Thanksgiving Feast and Birthday Fun!

Thanksgiving was at our house this year. We had a bunch of family and friends come to town! Oma, Opa, Nathan, Philip, Aaron, Gma and Papa, Wendy and Bill, Rachael and her new hubby Darrell, Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Ron, Sherry and Jimmy, Muffy and Freddy, Lisa and Mike and Tyler, Todd, Susan and fam, Jamie, me and Darrell, Ashlee, Sydney, James, Chris and Rick Berkseiger, Mike and Cindy Sheen to name a few.



We surprised Gma for her 60th birthday with a party at Johnny Carino's the night before Thanksgiving. She didn't have a clue! She said she was expecting something the next day on Thanksgiving. Wendy and I ran around to Party City, also to pick up her cake and went early to the restaurant to decorate. Then we just acted like we were going out to dinner for Mom's birthday but when we got her there everyone was already at Johnny Carino's and surprised her. I wrote a poem for her and turned it into a scrapbook for her to keep. She still keeps saying "I'm just in shock and amazement!"












The next day we had around 30 people at our house for Thanksgiving dinner. Everything went even better than expected! I cooked a turkey and ham in the oven and Darrell fried a turkey outside. People brought different sides and desserts. Everything was fabulous! We played dominoes and stayed up til the wee hours of the night talking and laughing. Even the weather was beautiful for the kids to play outside in. I hated to see everyone go, but boy was I wiped out!

I have made a slideshow of the memories and attached it below. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Budding Conversationalist

My little one's a budding conversationalist. He's beginning to ask lots of questions, a development that fills two needs for him: It's a way of finding out about things, and it's also a way of keeping Mommy's attention.

Early favorite questions include "Why?" and "What's that?" and his latest..."Where you going?"

James loves to answer questions as much as ask the questions. When we're reading books, I ask about the pictures or the story: "Where is the brown doggie?" "What do you think he likes to eat?" He enjoys answering and this happens to be our favorite part of the day.

I try to answer his questions as quickly as I can, in simple, full sentences. Today he was watching the birds through our window and he says to me "Where birds going?" I replied, "Birds have wings that keep them up in the air." He looks very serious at me and says..."Oh, birds fly away." Next thing you know he is getting a book out of his room about birds..he was ready to share. So we learned about birds today...what tomorrow will bring who knows! But I can't wait!

James is growing independent too. He insists on putting on socks "by self" regardless of how long it takes. After "mommy's turn" it is James' "my turn" to brush his teeth. He is also trying out the potty chair. He is definitely interested and has begun to experience it. He looks so big sitting there reading his "potty books" waiting to make the potty sing. (Yes, it plays a song when wet..ha!)

Speaking of chairs...James has learned about the timeout chair as well. With his new found independence also comes heated temper tantrums. It's amazing how the "pleases", "sorry's", "thank you's" seem to flow out of his two year old body with just the threat of the dreaded "naughty spot."

James keeps us on our toes....life is ever changing around here!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Our friends and neighbors threw a Halloween/Birthday Bash for Adeliene and her brother Charlie. The kids decorated spooky picture frames, ate gooly food, and had a blast in their costumes. Once the party was over...trick or treating began! The neighborhood was filled with little people dressed in all kinds of costumes..from scary to sweet. James went as Thomas the Train...although he kept the costume on for a picture and that was it. Sydney was a beautiful ladybug and Ashlee began as a Midnight Fairy but changed her mind shortly thereafter. The itchy skirt was more than she could handle so the token Pirate costume emerged once again! Have to say that I got my money worth out of that one! Take a look at all the fun with the Smilebox of memories that I created.

Make a Smilebox slideshow