My First Thanksgiving!

My family has this wonderful tradition of eating pie for breakfast on Thanksgiving morn. This year we had 3 different kind of Quiche, a breakfast casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie, multi berry pie, chocolate cream and banana cream pie. The only thing missing was pecan pie.....Mark usually makes this one and it was sorely missed....I actually found out Becky made one but it wasn't set out cuz they wanted it for dessert later. How sad. I think someone owes me a pecan pie. Anyway here is the spread...

Q and her cousin Debbie. They are so cute together! Look at those squinty eyes!

This is the whole group....well minus all those who decided to move away....Amber & Walter, Dan & Steph and Mark and Jen! We missed you all. I might miss you the most though.

I am sure you are wondering why I titled this post My First Thanksgiving. Well it obviously not true. I celebrate Thanksgiving every year. I have always LOVED Thanksgiving because of Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. My favorite memories of Thanksgiving took place at my Aunt Karen's house....who might be the my favorite cook. I don't know if she is the best....but when I think of comfort food I think of family dinners at her house. I even remember one year I threw a fit, at the young age of 14, because we were not going to my Aunt Karen's house. She not only made the best food, but she always had the cutest dishes to eat on, and her house was always decorated just perfect. I know it may suprise many of you that I would even notice this because of my lack of decorating skills, but just cuz I suck at something doesn't mean I don't appreciate it when other's excell. Well this year was MY FIRST THANKSGIVING where I got to be the hostess. This was scary because our living room is a little bit under construction, I have never made a turkey and I don't know how to set a table let alone even have the dishes and etc. to make a table look nice. All I can say is that I have many family and friends who love me enough to help. My dishes came from my mom, well actually from my dad who told me to take the dishes and NOT ask my mother because she would say no. The table decorations came from my very good friend Susan who will not use the same decorations 2 years in a row and let me use last years. And this was the result...

The kids table had a basket on each plate filled with Peanutbutter M&Ms. I put their napkins on top to disguise the M& M's cuz I set the table the day before. Q was the only one to discover and sneakily eat all of hers hours before dinner.

I am so sad that I didn't get a picture of the food. Everything was so great. We had the Thaynes over and due to the Smoddard way of doing things we had quite the menu.

-Turkey (Roast was requested, but we decided it wasn't American to not eat turkey on Thanksgiving. I think some may still be upset per that decision.)

-Stuffing (Stove Top only...none of that homemade crap for these Smods.)

-Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

-Little Smokies

-7-Up Jello

-Rolls

-Sweet Potato Casserole

-Green Bean Casserole

-Cranberries

-Spagetti Squash

-Joyce's Punch

-Corn

-Fruit Pizza

-Sour Cherry Pie

-Pumpkin Pie (which Jaxynn made this year. We even did a taste test with hers and a store-bought one....and Jaxynns was unanamously the favorite)

-Applie Pie (I don't think I have ever had a better Apple Pie....My hubby is amazing!)

Things requested but never made it to the table....

-Fresh Pineapple

-Salad with cranberries

-Martinelli's

-Rootbeer Floats

I am so Thankful for...

-That I am alive at this time. The Fullness of Christ's Gospel is on the earth today...and I know about it!

-My Young Women....they make me laugh. They inspire me to be better.

-My home, shelter, warmth, water, plumming, electricity, transportation....all the things I take for granted.

-My friends....I have so many wonderful close friends and I just love them all so much. I feel like such a taker....they are so giving, loving, sharing and good to me. I couldn't have better friends...its just not possible.

-My cooking club....I love ladies who love food.

-Food....good tasting food how it warms my soul....lol!

-Sports....a chance to sweat and laugh and push myself.

-Good books...You know the kind you can't put down. The kind that make you laugh out loud and also cry out loud. I love to get lost in a book. I am so sad when those books end.

-My mom and dad. They absolutely love each other AND their own craziness. I think thats the best thing about growing old with your best friend. (no I didn't just call my parents old...they are still very young, just a little senile.)

-My brothers and sisters. I feel like I have a good friendship with each of them. I especially miss those who have moved away and I am thankful for those still here.

-My kids who 1/2 the time I wanna kick their butts....but they amaze me in so many ways.

-My Huckleberry. I just love him so much. He is constantly trying to be a better person. He is such a good example to me and helps me become better. He loves me for who I am and who I am becoming. He keeps me grounded.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU!!

hALlowEEn

The run down..... (sorry this may not end up in the right order...I am having picture issues today.)

Sami was a froggy.
And she was also a watermelon. It really depended on what was easiest. I guess thats what happens when your number 5. So this is Sami on her first Halloween. I probably should dress her up and take a bunch of pictures to look like a good mom, right?

Quinci dressed up as wonderwoman. She loved her outfit for about 30 minutes and then she would start taking items of clothing off till she was just in the little starred skirt. This was one of my favorite costumes this year. She is a very cute wonderwoman. And since I lost her at the schools Halloween parade and they made an announcement over the loud speaker that we were missing a 2 year old Wonder Woman.....everyone knows how cute she is AND who her wonderful mother is.....its a good thing I was dressed up that day too, not many people recognized me.





Q ran around with Eli's kindergarten class during their party. These are some of her favorite friends. Ella and Brinley.

Q was also amazing at Trick or Treating. I didn't teach her this....but....at every house she would get real serious and look the person in the eye and say "wait wait....I need to get one for my mom." I said I didn't teach her this but I didn't stop her either. Needless to say...Q got the most candy out of everyone.

This kid was my favorite. His first costume was Cyclops from X-Men. (Notice the goggles...he only wears them so that his lazer eyes don't burn you up.) Then he dressed up as Venom for Grandma Petersons Halloween Party. And for his school parade he dressed up like Men in Black. He then broke his glasses and was mistaken for a Missionary or a Mortitian.Then for Trick or Treating he decided he was going to be Luke Skywalker ( he carried a light saber) Cyclops (...again the goggles) and skeletor. (his face was painted like a skeleton). So his official costume was Luke Skywalker Cyclops Skeletor. I am really sad I didn't get that pic....but really he just looked like a kid in goggles carrying a light saber.

Abe dressed up as Wolverine from X-Men. He made his own costume by covering some chopsticks with duct tape and then taking some gloves and cutting holes in the finger pitts of the glove and shoved the chopsticks through. He also decided to dress up like Harry Potter as well. I think he made a great Harry Potter. He even made a good Malfoy when he took his wig and glasses off while trick or treating.






This is Abe and his teacher Mrs. Thomas....I thought she looked great with 3 kids!! She has only been married 3 months, but she looks like a natural MOM.

Jaxynn dressed up as Dr. Jean Grey from X-Men. Obviously we have been watching a lot of X-Men at our house. She came up with the costume herself and she put it all together. I think she did a great job.

We were able to go to lots of Halloween Parties. We at lots and lots of candy and thats why today I have time to blog about it. Cuz everyone is home sick vegging in front of the TV.

I also had to opportunity to dress up 2 times this season. The first one was for the Premier of "This Is It". Which was Amazing!! Everyone should see this. Michael Jackson is the King of Pop!! Any takers on seeing it again??

And the second was for the school parade. Thank you to all those who helped me with my costume. Many of you may not get it, many of you will and will be offended. Please don't be offended....its funny. All in good fun! I am a .....

Draper Mom

OK so I am not as skinny as Draper moms, but check out my True Religion jeans and my heels and my Prada bag. AND I did do my own hair, just not my makeup...had to call in help for that one.

YW on the Red Carpet

So this year for YW in Excellence we had a few different themes. YW on the Red Carpet, A Star is Born and something about YW Premier movie night. We just smoooshed them together and this is what we got. We hung stars from the ceiling, we gave out Emmy's (Mrs. Butterworth bottles) for awards. We had a concessions stand. And we rolled out the red carpet and let the girls decorate the the backdrop on the catwalk. As the girls came in with their parents we acted as if they were famous stars and we whistled and cheered and took their pictures. This man of mine was the photographer. After all the pictures were taken....and from all the whoot whooing....I had to ditch the fur coat cuz I was sweatin to death. We had Stacey, our YW President give a talk on what it means to be a star. And how all the girls are stars and can shine bright by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we turned the lights out and watched the Premier of our awesome young ladies. They each made a video about something they had been working this year that helped them with personal progress. The video's were hilarious! After their video they each got to tell why the value they worked on is important and what they learned. Because I made the video I had seen it a thousand times....but every single time I watched it I just fell in love with these girls again and agian. They are truly amazing. They are strong, smart and beautiful. I was so proud of them and I think their parents were too. My favorite part of the night was watching the girls and their parents watch the video for the first time. I loved watched them sit on the edge of their chairs and laugh and then the next minute be touched by a testimony that was born. It was an awesome night. Thank you Shannon for the idea. I made sure during my acceptance speech for the award of the Best YW in Excellence in history....I did NOT mention that I got my ideas from you. I took all the glory and I don't feel bad about it at ALL. Hee Hee
This next pic is of all the awesome women I get to work with in the Young Womens program. I love them. They are all so great, each bringing something different to the table. I just love them and I love hangin with them every Wed. night.

Erin Turner, Moi, Jennica, Stacey, Stephanie, Holly and Jenny.

TEXAS!!!

I know I am known as the advocate for moms. I am always trying to plan GNO's and crazy dress up nights. I think its so important for moms to get out and be a little crazy...ya know...so that we don't get stuck in the humdrum of life in the home and forget that we are beautiful, funny, intelligent, creative and purely awesome women! So after all of the nights I have fought for the need to get out and play with the ladies, I have NEVER been on a girls trip. Yes....NEVER. Sad isn't it.

Well its official....I can never say that again. A couple weeks ago I got to go on my very first girls trip. Me, Kari, Kelly and Katrina went to Texas to visit Mandy. And of course little Sami got to join in on the fun. Lucky baby!While visiting Mandy we also got to visit...

Kirstin...who was Kari's roommate in college...who married Kari's childhood best friends brother Quinn ...who made us yummy eggs benedict...who was also roomates with my old boyfriend Jess Tuckett.

And

Steph....who is my sister in law....who moved to Texas with my brother, Dan, 2 years ago....who has an awesome daughter McKall....who babysat Sami so I could be childless on my last night in Texas, who thinks Steph should wear this leapard skin outfit with wings to pick her kids up from school.

And

Gina....(Far Left) who met Dan & Steph in Texas.....who also played HS basketball with Mandy and I....and who's husband is named Colby....who is the same Colby who dated Kirstin....who is the same Kirstin as Kari's roommate from college.

Wow....

Anyway, Texas was great. We talked till the wee hours of the night, went to bed, rolled out of bed to a fancy shmancy breakfast cooked my Jon and/or Quinn every single day. We did the color coding personality test for us and our husbands...and spoke in color coding the entire trip. Example...."The red in me is sticking up for the yellow in me who is selfish and just wants to have fun." or "The blue in me will not forgive you, because I like to hold grudges." We laughed a lot...tried to shop but just ended up moving from one store to the next to talk some more. We double dog dared Mandy and Katrina to enter into a Starbucks and order something! Yes they both were very "out of sorts" while standing and waiting for our pumpkin spice creams. Then they actually walked in public holding those devilish cups and EVEN visited a second coffee shop in Down Town McKinney for a steamed milk. NAUGHTY!! Here we all are enjoying our yummy steamed milks. I really want to make my own. So So So Good!We ate great food!

The Philipooms even decided to meet us in Texas and take us out to dinner. Wahoo! Thanks Glen...yes you were right. The snapper was the best plate at the table. Unless you wanna count the brownie with Rum Sauce.

These little "Treasures" were found at a store called Sam Moon in Dallas. We probably spent a good hour in there sneaking pics of our random finds. I am thinking Daisy Do's just didn't get big enough...Jenn its time to start up your business again and maybe start making bows for us ladies.

The rest of these pics are just random pics throughout the trip. So fun.And after 10 hours of travelling home on SouthWest, we were still happy to be together. We even started talking about our next girls trip and how we should go to a beach!!

Lates....

As of Late...

This one ran for 5th Grade Class Representitive and won!! This one is officially 1/2 way through is Masters Program and apparently looks hot in black.This one, after much conversation and bribing and many cold showers, is now potty trained. This one is the new satan.....Zucchini Bread with Semi-sweet Chocolate chips......mmmmmm. This one.....is the old satan now that all the fresh peaches are gone off my tree. Wanted to post the recipe, but got reprimanded and lectured on family secrets....so call me!These two...almost weigh the same but are 2 years apart. Q might be in some trouble in the near future.This one....is making me proud. He is actually turning out to be quite the adult. Over full time job and full college schedule. Get used to the glasses....Deej is now officially a glasses wearing nerd. These little suckers...who are you and why are you growing in my yard. Don't you think they are beautiful and disgusting at the exact same time??
This one.....helps me so much with the girls, I hate that he goes to school now. But he loves it.This one.....loves to hang with his buddies. AND he is turning into quite the soccer player. He can slide tackle like nobodies business.

A G I Joe Birthday!!

Abe turned 8 and decided he wanted a GI Joe Birthday. Yes....he has seen the movie. Blame the husband. This was such a fun party to put on. I made a cake...

I was pretty proud of the cake. You should understand that I am NOT a creative person so when I do actually "Create" something I become very proud and I look for compliments in any form. (hint).

Many have noticed lately that my husband is a little anti-social. I will have you know that is only concerning adults. He prefers the kids. This man of mine puts on a mean party. The kids loved him. The little GI Joe's started the party off parachuting. Then they worked on their dart throwing skills. Then for target practice they got to shoot at moving targets. One of my favorite friends ever, real life soldier Buck Taylor, was able to come and help. I love this guy.And then the final obsticle course where they began by lighting off a smoke bomb, climbing into the fort, swinging out on the rope swing, running through granade territory and live fire, then army crawling under the ropes. All this was done as the rain poured down on them. Very few soldiers complained about the cold. Most of the boys just loved having an excuse to play in the rain and get muddy. Hopefully none of the parents cursed my name later, but its something I was willing to live with.

We had planned on doing hot dogs outside, but due to the rain outpour we let all 30, wet, stinky, muddy boys into my tiny kitchen. It was a mad house. I really almost went into my room and covered my head with a pillow while they continued to wrestle and throw food. I just wanted to pretend it wasn't happening, but instead I stayed my course. We continued the party, lost my voice and smelled wet dog for the next 2 hours in my carpet. YUCK!!

The party, the wet, and the amount of guests was perfect. I hate leaving kids out. In my opinion everyone should be invited. My heart was broken too many times as a kid to think any other way. So we will continue to have complete chaotic parties that leave my house a stink. Thats why they invented IB Profin and Lysol, right??

Happy Birthday Abe....sorry it took me over a month to post.

I needed THIS today.