Somebody Ring the Dinner Bell

Thanksgiving is still several days away and I'm already salivating. I volunteered to host the holiday this year for Jeremiah's family and my mind has been swimming with ideas for the menu ever since. I think I've finally settled on turkey with fruit and nut stuffing, Yukon gold buttermilk-mashed potatoes with gravy, roasted sweet potatoes, carrots and squash with cinnamon butter, homemade rolls, peas (because they're tradition on Jeremiah's side,) fresh cranberry sauce, blueberry pie, peach pie, apple pie, cherry pie and pumpkin pie. It sounds like a lot of work, but since I love to cook, it sounds like fun to me and I am super excited to make it all. Plus a lot of it can be prepared or even baked ahead of time and my SIL is coming early so I will have someone to share the kitchen with. (That's right, Kelly, I'm putting you to work!)

I really can't even tell you how excited I am! This is my 8th Thanksgiving as a married woman and my first turn hosting a holiday feast. Wish me luck!

Kissy Face

I don't always make it outside to the corner when Isaac gets off the bus, but the other day I was out there when he got home. I thought he was so excited to see me because he ran off the bus...and then right past me. I was confused as I walked home. He sat panting on the front steps waiting for me. When I was in earshot he asked, "Do you want to know why I was running so fast? Brenley was trying to kiss me!"

Not wanting to make a big deal out of it and make Isaac feel like he did something wrong, I asked him how he felt about that. "SCARED!" He then told me that she tried to kiss him during class and on the bus. He talked for a while about it so I asked if it bothered him. He said it did and agreed when I asked if I should make his teacher aware of it.

Isaac seemed so upset by the whole thing that he caught me by surprise when he came home the next week and said, "Mom? Something's wierd. Brenley doesn't try to kiss me anymore, but she does try to kiss Alex. And it makes me wonder...why?"

"I thought you didn't want Brenley to kiss you."

"I don't."

"So why does it bother you that she tries to kiss Alex?"

No answer, unless you count the coy grin on his face.

"Let me see if this is it: You don't want Brenley to kiss you, but you do want her to keep trying?"

"That's it!"

Really? In Kindergarten? I thought it would take much longer for my innocent boy to be faced with the kissing issue.

Taken by a Hidden Camera

Yes, this is me. This is me at a Demolition Derby. The kids ruined Jeremiah's sunglasses and I thought it would be funny to wears them sans lenses.

Now that I see it captured in a photograph, I don't think it's that funny. Although, me holding Kenley like I just hogtied her is minorly amusing.

Let Down

Just when I'm gaining a greater appreciation for our freedoms I realize that it means we're allowed to be idiots.

Halloween Party

So remember when I said I had somethig fun to post but I needed pictures? Well, here they are. My friend (LaFawnduh) and I decided to have a Halloween Party and have the guests dress like couples. We had some pretty funny and creative pairs.

Plug & Outlet, Milkman & Mistress

Sarah Palin & her moose, Han Solo & Princess Leia, the Homey & the Hillbilly

Kip & Lafawnduh, Nun & Priest

Batman & Batwoman, Knight & Damsel

Everyone brought food to share and then we played some fun games. We put all the men behind a sheet and showed only their feet and the wives had to choose which one was her husband. We Also played Truth or Dare (I have a book version.) Jeremiah was dared to act like part of a boy band. He got pretty embarrassed, but he did it.

My friend's husband put together a Not-So_Newlywed Game. We all had a good laugh about the answers that were shared. It was such a fun night. I hadn't laughed that hard in ages. I love playing games and being a total idiot, it's one of my favorite things. We've decided to make it an annual event (as long as she doesn't move away!)

Oh Well, It's Only the Leader of the Free Nation

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

"A Tale of Two Cities", Charles Dickens

I went to vote. When I actually saw the presidential ballot I was hit by the magnitude of this election. My chest tightened, my hands shook and tears welled in my eyes. While I've always felt it was extremely important, I've never had such a reaction to voting. When I cast my vote I nearly pressed the entire stylus through the ballot, such was my conviction for my choice, or rather, my distaste for the candidate I was voting against.

I'd like to say I rocked my vote but, living in such a small state, it feels more like I whispered into the wind.