Hussle and Bussle

Tis the season to be busy....on top of the normal busy with three little ones, right? They sure do keep me busy that is for sure....a little peak into our daily happenings since apparently my "Daily Dabble" is sparse these days.

Carter chooses to play with his cars first thing almost every morning. They are lined up, re-lined up, and raced around the house.  A few accompany him to the breakfast take and make their way into his pocket before we leave to run errands. 

These two little ladies keep me on my toes. One loves food and the other loves to feed her food.....what is a mommy to do! Keep the doggie in her bed when the peanut is eating, that is for sure!

Maylee likes to be where ever I am....and apparently the wet laundry being thrown in the dyer was inviting.

He loves his candy....treats...and sugar. Goodness I am glad Halloween has come and gone and all our candy is out of the house...except for the few chocolate goodies I keep in the cupboard for my sanity and I so lovingly share every once in a while.

Yes, they keep me busy, but they are oh so fun and I adore them to pieces and wouldn't trade being home with them every single day for anything! Love my babies!!! ....I love Andrew just as much, but I know he much prefers to be at school than at home with these little monsters all day!

Thanksgiving

We worked on our Thanksgiving sign for weeks before and I never got around to hanging it up until the day of...oh well. It was super cute and packed away to be added to for next year!

We were so happy to have the Greg and Holly Baker family over for dinner along with our dear friends Jodi and Bobby from Bryan's work. Of course I remembered to take pictures after the feasting was over, but let me tell you...the dinner was delicious. Shelley and Rich let us use their smoker while they were out of town so Bryan did an AMAZING job and the turkey was so deliciously moist and delicious. Honey butter adds a little extra something and the recipe I used for sweet potatoes this time around was a winner! The adults enjoyed fabulous conversation mingled with some football watching of course and the kids had a blast playing like crazy. We are so blessed to live close to family and it is so fun to all get together and make memories!

 

I let Bry to the "picking" this time around. We have turkey and gravy in the freezer for a future dinner and I couldn't be more delighted!

Maylee slept through dinner...which was great since I got to eat and she doesn't mind because she hardly eats any of the foot we had to offer!Once she did get up she decided that the counter with glasses full of utentils was the prime spot to play. She is such a dolly...and yes, she gets away with just about anything!

 

Aunt Lulu made this hat for Carter and he loved it so I thought I better get a picture of him in it before it was put to rest. Not the most flattering picture of this little man, but hey - what's a mom to do!

Successful Thanksgivings all around. I love this time a year and hope to cherish every moment I can!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

I had good intentions of making a November thankful chart this year, but alas time got away, but I did try my best to ask my family what they were thankful for. We missed quite a few days, but by the end of the month the boys were reminding me and randomly telling me what they were thankful for. It was so sweet. This little activity has also made them more independent with their prayers. I only have to prompt with a "what are you thankful for" and then they are on a roll and can finish on their own. 

11/1
Dad - Mommy
Andrew - Grammy
Carter - Patty (our doggie)
Mom - Tight hugs

11/2
Carter - Grammy and Poppie

1/3
Andrew - Me
Carter - Flapjack (Julia's dog)
Dad - The kids

1/5
Andrew - Fan (apparently that is what he was looking at in his room when I asked)
Carter - Jasper (Amanda - the babysitter's dog)

11/6
Andrew - Patty

11/7
Carter - A tower (blocks/toys)
Andrew - Toys
Bry - Our country

11/8
Carter - Letters
Andrew - Lava
Dad - Carter
Mom - Daddy's hugs

11/14
Andrew - Stroller
Carter - Care Bears and Word World
Daddy - Jesus Christ
Mommy - Temple
Maylee - Thumb (courtesy of Carter)

11/16
Daddy - Technology
Mommy - Cookies
Andrew - Pirate pillow
Carter - Blanket

11/18
Andrew - Fan
Carter - Cup and Friends

11/19
Carter - Friends
Andrew - Fire

11/20
Carter - Patty, Grammy, Poppie, and his "baby" (glowing seahorse he sleeps with every night)
Andrew - "Me"

11/24
Andrew - Monkey and Bear (stuffed animals in his bed)
Carter - Daddy

Pre-Thanksgiving

We were lucky to do TWO Thanksgiving gatherings this year.  My parents and brother and his cute family came out to AZ from Cali the weekend before and we have lots of family fun. We had 2 1/2 VERY jam packed days of crazy, wonderful family fun. My kids did pretty good, but by Saturday afternoon they were spent. We had a delicious dinner over at Shelley's with the most amazing turkey, courtesy of Rich and his fabulous smoker.  Apparently my picture taking skills were lacking and have been for a while...so here is all I have. I think my three kids keep me busier these days!

I love leftover turkey....but the whole picking the thing apart still grosses me out. That is what mommies are for, right?!

It was a wonderful weekend and so fun to be together! I am SO thankful for family.

Daily Dabble 11/16/11

Productive day so far....helps to get up at 4:30, Drew off at 7:25 and the little ones sleeping until 10:30 (Carter) and 11 (Maylee). I am trying to figure out the rest of the day now! I was scrounging for pants for Ming to wear and came across these little beauties from years ago that we got before we had any kids...I just HAD to have her wear them once. She sure can make anything look cute, right? The flower didn't last too long, but that's okay. And I had to let you see a picture of the tub from yesterday..who knew that was in the water heart - SICK. Love you and miss you!

 

Daily Dabble 11/14/11

Drew wore his brace to school today and did great! Maylee slept until 11. Carter slept until 10. Carter decided he needed to take all this cheese with him outside to put in his bike....I let him take one cheese stick. We are glad to be home. I love you

Punkins

We carved pumpkins minus the tiny one since we figured she wouldn't get much out of it anyway. We teamed up and went for it. Drew designed his face and I had to convince him not to choose circles for all his facial features because I knew it wouldn't compare to the "bottle eyes" that Carter requested daddy to make for their pumpkin. Bry did a pretty darn good job making little eyes that look like bottles for their pumpkin. We had fun...but sadly I forgot to light them and stick them on the porch. Oh well - we had fun doing it!

 

Oh and we are totally carving pumpkins on a plastic table cloth from now on. It was great and the kids loved being able to help draw out their faces on the plastic!

The Best of Halloween

I am not a halloween fan.....but I am warming up to the idea of celebrating it more than I used to. I am NOT into the scary, gross, or spooky things. I do love the cute, fun, and festive crafts, foods, and costumes. We didn't much this year, but my boys sure had fun making black balloon spiders, glue ghosts, and painted foot ghosts.

As for dressing up...Drew decided on Batman, Carter a caterpillar, and Miss Maylee a black cat. Lu let us borrow the batman costume and Drew had been a caterpillar two years ago. I have to thank Shell for the design of the kitty costume and for letting me copy her outfit and for making Maylee's ears. These girls were too cute! Drew got his cast removed on Halloween day and needless to say his little leg was not up for a night of walking. He had it made being strolled from doorstep to doorstep by his wonderful daddy!

 

As for the candy...it is great and all, but I am so done for the requests of a "treat" or "candy" or even "sugar". As of today I am off white sugar again and I am SO glad! That bag of chocolate candy in the cupboard has been the death of my healthy eating lately!

I already have ideas for next year's costumes....kids sure make this holiday better!

Imagination

Carter:

I am going to the store, okay? You stay here.... (proceeds to put on my flip flops)

Make me tiny mom.

Mommy:

Sorry son...you just have to pretend to fit in your tiny cars (smiling realizing what he wants me to do) - mommy can't make you tiny. Love him!

Daily Dabble 11/8/11

Have you missed these?! I sure have! I am not going to try and catch up on here, but I am sure most of the pictures from the past couple weeks will end up on our blog. Today has been lovely. The weather is chilly, but not too bad and the children have been great. I finished work this morning. Carter got up about 9:30 and Maylee not until 10:30ish I think. We had breakfast, played out back, and then went for a walk around the block. Carter was so cute stopping to pick up various seeds, sticks, and rocks to put in the seat of his bike. He was SUPER stoked when he found a flimsy little stick on the ground in the shape of a "C".....C for Carter of course. We had lunch and Ming is now peacefully sleeping - I hope - at least she is quiet. Drew is home and they boys are having rest time watching a show on the couch. Now I am going to attempt to work and count down the hours until you are home. We love you and miss you!