Thanksgiving Eats '09

Eva was ancy to eat Thanksgiving dinner.

Let's see, what was on the menu this year. Well, the kids asked for roast potatoes, Kahlua pork, turkey, sweet potatoes w/ marshmallows on top, homemade rolls and dad's chocolate trifle. Komi wanted a shrimp plate, raw mushrooms and peas. I made stuffing and cranberry sauce for me and picked tomatoes from my sad plants in the backyard. I think that covers it all.
Time to eat.
Oh yeah, here's the cook. :)
Thanksgiving day '09

Our trip to Austin, TX

We decided to take a quick trip to Austin and check out some sights the weekend before Thanksgiving. Of course, we stayed in a hotel, which I'm sure was the highlight for the kids. We stopped along the way at the Texas Ranger Museum. This was a winner for Eli & Komi. Lots of guns! We went to the Austin flea market (wouldn't recommend it to anyone!) soon after we checked into the hotel. Dinner at Golden Corral was next(cheap, and not bad). The pool wasn't open (darn it) so we spent the evening watching cable. Yeeha. The next day we visited the Texas History museum downtown and drove past the capitol building (kids weren't interested in going inside since we spent 2 hours in the history museum). However, Inner Space Caverns (just outside of Austin in Georgetown) were the most interesting of all the places we visited. It was so beautifully weird, like being on a different planet. Everywhere you looked there were fascinating and unique formations. It's underground and stretches for miles, with lots of it not even explored as of yet. They have found dino bones down there, also. Lots of bats live in the caves, too. They weren't scary, just tiny and cute. They would fly really close to you, but swerve just as you thought it might hit you. Never thought I would hear myself say bats were cute, but they really were. Komi and I took pics mostly of the caves, since they were the most visually interesting. Enjoy.

I Need To Borrow Someone's Green Thumb!

Mom, this is for you. I wasn't going to post it, since it's quite embarrassing. Maybe, however, someone will take pitty on me and lend me some suggestions on how to do this next year. These pathetic looking plants are the two cherry tomatoe plants you saw in my backyard. They produced a lot of tomatoes, but they over grew their stakes. Oops. Being gone for 6 weeks during the summer didn't help either. Very sad, very sad.

Doesn't this salvia look good? This is the one we bought at Costco, mom. The rest of the plants around the yard looked great. I just need practice with the produce. These pics were taken in November.

Fall - still in December

It's strange for me to have leaves still falling in December. In Oregon, the leaves are long gone by then. Anyway, just wanted to show you we do have a little color during the fall here in Texas.

These were taken the second week of November.

Em's new found FREEDOM

Em had to wear these funky bands that zigzagged in her mouth the week before her braces were taken off. She could hardly speak. Weird looking, ay.

Check out this beautiful mouth. November 18th was a big day for her - and me!
That was a long 2 years, but well worth it! Emma, you're so gorgeous - even more than you were with braces on!

Baby Eva?

My baby - really isn't my baby anymore. Man, I love this little girl!

Nothing sweeter than watching them sleep.

These were taken the end of October.

Eli's 7th Costume/Birthday Halloween party

Eli wanted a Costume/Birthday Halloween party for his 7th birthday , so I obliged. I love it when I hear the kids say 'this was the best party'. Makes it all worth it!

Eli's favorite sport - Football (for the moment, anyway)

Eli played flag football again this past fall. His favorite thing about football is defense and grabbing flags. (It helps when he gets paid for those flags!)

This is the main reason Eli keeps playing sports, treats and trophies!
He said he wants to do soccer next. One more trophy to add to the others. Here we go again.

October fun

Here are a few highlights of our October fun.

Playdough - messy, but lovin' it!

Playdough isn't just for the wee ones. These kids love to play with my preschool kits,

especially the playdough - even EZ!

One of Em's creations.
They were having a judging contest.

Eli's proud of his masterpieces.

He said this guy was being attacked by spears, which almost hit him, and he was throwing some back. To have that kind of imagination is what I strive for. :)September 26th

Our New Psychotic Pet

Yes, I finally did it. I swore I would never ever do it. I thought I was strong enough in my convictions to resist - BUT - my kids broke me down. I said yes to a pet. Now I know Fin, our fish, who died last summer was a pet. I didn't consider him to be much work, though. I have now, however, moved into the world of scooping poop and changing a cage. I needed a pet again for this year's preschool, you see. At the pet shop, the furry things got the better of me after my kids did a whole lot of begging. So here is Bugsy, our gerbil - BUT - he isn't a normal gerbil, oh no. He managed in less than one month's time to chew his fun swirly slide to bits. There was nothing left of the slide but bright green shreds of plastic all over the cage. I knew they said he would chew things, but a thick plastic slide? What the hay? We put in other things that have been suggested and he's pulverized those, too. I honestly thought I would go upstairs and find him belly up sooner rather than later, but no such luck. I'm worried he'll find a way to chew through the metal bars and get out into the house, chewing his way out the front door. Crazy gerbil! He won't let anyone touch him to boot. They thought they were getting a cuddly little toy. I think he's bitten everyone of us. I don't the kids will be too sad when he kicks the bucket. Actually, I think they're secretly wishing he would kick it so they can talk me into something cuddlier - like a mouse! UGHHHH!

We even bought him a fancy spaceship looking home to hang out in, but he still bites us. Ungrateful little *-#@**!
The slide he's on doesn't exist anymore.
The kids were so excited about Bugsy they slept upstairs next to him the first night.
September 25th

Sunset in Texas

We went out one evening to take photos for the kids reflections contest at school.

Em took this one of the pond by our house.

Eli took this one of the ducks.
Em took this one of the kids. Not bad.
September 23rd

The Amazing Race

So these two decided to run a 5k and 1 mile fun run in September. Actually, Eli didn't decide to run until the night before the race when he heard us talking about it.

Here they are just after they got their numbers.

The other 3 skalawags hangin' out.
Eli stretching. hee hee
On your marks . . .

Glad to be finishing. He had such a determined look on his face.

Komi's turn for the 5k.

Finished!

The kids kept themselves amused while waiting for the awards and freebies.

Oops, that sword didn't last long.
Eli receiving his bronze medal for placing 3rd in boys and 4th overall in the 1 mile run.
Our kids up a tree again, of course. Must be because they grew up in Oregon.

Love those trees!
Showing off their goods. Komi took 2nd in his age group and 10th overall in the 5k. Not bad for their first ever race!