I Could Go On and On

It's funny how memories can just make my heart soar. I bought a $3.99 jug o' wine today. Rose table wine. It's the kind we used to drink at my grandparents on Thanksgiving. It was my first taste of wine and I remember feeling very grown up, pouring myself a glass (or styrofoam cup, more likely) when I was finally of age (or close). So I'm sipping a glass tonight, drinking its sweet, cheap goodness. Remembering putting puzzles together with my cousin and aunt. Playing my grandmother's organ. Eating all of the delicious food, made with love.

Holidays bring such joy to our home. I feel so, so blessed that it is so. I think of people who are lonely, cold, hungry. Instead of mourning that or feeling guilty, I choose to feel blessed and be thankful. I choose to do the little things that I can now to help those in need, and have a feeling that down the road, in my future...there may be big things. I'm not sure what yet, but I know it will come to me when the timing is right.

I'm grateful for all of the good things. I'm also grateful for the challenges. My life is balanced and blessed. I wouldn't want an ounce more.

Happy Thanksgiving.

At Lightning Speed

He sheds his baby self and never looks back.
He's so unapologetic about it all.
Thinking it's okay to just keep on growing up.

My baby boy.

Walking before he's one.
Talking soon after.
No more bottle, no problem.
Binky gone at two. No biggie.
Crib - no remorse. In a big boy bed at the end of summer.

Two weeks ago, diapers, buh-bye.



"I a BIG boy, not a baby!"
Sigh.


He's right, you know.
It's enough to make a mama's head spin.

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Pie Time

Today we head to my in-laws' for an early Thanksgiving celebration.

Aside from one finger tip burn, and a nearly burnt crust (don't answer the phone while making baked pie crust!), the pie making has been pretty good today. I make pies every Thanksgiving and have been making pumpkin pie for several years when I found a great recipe in Parade magazine. You can find the recipe here, though I use the one I snipped out of Parade and taped into my Better Crocker cookbook. I get nostalgic about the goofiest things.

Pie crust is surprisingly easy to make, albeit a little time consuming. I learned how in my high school foods class and have been doing it a few times a year ever since. The recipe I use is in my Betty Crocker cookbook. Here is the secret to pie crust success: roll it out between two pieces of wax paper (use some flour too). When it's all rolled out, remove one piece of wax paper and fit it into the pie plate. Then you peel the other piece of wax paper off and you've got a perfect crust. It works every time!

Today I am also making a very fun kid-friendly pie. When I saw mini graham cracker crusts at the store, I couldn't resist. Mini chocolate pies with whipped cream for the kids, what could be better?! For older kids, they could easily make this one on their own. I made the instant chocolate pudding from the pie filling directions on the box, poured it into the mini crusts, and topped with cool whip and sprinkles.

Yummmmmmmm...

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S.A.

Slobs Anonymous.
Hi, my name is Melanie.
I am a slob.

Today is one of those days. You know the ones. I'm wiping splatters off walls, digging out of a mountain of laundry, washing out untensil holders and silverware trays. Picking up the random bits that cover my floors. The messes my children manage really are wonders of nature.

I'm not good at picking up as I go along. It does not bother me to sit down after a long day and watch a TV show while the toys are piled around me.

So we're having one of those days. A cleaning-in-my-pajamas day. It feels really good to be getting things put back together.

I just wish I were more of a keep-it-clean kind of mom. Instead of dig-out-after-a-blurry, tired week kind of mom.

C'est la vie.

So while I clean...
Our little guy washes utensils while the untensil holder gets clean in the dishwasher (something you should really think about doing more than once every two years, I can say that from personal experience).










Our B is happy to practice her exciting new mouse skills on an internet game she got to play at school (Sesame Street's website is loaded with games perfect for the 5-year olds set. If your 5-year old is like mine and has had very little mouse time).



















All in all, a perfect Saturday at home. Warm inside, protected from the current cold snap in our area. A day to catch up.
Maybe later, a nap.


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Snickerdoodles

There is something about this cookie that is SO good, that it is hard to explain. Try it for yourself.

Beck is a heck of a cook, but these cookies take the cake.
Or something like that.

Really, I've made 'em twice and they are hella good. Whatever that means.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It Really Did Matter!

It actually happened!

Way to go Omaha!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Birthday MKJ!

My mom.

The woman to whom I owe my faith, values, education, and sense of self.

A role model for aging gracefully.

Someone who takes each age, each decade, with attitude and excitement.

November 7th, 1948, a beautiful life began.

Happy Birthday!

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Can't Contain It

I'm not sure why, well - maybe I KNOW why, but this article made me cry a little. It's just so BIG. So big.

And I'm so freakin' excited!

Maybe it's because since I started voting, I've been on the wrong side of the fence (in my state anyways, and I obviously don't think it's the wrong side...I digress). It's a fence I so rarely step off of. But in politics, I'm happily blue.

I've voted for runner up Dems so many times. For thirteen years now.

This is a biggie. And even if my state may not give their electoral votes to the guy. My vote went there. Mine was for Barack.

I can't wait for the ride!

Halloween's Passed...Halloween's Past

Halloween 2006

Halloween 2007

Halloween 2008

As the years pass us by, we remember where we've been and eagerly await what's ahead.
Today, life feels beautiful.