THANK-FULL!

Well, I think it's safe to say our Thanksgiving Dinner was a huge success! It was my first time ever having to cook the entire meal. Boy, it was a lot of work! BIG thanks to all the Mom's and Grandma's in my life that have taken this responsibility all these years! WOW! I have a new appreciation. Everything turned out well and I only called my Nanny about 20 times! I included recipes for you. I think I will make it all again. My sweet husband said it was the best Turkey Dinner he has ever had. Isn't he kind?

I missed the Sweet Potato Casserole. Everyone wanted Mashed Potatoes, so that's what we had. Also, missed Pecan Pie. Next year, the cook (MOM) makes everything SHE wants (including squash)! LOL!

We had a wonderful time together. Justin's cousin that just moved from Missouri to Colorado Springs drove up to join us. We loved having him. The boys played in a Turkey Bowl in the morning. The rest of the day was filled with TV (parade, dog show, football), naps, games, and FOOD!

Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Pancakes! I splurged and bought real Maple Syrup to go on top!

High Altitude Pumpkin Bread! So Yummy!
http://www.food.com/recipe/high-altitude-pumpkin-bread-411043

Ty making our Mashed Potatoes! These were so good and because you put them in the crock pot, you don't have to worry about them staying hot for dinner.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-mashed-potatoes/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=crock%20pot%20mashed%20potatoes&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20List

Our heart shaped Turkey! Very good recipe! Nice and moist even when reheated the next day!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/herb-roasted-turkey-breast-

Cranberry Waldorf! Found this recipe last year. I LOVE it! It will definitely be a tradition!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cranberry-waldorf-2/

Green Beans - http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/fresh-green-beans-one-way/
Carrots - http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buttery-cooked-carrots/detail.aspx
Corn Casserole - http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/corn-casserole-recipe/index.html
Stuffing - a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It's my Nanny's version and you know grandma's never have recipes. I tried, but her's is still better!

Apple Crisp! Really GREAT!
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-crisp/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=apple%20crisp%20claudia&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Search%20Results

Few pics of Game Time!

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful too! God is so good isn't he? Feel free to share your favorite recipes with me. I'd love that! And, I just have to add.... How is it even possible to wake up the next day hungry? I don't get it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for JOY to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the ROCK of our salvation.
Let us come before him with THANKSGIVING
and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the GREAT God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for HE IS OUR GOD
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I was comforted by these verses this morning. I hope they are an encouragement to you as you celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on His incredible goodness. We serve a great God. A God who cares for us and doesn't give us what we deserve, but instead every good thing (family, friends, shelter, food, jobs). Everything that we need! He is a wondrous Creator who is using us to accomplish His purposes and bring honor to His name. Not only did he make the mountain peaks and the oceans, but he made me and all the one's I love. We belong to him and He holds us in the palms of His hands. He cares for us as a shepherd cares for his flock. And, if this BIG God can speak the world into existence, He can certainly heal. He can heal my Grandpa who is lying in a hospital bed as blood clots dissolve and He can heal my Carter who is still fighting infection. I am thankful this morning to serve a Mighty Maker. A Mighty Healer. A Mighty Provider. A Mighty SAVIOR! And, I am thankful that my greatest need has already been met. May you be filled with JOY today despite your circumstance. God is GOOD and He is at work changing us and making us more like Him!

I LOVE YOU family! I LOVE YOU friends! But, GOD LOVES YOU EVEN MORE!

Small Peek Inside Our Homeschool

The powerful SUN - the rays get bent by the curved lens and get concentrated to a small spot, focusing all the heat and energy there. Our eye has the same kind of lens, which is why we cannot look directly at the sun. The heat was so powerful it melted our chocolate bar.

Making a model of planet Mercury

Asteroids (rocks) crashed into Mercury causing craters

Finished product

Carter reading aloud to Tyler about pilgrims

"History Agents" on Thursdays with a family from church

Our version of the Mayflower Compact

Far East studies - BORING (don't tell my kids I said that)

Origami

Field Trips

Ryder loves the monkeys!

It's "THAT" Time.... I Think?

Oh, this precious child of mine!

Potty training is going to be a real challenge for sure. Today, we went through a period where he would run to the bathroom several times a minute (no exaggeration). He would sit down and do NOTHING..... except unroll the toilet paper that is!

I sat on the couch and tried reading with Carter. Ryder continued to sprint barefoot back and forth down the hall with no undies or pull-up (he wouldn't keep them on) and yell, "Mom!" It has never taken Carter so long to read 4 pages. He was majorly distracted. I think we may have to take some "potty training holidays."

I came up with a brilliant idea. I asked Ryder to help me set the kitchen timer and told him when the bell went off he could try to sit on the potty. I told him he had to keep on his pull-up until then.

1st 20 min was a success, but no pee pee.

He helped me set the timer again. "Yes, this idea may just work," I thought.

While waiting for the timer to go off a 2nd time, he walked down to the basement, took off his pull-up, and peed on the CARPET!

Ohhhhhh!!!! SIGH!!!!

Later, in Grammar, Ty had to read a sentence and find the verb, tell what kind of verb it was, and then tell whether there was a direct object, a predicate nominative, or a predicate adjective. This was the sentence - "God's children are patient and kind." Patient?! Really?! I must exercise patience? Another big, heavy SIGH!!!!

I guess we'll try again another day.

O Christmas Tree

Our desire was to go to a Christmas Tree Farm and cut down our tree. We wanted the whole experience - sleigh rides, snow, bon fires, hot chocolate, carols, etc.... But, unfortunately, none of the farms opened until after Thanksgiving and because we are headed home for the holidays, we wanted to get the decor done so we could enjoy it. We found this artificial off of Craigs List. I think we got a steal of a deal and if you have to settle for fake at least try to go cheap, right?!

Justin grew up with colored lights and so did I. Although, the whites sure are pretty, we stick to tradition. Plus, the children love the colors. It's fun!

Each year growing up, both of us were given an ornament for Christmas. This tradition also continues, but includes the grandkids now, of course! We have:

SPORTS

OLDIES BUT GOODIES! (Ryder saw this and said, "Me!" It's actually Justin.

BABY FIRSTS

HOMEMADE ORNAMENTS (Ryder thought this was Ty)

SUPERHEROES

FAVORITE TOYS

REMINDERS of our beloved beach back home

MOVIES

DANCING DAYS

MUSIC

HALLMARKS

And, FLORIDA GATORS, the best of all!

What goes on top depends on the height of the tree. No traditions there. This year, it was a bow.

I guess you can say our tree is a Memory Tree! A special tree! The best kind of tree! A picture of us.

O Christmas Tree! O Memory Tree!
Much pleasure thou can'st give me;

How often has the Christmas tree
Afforded me the greatest glee!

Come back for more pictures of our decked out home!