Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We have so much to be thankful for!

You see! That tree doesn't look bad at all!


My first "real" turkey! I brined it the day before and everyone said it turned out well. I followed Alton's recommendations- I roasted the bird at 400 degrees until it was golden brown, covered it with foil and lowered the heat to 350 and cooked it until it reached 160 degrees. But, as you can tell, I forgot to turn the wings inside so they scorched a little. Oh well- at least it wasn't upside down!


Grandpa Giedd and Dabney really bonded that day. They read books together and watched the parade too.




It was sad to see Grandma and Grandpa go, but we will see them in a few weeks when we visit Bismarck.

A message (a few days late) from Dabney

Here she is!


And I'm very sorry it's sideways- I've been trying and trying to correct it...





**Edited to find the right link!

Guess what I did yesterday...

Can you see what I did? No? Hmmm. Let me try something...


















Ok- How about now?

*~*~*~*~*LOVE*~*~*~*~*

It's a very long story, but I was able to upgrade my mixer yesterday from a 300 watt, 4.5 qt bowl, to a sleek, black, 5qt, 325 watt mixer with a pouring shield, too. Praise the Lord. What good gifts He gives us! I think I'll make some Christmas cookie dough and stash it in the freezer. Also, we have 10 people coming to dinner this Sunday after church so I couldn't think of a more providential time, as well.

Sorry the picture quality is so poor, I should have had the living room light on.

Yes, We've gone to the dark side...

Ok, I know I will hear from you all about this but, if you must purchase a dead tree that will shed needles from November to January and it costs $45 and it takes you 3 hours to put the lights on it and it drips sap and you have to water it everyday... wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to buy a nice 9' tree with the lights (1300!) already on it? We got this one used (once!) off Craigslist.com for $100. Totally a steal! And it's huge- it came in 2 very large boxes! Dabney asks to see it everyday. We may cheat and put it up on Monday- Tim wants it up as much as Dabney!

Our other "Christmas Trees"

Dabney was thrilled when we dressed up the lemon tree and the lime tree for the holidays.

We even made up a little song/ poem about them and she makes me sing it all the time:

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree,
How lovely are your lemons!
Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree,
We love to see you sparkle!

Dinner party with the Harveys

We had a great time with Bob, Jeri, and Lydia Harvey when they came to our house for dinner last Saturday night. The kids really took to them! Dabney was even talking about Mr Bob when she saw them at church the next day. It's funny how kids seem to connect with adults that are already grandparents...

David's Big Boy Haircut!

Doesn't he look older! It seems like he instantly turned into a boy (rather than staying a baby) as soon as I was done snipping! Where did my baby go?

Iris ordered a wreath!

This one's on it's way to Bismarck!

David's first Oreo

As you can see, he loved it so much, that it put him in a stupor. I think he looks like a little hobo with a beard and mustache.

You can credit (or blame) Lucinda for this idea

The "Diet of Worms" cake. Get it?

More Broadmoor pictures

Loved their bathroom, too. Real marble shower and countertop. I don't know if you can see it in this picture but they also paired that beautiful red print with a great red check and the look came off as elegant, yet kind of homey-country. I loved it! I may have to try that when we cover the dining room window. (It's our next project)

Hey Dad, Where's your miter saw when I need it?

Check out the crown moulding! I loved how it framed the bed curtains! If we ever move and get a bigger master bedroom, I would love to put up the same kind of moulding- but that of course would require a miter saw.

Our Trip to the Zoo

My little hatchlings!


This is Tonya the tortoise. "We called her a tortoise, because she tortoise" Dabney got to touch a California Bull Snake too, but Mommy just wasn't quick enough with her camera.



Dabney and the Meerkats. She wanted to hold them all and asked me at every cage. "Peese, Mama?" I think this one wanted to be held.

More Zoo Animals

"HE GOT ME!!!!" This is the infamous turkey bite. Notice Dabney's look of disdain! "Not very nice' she said while walking away.



Mommy's exercise for the day -> Hiking a mountain zoo pushing two little monkeys in a very large stroller.




And we think she is getting taller!

Little Stinker

Little Stinker

The Broadmoor West

Nice place, huh?