Where have you been and Thanksgiving

Let's face it sometimes it's just not worth taking the time to really do my hair and put on my makeup. On the occasions that I do, today for example, Brooklyn woke up from her nap and told me that I had pretty eyelashes. The she looks at me while pondering for a few seconds and then says "Where you been?" I guess I only wear it when I'm going somewhere. She's an observant little thing.

For thanksgiving this year Eric's dad flew out with a couple of his nieces Rachel and Rebekah. We have had a blast. We drove to an indoor water park and got soaking wet, ate 2 thanksgiving dinners/meals in the same day, enjoyed playing the Mario Kart on the Wii and Attack of the Killer Bunnies. Not to mention who can get the most M&M's using a straw. That's a challenge with 7 people smashing their heads together trying to get one small package of M&M's. The funniest part was Sadie got in close enough like she was going to use her straw but just looked back and forth at everyone which cracked us all up. I could hardly get in between Sadie and Eric, next time I'll use a longer straw.

But we have had a blast! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

I need some more Bishops

Tonight for family home evening we had a little lesson on tithing. Eric brought out 10 pennies, 10 dimes, and 10 quarters. I found it quite humorous that as soon as the girls saw what he had they both crowded around him. Sadie seemed especially excited and kept on saying "money" in her excited voice. Brooklyn just wanted to hold them in her own two hands. I'm amazed at how quickly children learn that something is important and something desirable to have. Eric proceeded to help Brooklyn count the pennies, Sadie held her dimes and "counted" them with me. I had a tithing envelope that I brought out as Eric explained that we put one penny of every 10 in the envelope to give to Heavenly Father through our Bishop. Brooklyn put all her money in the envelope as did Sadie. They counted the money and put it in and out of the envelope several times. After Brooklyn and Sadie had put all the money in the envelope, Brooklyn looked at Eric and said "I need some more Bishops," meaning more money to put in the tithing envelope. We both just laughed. Oh the joys of children.

Sadie is also teething again/still and I think they've been hurting her today. She's been weepy and keeps chewing on her fingers. A couple hours after we'd put her to bed she woke up crying. I brought her out and cuddled with her in my lap while Eric and I finished enjoying a show on the Discover channel (it was on extreme bodies with obesity and conjoined twins, we like the medical field and find it interesting, surprise anyone?). Anyway Sadie was sitting on my lap and a commercial for How It's Made was on and this episode was going to show how they make nuts. I said to Eric in a whisper that I thought you just planted them, waited for them to grow and then harvest them and said we'd better stay up to see how exactly they do make nuts. We commented back and forth in a whisper for a minute kind of giggling to ourselves, when Sadie who has been sleeping in my lap and hasn't shown any sign of consciousness at all whispers, "Shhhh! Quiet!" Eric and I were stifling our laughter and trying not to be too noisy since it was obviously a time to be quiet. I guess she was just pretending to be sleeping.

I love my girls!

Mean Grandma

My Mom came out to visit for a few days this week. Wednesday afternoon we went for a walk on the trail behind the house and decided to "bush whack" it home the 120 yards rather than the 1 mile walk back home around the neighborhood. Brooklyn and Sadie both love off roading it and wandering through the bushes. Brooklyn walked and Sadie rode in the stroller pushed by Grandma's incredible strength smashing flat the bushes in its path. We made it to the grassy mowed area just behind our fence and helped Sadie out of the stroller. As we opened the back gate into the yard Tiger Lily ran in and knocked Sadie over. Brooklyn saw Sadie fall or heard her crying, I can't remember which but turned to Grandma and said something to the effect of "Be nice! Don't knock Sadie down or you'll have to go to time out." When told that it wasn't Grandma and that it was Tiger Lily, she still didn't back down with her original accusation. She just continued telling Grandma to be nice with a mischevious smile on her face.
On occassion I get told that I am in "time-out," when I ask Brooklyn why I'm being sent there she'll tell me that I pushed Sadie down. Are any of you wondering what Brooklyn does on occasion and gets sent to time-out for doing? Make sure you watch your step around Brooklyn and don't pick on Sadie or you'll get in trouble too, even if it wasn't your fault.

Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily does not look like a puppy anymore, but spend 5 minutes with her and you'll quickly see that she is just a big baby. She'll try to sit in your lap and burrow as close to you as she can, mind you she's a good 60 pounds now. She really is great with Brooklyn and Sadie.

A common game around here could be classified as "crack the whip." Tiger will be holding her rope in her mouth waving her tail as a flag and will look over her shoulder pleading with her puppy eyes to get Sadie to play with her. As Sadie approaches, Tiger lowers her tail so Sadie will grab it and then Tiger will start walking/running around the couch pulling Sadie along behind her. When Sadie falls down, Tiger will stop and reposition herself in the middle of the room with her tail up again and wait for Sadie. Then off they go again. It's fun to watch as all are having a great time.

Uncle John's & My Major Award

The girls and I went with Megan & Brielle Finlay, and Wes Fletcher to Uncle John's Cider Mill a few weeks ago. A quick note about Megan. Brooklyn, Sadie, & I all adore her. The girls would much rather have Megan hold them up to see what's going on than me. Brooklyn and Sadie were fighting for a spot on Megan's lap. It happens all the time when we do things together. I am grateful for Megan because she is so willing to play and help take care of my kids when they want to see. Thanks Megan!!

Back to Uncle John's...

They have the most delicious apple cider on earth. I love it. There is nothing like it. The thing I enjoy most about Uncle John's is that you get to see them make the cider right before your eyes. You get to ride in a tractor drawn wagon around the apple orchard, go in the barn where the cider press is, watch the apples be dumped into the washing bin, up the ramp and into the press. In goes the apples, out goes the excess pulp and seeds, you see the cider flowing freely down into the storage container and then the cider is placed into gallon or half gallon jugs. You can buy it at the counter along with some yummy homemade donuts. Brooklyn and Sadie were both fascinated by the moving machinery. Just the aroma of the delicious apples and freshly baked donuts wafting through the door as you enter the barn is enough to tempt the senses. Oh it's so good! I bought a gallon of cider from the grocery store today and it just doesn't compare. I don't think I'll be able to finish it, I've been spoiled with the real pure stuff. It isn't even pasteurized, that's how pure it is (so the young and old don't drink too much!) : )

Another great thing about Uncle John's is it's the only place that I can actually win something. Last year I entered a contest online through our local news station and won a free pumpkin! I had to go and collect it because I NEVER win anything that comes down to chance. Miraculously it happened again this year! Two years in a row I've won a major award. Now I just need to go and claim this years pumpkin, get some more cider and a few donuts and call it good. Next time anyone wants to try some REAL cider come out next September/October and you can enjoy it with me! Unless that is you don't want to know what you are missing.