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.

Meow!

The "Biggs" and I had a little date last night. They let me come along even though I didn't have a matching red coat.

They did great....a few wiggles (mostly Hannah) but all in all they were a great audience. 

It was a practice run for this.  We have 5 tickets and outfits (of course, they are on sale now), and lots of excitement.  I think Laurel Baby will like Mother Gigogne. You know, she is the lady (or man perhaps :) with the big dress.  From under her dress come her silly little children. PNB's production was too expensive. $90ish x 5= too much (not including a hotel.)  So, we decided that we could get better seats, prettier dresses, and a yummy dinner too, if we saw Ballet Northwest's version instead (my alum).  It is our Christmas Gift to Ourselves. The girls agreed this would be more fun than any new toys this year. Memories last longer than material things right?

Feasting

This week has been the final push before Thanksgiving Break.  We have had conferences, assemblies, field trips, lots of classroom volunteering....and best of all some feasting.

(my daughter Emma is not actually in this picture...I had to crop her out because she was fiercely growling at her little sister for snatching one of her olives :)  By the way, did you know that the pilgrims had juice boxes and Oreo cookie constructed turkeys on the first Thanksgiving?

 

On to Hannah's classroom.  They were each handed three kernels of corn and told to place them in that tiny basket one-by-one.  As they dropped their corn in, they were to say 3 things that they were thankful for.  So sweet.

So now we have 10 long, luxurious days before us to do WHATEVER we want. I am so, so, so thankful for that!! I am hoping that their will be some sleeping in.  Also hoping that we can watch this movie for the one billionth time (it has become the current favorite with the little people around here.)  And, if I am lucky- some crafting too.  I have a "Christmas Gifts To Make" list that is a mile long!