busy bees

Like all of you I'm sure- we are busily preparing for the Thanksgiving Holiday tomorrow.  Amidst all the preparations (I am responsible for: pickles, olives, rolls, and pies) we continue to keep the day's true purpose in sight.  Yesterday evening when I braved the crazy madhouse that was the grocery store with my three children (who were hungry and tired) the giving of thanks did not flow so freely. I came home to find 13, yes 13 catalogs in my mailbox.

 

The thought of ordering every Christmas gift from my cozy computer chair crossed my mind.  I am not much for crowds, and after the grocery store was completely frazzled.  I only wish that I had gotten the early start that I had intended to on all of my gift-making. Don't worry Carl, I was just browsing :)

After watching the movie we were inspired to try some Ratatouille (above in my bowl).  I used this recipe and added some pasta shells for kid appeal. I didn't seem to work.  We liked the movie better than the actual dish.  Oh well, now we can say that we have tried it.

Lots of baking for me this afternoon.  Plenty of pies to be working on.

Carl is finishing up at the office.  The ski resort opens this weekend and their website has to be up and running.

Emma was getting a jump start on her ornament making.  She has been working on some fabric scrap balls.

Right now, Hannah is working on a nap  (a bit jealous of her).

And Laurel baby, well, she is busy working on her 2 year molars.  We will all be giving thanks when they finally arrive. Poor girl.

First Snow

It started falling last night. We were so thankful that it stuck around until morning.  It is so pleasant to be greeted by the cheery bright white glow of snow.  Even as an adult there is a sense of giddiness that comes with the first flakes of the season.  Laurel Baby couldn't resist get some real hands on action.  The gloves game off almost immediately.  She was only 8 months old this time last year, so she doesn't remember. One of the best parts about being a mom is watching all of those discoveries that your children make.

Ems did her best to start a snowman, she was really scraping it together.  I was glad that I planned ahead this year and dusted off the old and ordered new winter gear.  It was at the ready early this am (8 freezingish cold am)! 

We enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood and had some warm cocoa later.  It is so nice to be on vacation!  Everything is much more relaxed.  Including our choice of clothing (kid's choice).

Non-matching stripes were perfect for our first snow day (a little lazy movie watching too!)

Keeping track

Not much crafting going on here the last few days so I have at the ready some very non-useful information for you. I really did keep track of these things for one day.  I know, totally lame.  In any event-  May I present "The Numbers of Me"

36:: number of pictures taken to try and get a good one for this post- just so that you aren't totally bored.

29.25:: the number of years that I have lived

830:: number of days that I have spent pregnant

930:: number of days that I have spent breastfeeding

3323:: number of days that I have been married

66.75:: the number of inches that I am tall

2:: number of pillows I sleep with

0:: number of broken bones I have suffered

2:: number of cavities that I have had

1422:: the number of feet above sea level where my house sits

200:  number of sunny days per year in my town

9:: number of inches of annual rainfall here

27:: number of inches of annual snowfall here

.25:: the number of hours spent watching TV in the last 24 hours

7:: the number of times that I said "wash your hands"

8:: the number of phone numbers that I have had in my life (I can remember all of them except 1- during college, which explains a lot)

7:: the number of times that I wiped someone's face

7:: the number of times that I ate something

5:39:: the numbers on the clock when I woke up.  (my snooze button gives me an extra 9 minutes- I have it down to a science)

2.5:: number of cups of coffee I drank- decaf

33:: number of miles driven in one day

3:: number of months that I have procrastinated getting my license renewed after it expired this summer.

2:: number of times that I changed my clothes before deciding on what to wear (really good- usually more)

1858:: number of calories eaten...but really who's counting?

4:: number of years that I wore braces as a youngster

0:: number of times that I have been to a concert- weird huh?

228:: number of steps to my mailbox- one way, not sure how accurate this number is.  I assigned Emma the job of fetching the mail.  She came back empty handed and frustrated because there was no mail today!!! Columbus Day. 

4:: number of phone calls made-not counting the calls to my husband :)

12:: number of diapers changed

17:: number of times I washed my hands- see above

6:: number of times I checked my email

9:: number of emails received

11:: number of hugs received

14:: number of kisses given- we are pretty smoochy around here

There you have it!!  Not too exciting, pretty straightforward.  Maybe you learned something. Moving onward.