Thanksgiving

So I might as well post two holidays in one day - otherwise it might not happen until after Christmas!



Big O enjoyed his Thanksgiving feast - all the fixin's!!!

We are so thankful for our family! We enjoyed a wonderful meal with Nana and Papa. Last year Nana had just had parathyroid surgery and suffering from strep throat - turkey soup for them. We had the full spread this year - delish! Joe and I got to have a date night and get a jump start on Christmas shopping the next day/night while Nana and Papa took on the kiddos! We might have to make that a yearly tradition if they are up to it again - we got a lot accomplished!

The year is flying by!

Belated Halloween

Finally! Before I put all my pumpkins away and put up our Christmas tree that we just cut down yesterday I had to snap some shots of my little guys in their Halloween costumes.

Here ya go!









Now on with the seasons!!!

pizza guy

Anyone know this guy?

Well, I've got my very own.

That's right. My very own pizza guy is back. We haven't done much pizza making since we've been in kalispell. I/We need one of these in our kitchen.

I think my little elf (yeah, I have one of those too) - is building me one for christmas. Love this man. What can I ever get him for gifts that compares to the one of a kind pieces he make for me???

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. We had 8 adults and 3 kiddos to feed saturday night and the homemade pizza was a hit. We didn't do too bad for not having an island to roll the dough out on and to manage the 6-7 pizza pans that we scattered around on any available counter top.

Our adorable (and very bright I will add) Godson
and his parents, grandparents and aunt and uncle stopped by while they were in NW Montana for an early Thanksgiving with family to participate in some cowboy poetry at Grouse Mountain Lodge. Scott, Tana and Hunter stayed overnight with us and joined us for Sunday school and church as well as lunch at my favorite place before heading back to Helena.

Now the little guys are napping. Soon we will do some family shopping for ski gear for Luke and new IPod for mom and dad. Not sure big O will get much out of this afternoon's shopping adventures - the little guy always gets the raw end of the deal.

Also - time to get thinking about the holidays. Shopping and decorating to be done. Finally got all the growth cut off plants in the beds by the house. Now time to switch seasons. Still no snow on the ground so should get the lights up - but my pizza guy isn't thrilled about that chore:( He is the kind of elf that builds things but leaves the holiday decorating to someone else. I guess I can't have it all!

On with the day!

Plan B

Well, we had hoped to make it out to "The Beach Ball" (a dance for employees of the hospital) but we ended up with a sick babysitter. Darn it. No social time for us.

I even had my haircut scheduled for right before the big event.

Oh well, plan B. Put kiddos to bed. Bring home sandwiches. Veg out watching The O.C. (we are into Season 3 now). Snack on Hot Tamales (just in case I didn't reach my caloric intake with the philly cheese steak I just inhaled).

This will be just as much fun - especially for me who gets rather anti-social these days.

Plan B also followed through at work today too. Got of early so I had time to go workout before my haircut - thus I could have a philly cheese steak for dinner!

Sometimes I love plan B;)

milestones

I have a new milestone to add to the baby books.

So maybe he is 4 years old now - probably out of the baby book stage but I think this final milestone may make it official.

Potty training cold turkey at 3 wasn't too tough. Getting the young man to wipe his own rear has been quite the challenge. He has had no interest. Until today...

"Mom, can you come in here? I am done going poo-poo!"

Usually this is quite the amplified statement resonating throughout the home and perhaps the neighborhood. Today it was rather a calm statement of fact - not of urgency. When I arrived at the door I had to explain to him that I could not get in as he has locked the door.

"Oh. Just a minute."

I enter the bathroom.

"Hey mom, do you want to see something?"

Always a frightening question after your son has used the toilet - but I am a daring girl - no queasy stomach here.

"Sure."

"Want to see my wipe my bottom?"

It was quite an impressive site. Albeit not through at least there was initiative and an attempt - in fact there was literal action that got the job done.

Hallelujah - I say! The boy is no longer a babe! Send him to school - heck have him ride his own bike there with his very own two bottom wiping hands!!!

He even washed his own hands WITHOUT resistant - this is a miracle in itself.

So there you have it. Baby book complete.

PS - if you really want to know how insane I am getting - ask me about how I actually set my 18 month old on the potty last week. I really did think he would poop on it - poor me:(

hunter's widow

Joe's been gone since Tuesday and this is what he has to show for it.


He had a great time with "the guys" out in eastern Montana and the 4 of them brought home 7 animals - one cow elk, two does, three bucks and one antelope. Not too shabby. We will not starve this winter!

It did leave me without my digital camera on halloween so no pics of my cute pair. We will have to do a redo this week so I can some post some pics.

We are very glad to have daddy home and are still adjusting to standard time.