thought it sucked. I thought Robert Pattenson was attractive, but found the movie really turned me off until my friend, actually several friends, insisted I read the book before I completely wrote of the series all together. So I did. And now I get it. His character is beautifully created in the story and he is just so damn appealing in those books. So you might not find me screaming with the drones of 13 year old girls outside the midnight release of "New Moon", but you will find his name on this list. And I SO am not ashamed.

Happy Birthday, Little Madeline...

We think of you and your family today and remember your beautiful smile and your kind little spirit. A life that has touched so many of us that never even had a chance to "meet" you, yet will never forget you.
XOXO

Wordless Wednesday

Halloween 2009

Our Halloween festivities began Friday evening with a Halloween party given by a friend of Annabelle's. Annabelle and I went while Daddy stayed home with Sabrina. We had a great time with the pinata, spider-egg hunt and lil dance party. We came home worn out.


On Saturday, we hit up yet another shindig, followed by a parade and trick-or-treating in a friend's neighborhood, despite 50-something degree weather and a cold misting rain. Annabelle happily put her Minnie costume back on and Sabrina had this cute little number from Old Navy that her big sister wore a few years ago.


Even Hubs and I dressed the part(even if we were the only adults dressed up at the party, ummm, can you say embarrassing?). I was a Real Housewife of Knox County, complete with (not pictured) 2-inch-long press-on french manicured nails, while Hubs donned a scary cape and mask and was some sort of hellish creature, but I preferred to just refer to him as "Big Poppa". He freaked out a couple of the kids, but in typical Sabrina fashion, she just giggled at her Daddy.



All in all it was arguably the best Halloween ever!