Happy Thanksgiving sometimes

This year for Thanksgiving, Debra and Aimee stayed in Rexburg and helped prepare a very yummy Thanksgiving dinner at our apartment. Aimee baked homemade rolls and mashed potatoes, Debra made green bean casserole and I cooked the turkey.  My first attempt at sweet potato pie was a success and Aimee’s marble cheesecake and chocolate cake balls were delicious for dessert. Of course I insisted on using my fancy glasses for the sparkling apple cider. At the dinner table, we took a moment to all say what we’re thankful for. Lisa always says she is thankful for showers, which makes me smile.  I missed being with the family in California, but I was so glad to have Aimee and Debra here. They really made the day so much fun.  After dinner we played Cranium and then pulled out the couch bed and watched a couple of movies. Hooray for holidays.  

Lisa LOVES olives. Ryan got her to put them on 

her fingers like that. 

My second year carving the turkey...starting to get the hang of it!

These pictures are trying to capture the *joy* of preparing a Thanksgiving dinner in my lovely little "hallway" kitchen. I don't think there was an inch of counter space to speak of and Aimee and I bumped butts several times trying to walk by eachother. But the food still tasted great and we are definitely thankful for this apartment. 

After dinner, Aunt Lisa and Gramommy called from California while we were playing Cranium and Lisa sent hugs through the phone. 

Lisa wished Aunt Lisa a "Happy Thanksgiving sometimes"

World of electronics

About a week ago it got very quiet while I was doing my make-up and I thought to myself, "Where is Lisa and what is she doing?" Anyone knows that silence can be a very bad sign when it comes to toddlers. So I went looking and found her in my room settled into our bed listening intently to Ryan's i-pod. No one has ever showed her how to do this or even put it on her before! What a different generation of kids we have. I remember being excited about my first walk man! And I was more like 10 years old, not 3. I'm not complaining though. The portable DVD player, the TV, the internet, and now the i-pod have been great sources of entertainment for Lisa and give me a little break. I just have to be mindful of how we spend our time all day. It is a little discouraging when she would rather stay inside and watch a movie than go outside and play. She used to ask to go outside all the time and now I have to suggest it most of the time. I am hesitant to ever get cable TV because it would just be that much more enticing to let her watch it all day.  Luckily, she does still love to do other things like play make-believe, do art projects, and read books. Truth be told, if I give her the attention she is craving and don't just expect her to entertain herself all the time, then I don't usually have to worry at all about overdoses of movie-watching. It just takes a little more energy to be on top of things that way. But I can do it. It's important! And it is fun.

Waiting for snow

Maybe it's because I didn't grow up with snowy winters, but every year since living in Idaho, I look forward to the quiet stillness that comes when snow blankets the ground. It is rather late this year, but we're trying to take advantage of what the weather has been giving us: light dusting of snow, which melts into puddles, and below-freezing coldness.

Lisa is so excited to get out in the snow, even if it's just a light dusting. She is anxious to use her sled, but I have to explain that there isn't quite enough snow yet to use it. 

When the snow melted, Lisa and daddy had fun splashing in the puddles.

We went fishing in Island Park. It was quite cold, but still beautiful. We didn't catch anything at the first place, but we stopped at one of Ryan's frequent fishing spots on the way home and he caught one there. This was probably my last fishing trip of the year, so I'm glad we went. Three years ago we went fishing at this same place on Thanksgiving day and I fell in! Now THAT was cold. This time I was much more careful and came home dry and warm. 

Fall family pictures

This year we did it right and took pictures before it got to be 25 degrees outside! Last year was SO cold. Becky Hatch asked if I'd like her to take the pictures and I could not turn her down. She takes such cute, creative pictures. She even helped me pick out outfits, which I was so glad for because it always takes me forever to choose. She was able to do some fun photo shopping with a few of the pictures that made them turn out really nice. 

Thanks Becky!!! I love how they turned out and can't wait to get the prints I ordered!