Thanksgiving fun

We played another game of Monopoly, it is so much more fun without the money. Mike actually won for once. I am driving my family nuts with the camera... but how cool are these shots!

We started a new tradition of frying the turkey. Mike has been asking to do this for years now and I was always too chicken(no foul pun intended) He assured me that he knew all the safe things to do from Antelope camp and bought 2 fire extinguishers.

The trickiest part is figuring out the right oil level. We thought we had it right but had to ladle off some hot oil.

This is Dr. Mike injecting the turkey with what he said was 50cc's of butter flavor. The turkey was....AMAZING! Really yummy. We will do that every year. The fat actually seals the turkey so it is not greasy at all. Even all of you health nuts would love it. The best part is that my kitchen was turkey free...well there was now bird in it. So I was able to use the oven for all my things easily.

Yes..that is vinyl stuff on my cupboards. Our house is officially a sign factory.

A que from Jenny

Taking a que from Jenny's blog, here is my list of things I am "Thankful" for. It will be hard for me not to put the mushy things in but I will keep it commercial..:-)

I can't live without

Blogs! Love checking on my favorites every morning!

my new camera...If I would have only known about this side of me years ago, I would be in the Bahamas photographing a wedding right now!

Espresso! My new machine comes today!!!

Good books! You all must read "Not Fade Away"

New 5 Lush gum.

Articles by Rick Reilly, if your husband loves sports and you love mush. These are a must read for any woman.

http://search.espn.go.com/rick-reilly/

white chocolate powder for my espresso

Sushi...I will always miss Nara in Billings:-(

Woot! There is nothing like a good woot off

A hot shower! I thank God(seriously) everyday when I step in. There is nothing better and most people do not even know that it is a luxury.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Even though this list is not serious. We could not live without our friends and family. If you read this blog you are probably part of our lego! Jenny and Shana will get that. Love you all.

Beware, all things in the air!

I finally managed to snap a photo of my two boys all decked out in camo. I think they they look pretty darn cute. Mike is laughing because he and Matthew are so sick of being the object of my latest obsession that they always hide when I start snapping picks. Matthew was trying to hide his face as I was taking these and I lost my mind! Maybe it is the three uninterrupted days at home with him....Thanksgiving break is how long? I should really read that book I just finished again, Not Fade Away. It talked about the blessings of even your child's messes. Well I better go before I waste all my 2+ hours alone.

"Izzy" Bella

Our friends asked us if we could watch this gorgeous blond this weekend and we did not hesitate to say "YES". We love Izzy! She is a huge cuddle bug and has spent most of the time here laying on one of the three of us. She actually spent the whole night sleeping on Mike. Not laying next to him, sleeping on him. She does not like Mike and I to touch. Anytime we are next to each other she has to be in between. Oh, and she is quite the blond. She has no clue what to do about the dog door. We have tried several times to teach her how to use it in all her visits. Now we just know we have to let her out. Honestly, I think she does not like the feel of it on her face. Maybe she is afraid it will mess up her hair. It is quite funny to have two dogs that are crazy about food here. Her and Portis actually got in a yelling match last time she came for a visit. It was rather funny. We all agreed this morning that we don't want her to go home yet. See you next time Izzy!

Greetings from Slug Island

Matthew is home sick from school today. He has had a slight cough and last night his glands were as big and hard as marbles. He looked awful. We decided to keep him home. Today he seems to have found new life. Too bad the rule at our home is that if you are sick you are in bed most of the day. He is up having lunch right now but then it will be back to "Slug Island"...if only moms had it that easy.

FYI: His buddy Kaden is also sick today from the same symptoms. Shana and I are wondering if it is from the House of Bounce???? No matter how clean or new a place is if lots of kids are there ultimately it is a "Germ Party"

Good think I got him these new super soft and comfy PJs yesterday!

My new love

Last year Jenny had asked me to be the photographer for her at Hannah and Carter's birthday party. I had no idea how much fun that would be. Now that I have my new camera I love to volunteer my services out for parties of friends. Granted, I am not a pro and I am still learning. It is very fun to take some stress off of them and make them feel like they have hired someone. These pictures are from Matthew's good friend Kaden's party. I loved being able to do this for Jeremy and Shana. I hope they do not mind that I am posting some of the pictures on my blog. Most of them are of Matthew but I can't resist my favorite one of Huddy!

The party was at the newest place in kid unfriendly Rochester, and although it was very crowded it was fun for the kids. It is called "House of Bounce"

This is Matthew and Jackson boxing it out in the inflatable ring. They loved this. Too bad Missy and I do not have this everyday.
I noticed while taking these pictures that Matthew's curls are finally back. I love his curls. I just feel bad for my poor child that inherited his moms reaction to exercise. Our faces turn red within minutes and we look like we are going to die. When I was in 6th grade I went on a ski trip with my class. The teacher made me go to the ski patrol and lay down because she thought I was so sick. Now I know to give teachers a heads up about Matthew....did I mention we also tend to puke! That has already happened once at school. The problem is that he can't return for 24 hours if he does.

Time for presents. Matthew was so excited about giving this to Kaden.

This is the little boy Mike and I always try to adopt. The problem is we always offer on his good days. We need to offer on a day that he is giving his mom a hard time. How cute is he in this picture! The glove is bigger than him! Recently when we went to the Dells with the Horner's I took Huddy in to get something to eat. He picked out a giant twisty sucker. I thought that was just fine. He is after all the cutest thing in the world...I can't say no to him. Our plan was debunked by the "no fun" league as they flew threw the door asking if it was my first time as a mom!

Thanks for letting me be your photographer Shana and Jeremy! I hope you will have us over soon so I can get some family shots of all of you and that belly!

and I "Quote"

I watched Jay Leno last night and he had Steve from the office on talking about how he and his wife keep a quote diary of the funny thinks that his kids say. I realized that everytime Matthew makes us laugh we think we will remember but never do. I am going to start adding his funny quotes to the blog. Here is his latest one:

While walking into Petsmart the other day a dog was coming out with it's owner. Matthew looked at the dog and then at us and said "I wish I spoke better dog" paused and then said "I speak pretty good owl though" Mike and I almost wet our pants. It was so darn funny. If you see Matthew be sure and ask him to speak some owl for you.

That is my funny quote of the week. I hope you find it as funny as we did.

Matthew learns to blend in

Mike bought Matthew a hunting jacket and pants a few days ago. Fleet farm had them on clearance and Matthew thought it was the best thing he had ever got. He did not want to take it off. It was rather warm though and finally he caved. He went out hunting with Mike on Sunday and the two of them in matching outfits was to much for me to handle. I begged Mike to get pictures but he looked at me like I was asking for them to not kill anything. Seriously, they were adorable. Here is a picture that Mike took of Matt in his whole get up though. I will have to get pictures of the two of them and post it.
Funny side note: They have not been able to dig a pit yet for hiding in so they have to lay on the ground and be quiet and still for about 15 minutes waiting for the geese to circle......um...anyone think Matthew is capable of this? I bet that would be funny to watch.

Indiana Jones and the Candy Crusade

Matthew wanted to be Indian Jones this year. I added a mascara scruff to his face but he HATED it. He threw a fit until I washed it off. Mike took him around the neighborhood to collect his loot. I love the father son bonding that happens every year. It is always the dads taking the kids around and they all get to catch up on sports as the little creatures run from door to door.
Now that Halloween is over, do you think I can take the batteries out of the whip?

I tried to get several pictures of little Lukie but he always shows up as a blur. Luke! Any guesses as to what he was???? Thomas? No...not Thomas!

Jack went as a Knight and he and Matthew took one look at each other and the dueling began! They had a great battle before the crusade. Matt and Jack wondered if the real Indiana Jones had ever fought a knight....I don't remember... how many of them are there now?


Selah! She is so darn cute. I love this picture of her.

The Crusade was a huge success! There was lots of candy to be had. Now I understand why my parents tried so hard to ration it.

This is what happens when a little boy eats too much candy! No...seriously. I must say that having Halloween on a Friday was the best. Maybe it should always be the Friday after the 31st!