turkey day 2009 part 2: "blue jeans" and haylofts!

After everyone had their fill of food, the kids were in for a special treat this year.  Sophie (the adorable little girl in black waving at us) has her VERY OWN pony!  She has aptly named him "Blue Jeans" (apparently I should know this because of Hannah Montanna...Katie's not there yet, and I'm not complaining ;) and she was nice enough to offer everyone a ride after dinner.  The kids were SO excited they could barely stand it.


paitiently awaiting their turn...

She loved it!

I'm ready to go, Mom

I thought he might be a little bit hesitant once he actually got on the pony, but he was all smiles

Again, Again!

This horse cracks me up.  Aunt Carri closed the doors to the barn when the kids were in there playing around and this adorable big horse nudged the doors open just a crack so he could peer in and keep an eye on us.  When I was a kid, we boarded horses, and I have missed being around them.


being very careful on the big ladder up to the haylift (thanks Kris)

happy cousins in the hayloft.

It was by far the hit of the night and the subject of many many conversations after. 

Thank you, Sophie, for sharing Blue Jeans with us.

happy thanksgiving 2009

thanksgiving in michigan

This Thanksgiving holiday, we packed up and headed to Edwardsburg, Michigan (just outside of South Bend) to celebrate the holiday at Aunt Carri's house.  I think at one point the count reached well over 25...it was a big group!  We had three turkeys, two deep-fried (which I had never tried before, and was delicious ;) and enough food to feed....well all of us :) 

I was more than excited for our trip to Aunt Carri's, and more than just green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and pie...our new niece, Kaylee Ann was born just a couple weeks ago, and though Eric and I had seen pictures, this was my first meeting.  The post below also features this darling. 

We waited so long for you sweet girl!

We are so glad you are here!

Grandma-Great and her great granddaughter

Carter was in love

he was worried about her little feet, kept telling me that her piggies were stuck ;)

Kris was really trying to open his eyes for this otherwise excellent picture of Eric and his cousin

no, I am not in a chokehold, though it may be mistaken for one.  j/k.  love you babe.

ryan's dog, shiloh.  i adore this dog.

aunt jackie and eric

papa jay and carter caught stealing some freshly carved turkey!

the "kids" table that they got to draw on and make their own "places" before dinner.  So cute.

Mr. Olive-Hands.  Beware!

Aunt Carri and her oldest

Anne and Kaitlyn (and baby Mia due any day)

Kris and Christina.

We ended the night with a rousing game of Apples to Apples.  I don't think I have laughed that hard in a long, long time. We had an amazing day, spending time with so much family.  We were lucky to get to see everyone, and are so grateful that everyone made the sacrifice to come from all over.  These days are especially difficult without Deb.  We feel her abscense as if there were a visible hole in the room.  Being with family is encouraging and uplifting.  I see you, Deb, in your sister's faces and in their mannerisms, in your daughter's smile, and even in your husand's tears.  We miss you.  So.  So.  So.. Much.

how I found my KJ at the end of the night, and a fitting close for this post.  She had just had her fill, found a soft place to lay her head, and just took a break...

I am so, so thankful for all that I have.

i'm in love with this little girl

happy birthday to my big sister

happy birthday, mel.
we made it this far.

here's to another year..

my little chefs

In preparation for Thanksgiving, I decided to make two different desserts to take to Aunt Carri's in South Bend.  I was really only assigned the 7-Layer Salad...but I was really trying my hand at baking.  I wish I was a better baker.  That sounds silly.  But baked stuff is yummy...like pumpkin bread and pumpkin cheesecake bars.  Yum.  So, this is what I set out to make.
After school, when the kids went down for a nap, I started right in on the Pumpkin bread (which has an extra special secret...which makes it the most moist and decadent bread you have ever tasted...with 1/2 the fat!  if you want...the recipie, let me know) with the only two bread pans that we had in the house.  Are people supposed to regularly have bread pans?  And what the heck is a jellyroll pan?  Clearly, Betty Crocker is not my nickname.  I adjusted the cooking time for the two different pans, and even rotated them several times during baking. 

my two loaves of pumpkin bread with toasted walnuts

this is why i don't have recipies. 
i am not a clean cooker. 

i wonder if ther is something wrong with that, too.  hmmm...

post-oven, knife came out clean put on cooling rack, as directed..

um...yeah, so the little one turned out great and was gobbled up, but the big one just didn't make it.

i actually cried i was so pissed mad.  eric told me to get over it, it was just bread.
i think he was right.

then...my little sous-chefs woke up from their naps a little grumpy, so some cheesy balls (as KJ likes to call them) were in order before we started in on the cheesecake bars.  I say this just so you know why it seems like they have orange crust all over their mouths.  I wouldn't want you to think I'm that mom..hehe

my super big boy

the two of them mixed all of the pumpkin into the cheescake batter!

carter was putting all of his effort into it.  seriously.  i had to tell him to take a break. 

time to put on walnuts (completely makes katie go into some OCD freak out where there has to be an even amount of walnuts on every square inch of that pan...oh dear.  what shall i do with her?)

carter preferred the "just sprinkle them on" method.  i'm with him.

just because she's beautiful. 

and just because he's adorable.  (what is that you say?  can openers aren't the coolest thing ever?  please do not tell carter!  he will be crushed!)

and...da da da dum....the finished product, once katie finally approved it.

final verdict: oven 1 me 2
cheesecake bars were a huge hit
pumpkin bread was delicious
maybe i'll give it another try ;)

mt. washmore

Just for the record: this is NOT what I want to be doing tonight.  But I am.  I am attempting to climb Mt. Washmore.  I may only get halfway up the mountain.  But I will try. 

look how they shine for you...

(I absolutely adore this picture of my sister and my son at my lakehouse sitting out on the deck, actually looking at the stars.  She has always made me and my children believe that nothing was impossible, that with strength, any trial can be overcome, any mountain climbed.  I can only know and understand the love she has for my children because I love Robbie, Jacob and Brady as if they were mine.  Carter...this world is yours.  I will give you every single opportunity I can.  I will love you no matter what choices you make.  I will do everything I can to make you a responsible, wonderful person.  And I know that every step along the way your auntie momo will help me do that.  Don't ever forget about the people reflected in those stars that look down on you...)

((if you have noticed that I have recently been posting many of these picture/text thingys...then you are witness to my new fascination with http://www.picnik.com/ you should try it out if you are feeling artsy fartsy...))