Giving Thanks

People came from miles around to eat my dressing. Seriously. I guess the old saying is true, "If you cook it, they will come." Or, maybe it was the delicious spread my Aunt Dee made...or, it could have to do with giving thanks and family and love and all that. I don't know. I'll just dwell on the dressing for a little longer...Before I let them eat anything, though, I insisted on a picture of everyone.

Okay. Okay. I'll share my trick for using a tripod: all you have to do is fumble with the start button then stand around a while after it works then take off in a run and trip over something in your path. Works like a dream every time. I mean, check out those smiles! Makes me smile just looking at them. :D

I am truly forever grateful for these people. I am so lucky to have them in my life. Plus, they gave me compliments on my dressing!

Dressing

I'll admit it: I'm the first to make fun of all of the Christmas paraphernalia that comes out on November 1st. I just don't want everyone to forget about Thanksgiving, is all. As soon as Halloween draws to a close and dawn breaks, images of dressing dance through my head. Then, they just keep dancing all the way through Thanksgiving. We need to remember what this season is about: dressing!! Since we are travelling, the dressing-making-process is even more tedious. Luckily, I have helpers!

I've already packed a gallon of homemade turkey broth, a large baggie of homemade cornbread, and a large baggie of homemade biscuits.

I kid you not: this girl made an entire batch of biscuits *completely* by herself!!! I am so, so proud! And, I know her Mimi would be proud too! I was sure to pass down all of the little tidbits I've learned along the way, like 'when you rub your hands together to get rid of all of the dried crunchies, make sure you put it in the garbage pile and not where the dough goes.' Plus, the little Mimi trick of putting the remaining dough into a "scrap" biscuit.

She ate it up---literally!! Her biscuits were seriously better than mine. I'm not joking you. We also relied heavily on our quality control department:

She has very discerning tastes. She definitely prefers her biscuits with butter *and* jam.

I wish you all a very wonderful holiday weekend. Enjoy your friends and family, and most especially your dressing! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

My Wish

Some people whine forever about a hangnail or anything slightly unpleasant that comes their way. At times in my life, I've definitely been there. Recently, however, Papa Bruce has inspired me to embrace my life, to make it a daring adventure. During our visit last week, we eked out every bit of fun with the grandkids, solved world hunger over coffee, and laughed with friends and family. On my way home, I felt whole, I felt complete, like I'd finally gotten the something I'd been missing. I had cooked him chicken n dumplins and chicken salad. I had provided Evie as entertainment. In the end, though, it was Papa Bruce who helped me to cope with his doctor's diagnosis that his days are numbered.

As the holidays approach, I would love for you to do me a huge favor. Please, embrace the season. Enjoy every moment, or at least as many as possible. It is our Papa Bruce's favorite time of year. We always say that he is just like Chevy Chase on The Christmas Vacation. He loves getting all of the family together. He loves shopping for presents, even if it is on Christmas Eve! He loves being cheesy and sentimental and more than a little child-like. So, when the shoppers get to you, please remember it's the love and not the presents that matter. Skip the stress, and share the love this holiday.

Sweet Caroline!

Besides visiting the GGPs, we also got to meet sweet baby Caroline!!! She holds a special place in my heart for multiple reasons: 1. Her name was second on our list when naming Evie 2. I adore my memory of being at the Red Sox game singing Sweet Caroline, doo doo doo, Good times never seemed so good. SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD! and 3. I love her mama dearly. 

 What a beauty! She takes after her mama and big sister.

Joles was brave enough to let Evie hold Sweet Caroline, but I couldn't get a picture because all adult hands were necessary for this feat. I did get a shot of Caroline's concern about Evie (after she launched of a pair of heels at her feet and yanked the boppy out from under her). Caroline is only two weeks old but is strong enough to hold her head up and smart enough to know a hoodlum when she meets one. She definitely has a bright future!

I love you Sweet Caroline! Now....I have to battle my baby addiction once again....

GGPs

You ever delete your entire blog post? Yeah, me neither!

For all of you babiesofthefamily, relax. My second child got some extra-special attention this week. Not only did she get to take a roadtrip with Mommy all by herself, but she also got to spend some time with all three great grandparents (or GGPs if you're a Gen Yer).

First stop: Honey and Tie's house (Gigi's Mommy and Daddy). We did a little back porch sitting, and Miss Evie thoroughly enjoyed sitting back and relaxing...

...and checking out Tie's gadgets (he even took her for a spin on the walker!!)...

 ...she showed off her mad jumping skillz... 

 

...and her running until she falls down skillz...

...and her gardening skillz...

 "Now, you see, Honey. If you pick it like this..."

 

 "...then you can put it *back* like this..."

 "...and you can hang these large ones on the bushes..."

 Although the advice was well received, I'm pretty sure Honey already has her own techniques. I've been running circles around these rosebushes since I was Evie's age, and they've always been beautiful. I'm so happy to add this memory to the long list created by various collections of family and friends who have done some back porch sitting with Honey and Tie.

 Next on the list was Mimi and Manney's house. Evie and Cousin Cal found their way into Mimi's heart...

...and vice versa...

A little related?

Max was a little disgusted with us for waiting to take pictures until *after* mega candy consumption and the naptimes had already passed...

 The rest of us enjoyed ourselves though!!

Evie, what a wonderful gift you gave your GGPs! You too, Cal. It was a gift to me as well, just to watch the sheer joy exchanged between generations.

Success!!

Since Elise doesn't like to talk to people she doesn't know, Halloween is always tricky. This year we treated with a sweet pirate and his handy parrot, and it made all the difference in the world! They raced from house to house, fighting over who got to ring the doorbell. Success!! In her words, "The other years I didn't feel like saying TrickOrTreat, but now I do." She was so proud. Yay!

I kept knocking the kids in the head with my camera, so I took it back to the house...not realizing that I never even got a picture of the said pirate! Sorry...Here are the pictures I did get:

 

Elise was especially excited to visit Baby Jack across the street!

 Then, of course, counting the loot at the end of the night was dreamy. :)

 

Evie jumped right in and insisted on going to every door with her bucket, filling it to the top! She also dumped it out and examined each piece, even sharing a few with the dogs...We all had a blast! Thank you, Pirate, for turning our holiday around for the better!

Family Tree

I love watching my kids with their grandparents. The love they have for each other, the spoiling that goes on, I just eat it up. Today when I watched Elise and Poppy carving pumpkins, I realized it was much, much more. They actually sort of act alike...

the same smirk

the same concentration

the same---I don't know...surliness.

 

This tree lives between our Surrogate Grandma and us. It is like part of our family and shows off then essence of a family tree. Its roots knocked out our sewer lines the week of my first child's birth, its limbs fall on our cars, and yet my love and respect never waiver. Oh, sure. I get angry sometimes and cuss it, but I can't stay mad for long. It's been alive much longer than I have, its grandiose stature gives me perspective on my life, its beauty welcomes me every morning on my way to the car, plus it provides such nice scenery for while I'm sitting on the toilet...anyway...like the ways of this tree, the traits that pop out in my kids never cease to amaze me. How do you pass an unwieldy attitude down to your grandchild? It is beyond me.

 

Well, she definitely got her Bebe's love for dogs.

This one's toothy grin is definitely from her Gigi. That one's a little easier to understand, but it still gets me tickled.

And, *somehow* she got her Papa Bruce's hambone. She talks to everyone she meets and can usually get out at least a smile from each and every one of them.

 

These two were definitely proud of their craftsmanship, and Poppy even worked through a meltdown (Poppy accidently carved the face Evie "wanted" on Elise's pumpkin and the face Elise wanted on Evie's pumpkin). Overall, though, it was a pretty great day!