[the pilgrims & the indians]

sadly we were unable to attend sam's family's dinner due to illness, but thankfully we recovered in time to actually eat some turkey this year.

my mom's family traditionally gathers together every year for a great big feast!
my parents hosted this grand event at their home this time...
accommodating 40 family members isn't easy, but they did it!
.it was so nice.
thanks mom & dad!

.my cute aunt sue and her famous pies.

.aunt jenn's delectable green beans.

. and here is what i did today.

[all the little things]

i could name off hundreds, maybe even thousands of things i am thankful for, but this year i am especially grateful for all the simple little things that make my life happy, comfortable and special.

.this cute poem says it best.


all the little things
author unknown

oh, it's just the little homely things
the unobtrusive friendly things,
the "won't-you-let-me-help-you" things
that make our pathway light;
the "laugh-with-me-it's-funny" things,
and it's the jolly, joking things,
the "never-mind-the-trouble" things
that make the world seem bright.
for all the countless famous things,
the wondrous record-breaking things,
these "never-can-be-equaled" things
that all the papers cite
are not the little human things,
the "everyday-encountered" things
the "just-because-i-like-you" things
that make us happy quite.
so here's to all the little things,
the "done-and-then-forgotten" things,
those "oh-it's-simply-nothing" things
that make the life worth the fight.

happy thanksgiving friends!

vinyl sign by wallfrenzee

[sunny side up]

i'm smiling today!
the sun is beaming, snow sparkling, and i just sent one child off to school today!
i think we're on the mend, and that makes all of us very happy!

today i am extremely thankful for our health!

smile
author unknown

a smile costs nothing, but gives so much. it enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. it takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. none is so rich or mighty that he gets along without it and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it. a smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business and is the countersign of friendship. it brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and is nature's best antidote for trouble. yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. some people are too tired to give you a smile; give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

happy monday everyone!

[kiddie cocktails]

giving and taking medicine just got fun!



as the flu has made it's way through our home for what seems to be forever now,
i used ikea's mini stemware to make medicine rounds a bit more interesting.
they all loved these "little elixirs" and couldn't wait to shoot 'em down!
with all the sickness going around this holiday season, maybe this will help your kids comply!

.YUMMY.

i just had to post this picture below... in honor of new moon today, this "desirous look" was all too hilarious!



sweet! the chances of her picking up the red one and making this face... perfect!
don't worry, it's not blood.

[the disappearing dish]

while laughing, chatting and carrying on like sisters do, katie and i sat on the phone talking about a dish.
this is not just any dish, this is my disappearing dish!
kate reminded me that she still had my baker i had used a very long time ago when i took her family dinner. as she tried to explain to me which one it was, i clued in and realized it was my white, shallow, oval baking dish with the cracks... my escapee dish! given to us as a wedding gift, i couldn't believe it had been hiding out in her home for as long as it had! we chuckled and she apologized for not returning it to me sooner. that is when i quickly explained how this dish somehow hides from me.

desperate dish!

she somehow always makes it home. i swear she runs away from me! she's invisible, she moves, sneaks around, i don't know what kind of magic clay she was made from, but every time i go to use her, i can't find her! she's GONE! i'm serious!
she eventually turns up... fashionably late of course.

kate and i rambled on and on about what this dish must be thinking. i believe we spent a good half hour giggling about the fact that this ceramic even survived one of her moves (apparently her packers didn't use enough bubble wrap, because many of her pieces perished along the way)!

we both agreed this story was bloggable - and while conversing, we dreamed up what this tired old dish might say:

"stop it, stop using me! i'm simply burned out! you've baked in me, dropped me off and just left me so many times, i am finished! can't you see i am decrepit and cracked! please leave me alone! please let me rest and hide deep in kate's cupboards where it's dark, cool and i never get used! please, i beg of you, leave me alone cruel woman!"

am i the only one, or has anyone else had a dish like this?

well, kate ended up sending her home, and much to her dismay she is now back in my possession. i plan to keep a good eye on her this time. maybe i will find a replacement and give this "down in the dumps" dish a break... we'll see :)