Thanksgiving

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

The girls and I did make mini pumpkin pies.

This was my first time making pumpkin pie from scratch, pastry and filling - both turned out great.

As it has been getting colder and darker in the mornings running has almost become extinct for me. With that has come the self-doubt. I could feel my resolve to run the half marathon fading way. I began to talk myself out of it. After all, I am not a runner. I couldn't really finish something like that. I didn't really want to do it anyway. Or so I told myself. Maybe I was afraid that it was true, so wouldn't it be better if I rationalized my way out first? Then the oddest coincidence happened. While we were eating Thanksgiving dinner Sunday night at our friends house, their neighbors were there as well and it just so happened that the neighbor friend had just run a half marathon that very day! I asked her lots of questions and felt my mind fill back up with inspiration that maybe I could do this. It was time!

(my warm-up companion and I stretching - every time, there she is by my side!)

Monday morning (which was BEAUTIFUL) I tied up my laces and stepped out the door.

I took my phone and told Darren I would call him to come and pick me up when I was done. I wanted to try out a new route and I wasn't sure how far I would get. 

I never did call him. I made it all the way - 17.3 km around the lake. I can barely believe I actually did it. Remember, I am not a runner, I run, but that is not the same thing. I have come to the conclusion that being a runner is a title, a state of being, a condition of the heart. I am not a runner, not yet anyhow. I want to be fit, the means wherewith I obtain that purpose certainly does not begin or end with running. But.......for now..... I run! My knees, my poor knees. They gave out before anything else. The rest of me was okay, not a blister to be found. I feel such a sense of accomplishment. I feel as though, no matter how long it took me, I know I could run that half marathon, and to me, that means more than I could express.  

I am so thankful for family and friends, this beautiful place I get to live in and run around, yummy food,
 and a strong body and mind that I can push farther that I ever thought possible.
Today I give thanks.

pocket pie

Fall is here, and as unoriginal as it is to say - I think it is my favorite!

We have been filling our school days with all things autumn - crafts, curriculum, and kitchen. 

Today we made individual apple pies. (Debra, if you are looking for your pie maker, it is here!)

Since I was not the least bit interested in making my own pastry we bought ready made pie crusts 

from the store and rolled them out with which to make our pies. 

It worked really well. 2 pie crusts made 6 mini pies.

They turned out ever so cute, and I was informed that they were delicious.

 I think we will try making mini pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. 

I figure if I use the same pie maker and just cut off the leaf they will look like little pumpkins!

lunch is served

I didn't get much sleep last night.

I am feeling particularly tired.

So when Noelle asked me if she could make lunch for the kids, I gratefully accepted her offer.

I didn't really expect what she produced.

What a great gift I have in a daughter like her.

Thank you Noelle.

Especially today, it meant so much to me.

potluck

This afternoon Noelle asked if she could make deviled eggs for dinner. I told her that deviled eggs didn't really constitute dinner. She then asked if she could make them as part of dinner. She also thought it would be fun if everyone made something for dinner as well. 4 hours and about a thousand dirty dishes later, we enjoyed a delicious dinner with a contribution from everyone.

~ Deviled Eggs by Noelle ~

~ Garden Salad (with lettuce from our actual garden) by Nya ~

~ Potato Skins by Emma ~ 

~ Spaghetti Squash by Bergen ~

~ Lemon Cake (using a recipe from Tate's Bake Shop cookbook) by Tate, of course ~

How can I, I of all people, be raising such incredible chefs? 

As much as I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my children this afternoon, 

I can honestly say that I wanted out of that kitchen as much as one could want. 

But the memories will be sweet, I know, and so I stay and teach and cook, 

even though I am bursting inside to escape.

 Excuse me will you? I have a date with the dishwasher!

Tate's Bake Shop

In January, during one of our trips to the library, I came across this book. Tate thought it was pretty cool to see his name on the cover of a book, and he insisted that we take it home with us. We had fun over the next few days baking. 

Tate's Bake Shop - Southampton NY

When the time came for me to return the book I called the local book store to see if they carried it. I wanted to buy a copy for Tate. She said that they didn't, but that she could order it in for me. She asked me which one of the 2 different books of that title I wanted. There was the original Tate's Bake Shop, and another one called Tate's Bake Shop - Baking with Kids. The one for children hadn't actually been released yet, but was available for pre-order. A kids version? Even better! So I had her pre-order the children's version, and over the next few months forgot all about it. Then last week they called to tell me it was in and awaiting pick-up. We hopped in the van and drove into town. Tate had already picked which recipe he wanted to try before we even got home.  

Just as I was getting all the ingredients ready, Tate fell and hit his cheek pretty hard on the tread of the deck stairs. 

He came howling into the house, and I quickly put ice on his face. He fell asleep as I sat with him, poor little guy, 

and I was left to make cookies on my own (actually, Nya helped).

I used my new mixer that Darren and the kids gave me for mother's day. I have wanted one for as long as I have been married. Thank you. I love it. 

I woke Tate up an hour and a half later to fresh cookies - served in our favorite way, lately - ice cream sandwich style!

His cheek continued to get more swollen and purple as the afternoon went on. 

So recently after Nya's black eye, all I could think of was," another one bites the dust". 

At least we have cookies and ice cream to ease the pain!

not so sloppy joes

When I was in elementary school I used to get hot lunches every now and again. That is where I had my very first sloppy joe, and I remember thinking, "What is this!" I have loved them ever since. But as a grown up, as much as I love bread, I don't love a big huge bun when I am trying to eat a burger. So a couple of months ago we tried sloppy joes in pitas. It is our new favorite, not too much bun and very kid friendly.

milk & cookies

Last night Bergen came with me to fencing to see if he thinks it would be something he would be interested in doing as well. Afterwards we went out for Subway sandwiches. He also got a cookie, and the cookie he chose completely surprised me. His favorite - oatmeal raisin! So today, while the big girls went to the IMAX with Grandma and Grandpa McCullough (the boys had their turn last week) we made oatmeal cookies. But instead of raisins we used cranberries (since Berg loves those as well, and I didn't have raisins in the house). I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, and they turned out really great. Chewy, with just the right amount of cinnamon that made my house smell incredible as they cooked. And I have it on good authority that they taste very, VERY good!

pots and pans and porcelain

I found this dish scrubber last time I was in Pots and Paraphernalia. Since I was due for a new one I bought it, even though it was $4 (I thought that was kind of pricey). If you have white porcelain dishes you will know that you cannot scrub them with anything too aggressive or metallic as you will be left with little grey scratches everywhere. But when I got home I tested it out on my white dishes - not a scratch! This little scrubber does the job of a stainless steel wire scrubber (it will take the skin off your knuckles if you aren't careful!), but it will not scratch your delicate dishes. 

It was worth every penny.

Just thought you ought to know!

pomegranates

The kids love these things and they are so very good for you, 

but they are about as messy as it can get.

Until now!

 I just learned the greatest thing - maybe you already know! 

But in case you don't, and in case you love pomegranates as much as we do, 

I thought I'd share. 

this week.....

we got a package from my parents in the mail. It contained Christmas cards for the kids and this years ornament. Since moving away my mom has made a really big effort to send the kids cards - for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, ect. This means so very much to them. They save every card! Thank you, also, Mom and Dad for the birthday cards. I got two - one from my mom and another one especially from my dad! I am missing my parents this time of year, and wishing we could have our annual girls day at the mall.

Auntie Shannon let Santa know that we needed an elf at our house, and so a couple of weeks ago we had a new little guest come to stay with us for the holiday season. Nya was not too sure about him, and refused to go into the living room where he sat. After a couple of days, and seeing pictures of her cousin, Aubrey, with her little elf, Nya warmed to the idea. I asked her what we should name him and she insisted upon Sheep. So here he stays, taking advantage of the many holes we still have in our drywall since getting pot lights installed last summer! The kids are actually super excited about him. Every morning I will awake to Tate asking me if he can show me where the elf is now! 

My Christmas mantel this year is super simple. I didn't go and gather greenery to make fresh boughs. Normally I clip behind my parents house, but since they moved I didn't have in in my heart to go. Maybe next year. But thanks to Debra who was in a purging mood, the mantel got a facelift at least. Thank you, Debra. I LOVE the believe sign, and the black star got a coat of red paint and now my pretty bland mantel is all ready for Christmas. And..........

after 8 months I FINALLY painted my board and applied the vinyl (cut by Debra) for our family affirmations. It makes me smile every time I walk past! It has been WAY too long since I have done anything creative. I need to get back at it.

My boys have such fun with their hair. Every morning they think up some new animal they resemble. One morning this week it was a great horned owl. About 30 minutes later Bergen was relieved of his horns, via the hair clippers!

Noelle is continuing to cook up a storm! She loves it, and so do the other children. She declared one day that she wanted to open her own bakery and name it 'The Baker Bee'. She would greet her customers with, "Welcome to the hive. How may we help you?" I, for one, think this is a fantastic idea. I will be your first customer, Noelle!

You would think that Nya would never be in need of a playmate, but the other day I found her playing Connect Four with a Webkinz. She would lift his paw and have him play his piece when it was his turn. Too cute!