The Tree Farm

Our family tradition is to go out and cut our tree the day after Thanksgiving, and that's just what we did. There is this great tree farm in West Farmington, Amish Country. There are wagon rides out to the tree of your choice and then they bag it and help you get it on your car. After you get your tree you can go to the barn and enjoy yummy hot chocolate and roast hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores. All this is free except the tree which you can pay anywhere from $5 - $10 a foot depending on the type of tree you want. If your interested in directions, let me know or call them, Whispering Pines (440)693-4354. The drive was so beautiful and we really had a great time, it's time to bust out the Christmas music.

Just an update for the grandmas, sorry it's sideways.

The Big Turkey Day

(we laminated some leafs we collected to make some festive place mats)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

My whole body hurts. Who would have thought that cooking a single meal could be as exhausting as..... doing something else really exhausting. When it's all said and done the food was great, and will continue to be great for the next couple of days, and the company was even better. We start the day out with the Thanksgiving Parade, the kid's love watching the floats as they glide through New York City. I let Molly put together the veggie, meat, and cheese tray, a responsibility I was given as a young girl. It was sad not to have my in-laws here with us this time. I especially noticed this when I was cleaning out the turkey, a job my mother-in-law has so graciously done for me in the past. Travis and Dillon had to run to Home Depot this morning to get a part for the toilet that decided to stop working, it was closed, so one toilet down on a day when you're meant to eat a ton. The snow always helps to give you that holiday feeling, and it did snow quite a bit today. We had our neighbor, Judy, over and some friends, Kaleena and Blake with their two beautiful daughters. What a great day, I hope you all had a great one too.

Tuesday Transformation

I am starting this cheesy Tuesday Transformation blog thing. The purpose for this is twofold . . . One, to keep you all on the edge of your seats waiting in anticipation for the next Tuesday to see what I have transformed. Two, ( and this is really the only reason) To motivate myself to start actually doing some of the many projects I have been putting off for the last whatever.

So I have wanted to dress-up this fireplace for the 2 1/2 years that we have lived here and I finally did. All it took was some black spray paint. What a difference!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I want to express my gratitude for the oh so many blessings in my life. I am thankful for great parents who brought me up to be independent, confident, and fun loving. I am thankful for my brothers and sister who made growing up so much fun, I love and respect each of them and am thankful for the closeness we share. I am thankful for meeting such a wonderful man who I am eternally sealed to and thankful for the knowledge of the gospel that makes that possible, we have three beautiful children that I truly couldn't imagine life without. These are some of the bigger things, but there are so many more things everyday, every minute, that I can only acknowledge as blessings........ my health, happiness, intellect, imagination, and all the other things that make each day interesting.
So today I am thankful for this holiday that causes me to stop and really think of all the things I have to be thankful for.

Knitting

Today a friend of mine took Molly to a knitting class, this is what she came home with. I'm not to sure what it is, but it sure is cute.

School Pictures and Stuff

Dillon made this turkey at school today. The things kids appreciate.

A couple of nights ago Dillon did something naughty and Travis had to put him in time-out. Dillon got really upset and I think Molly must have felt bad for him because she went into the other room and quickly sketched this up and delivered it to Dad. The little boy crying is Dillon, The bigger boy with the scary mean look on his face is Daddy, and the beautiful butterfly in the middle is, of course, Molly.

Molly's Kindergarten School Picture

Dillon's Pre-School School Picture

Molly's Art

Molly's Art
( this picture is hanging in the office at her school)