Turkey & Trees

It’s hard to believe that two years ago, on Thanksgiving, we made multiple phone calls to the family to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and tell them that we were having a baby. There are moments that I look at our little person and can’t believe she’s almost a year and a half old. She really has become quite a little person. She’s got her own personality, expressions, likes & dislikes.

Thanksgiving this year was a little quieter than last year. We celebrated with my sister Nicole and our Sofi. =) Plenty of food… and I think lots of bonding! Especially during the “cooking “part of the event. I’m proud to report, for the first time in ten (yes, folks TEN) years we made edible stuffing. Okay, scratch that – I MADE EDIBLE STUFFING. Yeah yeah yeah!! *dancing* I’ll admit I wasn’t keen on the suggestion. On Wednesday night Stephen started a conversation that went something like:

Stephen: “For 10 years I’ve made stuffing and for ten years it’s not worked out”
Darlene: “mmmhhhmmm”
Stephen: “I think it’s me.”
Darlene: “so you think you’re the common denominator causing it to fail?”
Stephen: “mmmmhhhmmm. I think you should make it this year.”
Darlene: “oh really?”
Stephen: “Yes.”

End of conversation. Well apparently that was interpreted as:

Darlene: “Stephen, I’d really like it if you’d let me make the stuffing this year.”
Stephen: “why, you think I make crappy stuffing?”
Darlene: “No, honey. I’m just saying I’ll make it this year.”
Stephen: “Ok.”

(Note: Earlier text was the actual conversation. Interpretation… Craziness.)

I’m pleased to report that I did make the stuffing – and I gotta say – It R.O.C.K.E.D. Maybe he was the one causing it to be crunchy. Ok. I’ll take the stuffing from now on.

Katherine… not a fan of the whole turkey dinner thing. Seriously, I think the girl is anti meat. Unless it’s the chicken from sweet & sour chicken from the local Chinese restaurant. (For real, she eats that like it’s chocolate.) What she did like, quite a bit actually, was the homemade cranberry sauce. She looooooved it till Daddy tried to trick her and mix it with a piece of turkey. Bad call Daddy. Bad call.

Friday was our annual tradition of Black Friday shopping. Spreadsheets, flyers & coupons in hand we headed out at 3:30am. I’d been up since 1:30am shopping online. No, folks I didn’t get up specifically at 1:30 to shop – I just couldn’t sleep… not for lack of trying. (I was really quite sad about the inability to sleep.) We did eight stores… home by 9am. Yay! Best deal… 82% off the original price. Yeahhhh you like our cheapness, don’t ya?

Saturday… another tradition. Christmas tree shopping in Boone, NC! We learned from last year: take snacks and the truck. No minivan. We also learned that Christmas tree shopping in the rain – not quite sooo much fun as Christmas tree shopping sans rain.

This was our third year going… (year #1 shall not be spoken of… I refuse.) We decided that we would get two trees this year. Yes, we might be overcompensating for lack of a real tree in our youth. We know that – Admitting it is step one, right?

We found two awesome trees. Quite pleased is an understatement. I heart them both. Katherine did great during the trip although she wasn’t a fan of the whole climbing a mountain thing. To be honest, climbing a mountain holding 20+ pounds of little girl – A little daunting too. Fortunately it wasn’t wet and slippery like it was last year. (whew!) She did manage to stand on her own shortly and we (I) quickly snapped some pictures.

Monday Katherine and I were planning on going to the Kids Museum but apparently Monday’s are no-goes at the Museum (they’re closed). So plan B was head to the mall and run around. Which we did. We had fun. We went to the Disney store and looked at all of the stuffed animals, Build A Bear… (couldn’t bring myself to fork over $18 for something she wouldn’t remember doing… so we’ll hold off on that – for now!) and the Lego store (huge hit). The Lego store she even got a little purchase that she was quite excited by. She ran around the mall holding her bag and showing it to everyone. She enticed many an “oooohhh my goodness look how cute & happy she is!!!” mmm, yes she is… thank you. =)

Coming up… hopefully family picture time (make a note Stephen…) and a visit with Santa. We waved & blew kisses at Santa while we were in the mall. I’m hoping she’s getting familiar with him so it won’t be so scary when she’s on his lap. I think I’m kidding myself… but I can dream, can’t I?

Pictures from Christmas Tree Shopping

Make a Smilebox photobook

Other pictures

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A video (Katherine showing how she "signs" running... Could also be mocking Mommy.)

Make a Smilebox greeting

Is it Myrtle Mother? Take 2 and 3.

We went back to Myrtle Beach. Twice. In the last two weeks. We only went to the beach once for a few minutes, but this time, our trip onto the sand went much better than our last trip.

Weekend #1 in Myrtle Beach was for what the timeshare people call a “getaway weekend”. Timeshare Translation: come update your owner profile (60 minutes) and get tickets to something or whatever and two nights for $29 in one of the timeshare rooms. Aleksza Translation: sign us up.

Saturday we did our “owner update”. After our last sales experience at the Sheraton in Myrtle Beach we were prepared for them. Our last “sales guy” was even there. The woman we had this time (Beth) was much nicer and far easier to talk to then Donkey Man was the last time. We didn’t buy anything… of course, why would we when what they were selling was 7k for 20,000 points and we spent 2k for our 61,000 points on eBay. (Did you miss the last post on getting things at a discount price? Seriously, by this point you have to know we’re cheap. Stephen created a monster in me.)

Saturday afternoon we took Katherine to a place that had some of the huge inflatable jumping things – indoors. She L.O.V.E.D. it. We thought we spend maybe an hour there for our $3. (Parents jump free.) We were there for well over 2.5 hours. Girl wore. me. out. They had a very cool toddler jumping thing that she had tons of fun on. Her first slide experience on her own and within minutes she was climbing up the ladder by herself and going down not feet first… oh, no that wouldn’t be exciting enough for our little daredevil… No, she needs HEAD first. Better… much better. *clutching my chest*

Sunday was more playing, this time on the playground and then a little shopping and the drive home. Good weekend. Loved spending time with my two favorite people.

This past weekend we again made the trip to Myrtle Beach to check out some real estate… We’ll see how it goes. We may be beach-goers!! =) (woohoo!!!!) I don’t know what possessed my husband to be interested in the beach, but I’m not arguing!!

After we had lunch on Saturday we took Katherine down to the beach for her to check things out. Not only did she like the beach (she went running for the water… fortunately mommy’s recent hobby of running paid off!) but she REALLY liked collecting seashells. She fell asleep clutching them in her hands. I had to carefully pry them out while trying not to wake her. This was still easier than trying to get them out of her hands while she was awake.

Next up… Turkey Day!! This year we’ll be spending the day with Aunt Nikki & Aunt Sofi. Yay! A quiet Thanksgiving at home… I’ve nominated the day as PJ Turkey Day… We’ll see if the family goes along with it! =)

JDRF Walk & Myrtle Beach photos:

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Short Video of Katherine on the playground:

Make a Smilebox greeting

Princess Franken-Nugget

Last year we spent Halloween evening laughing when kids realized that the little bouncy seat on the porch held a living baby. Many missed that little fact when sticking their hands in the candy bowl. This year, Katherine was not to go unnoticed. No ma’am. In fact, I believe there were a couple of instances where she shopped in other kids bags of candy. She thought it more of a candy exchange than giving candy.

We did try trick or treating. I think the rule is going to be she can go to as many houses as she can walk to. This way we don’t have 10 tons of candy for a 5 year old that wants to eat it all in one night. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. At about 17 months old she made it to two houses. Superb!!! After the second house she proceeded to plop her little behind on the sidewalk and take all of her candy out of her pumpkin and rub it on the sidewalk. Why? No idea. And she didn’t seem inclined to answer my question of “oh Frankie, why are you rubbing your candy on the sidewalk?” She just looked up and laughed.

This year Stephen used his 90% off 2008 clearance purchased fog machine. Oh yeah – his cheapness is H.O.T.!! Well, I appreciate it anyway! =) While Stephen and I thought it was very cool… Franken-Nugget did not. At all. It was a GREAT way to keep her close by. You turn it on for 5 seconds and she’d be right back on my lap. Mean you say? Whatever.

For year #2 we had multiple compliments on our festive decorations. (YAY!) One guy (creepily) took several pictures of one of the signs we had out front. We really thought he was casing the inside of our house he spent so much time taking the picture.

There were also multiple folks that remembered Katherine last year and were quite fond of our little Frankie. She is pretty cute – and no, I don’t think I’m biased. Okay, maybe just a leeeetle bit!

Some pictures from Frankie’s evening…

Make a Smilebox scrapbook