Black Friday

We woke up with plans to drive into Traverse City with mom and Avery to meet Linda and go shopping- until we saw it snowing sideways. So, we called Linda and asked her just to come and we could shop in Suttons Bay instead. Paul and Michael went to SB to shoot pool and Jamie took Asher into TC so it was just us girls. The first stop we made was the candy store, where I watched a euphemism come to life in my daughter. She could not decide what she wanted, and meanie old me only let her have one piece (little turkey picked a sucker that had another candy tied onto it so she got two). We braved the cold wind off the bay and hopped from store to store. The front porch gave each of us four an angel halo we all wore around all morning. We bought fudge at Murdick's and little pieces of art at the Bayside Gallery. We were only gone an hour, but by the time we finished we had all had enough. We went back home and hung out the rest of the day. Mark and Tammy came by and we all ate lasagna and got to taste some really yummy olive oil and balsamic vinegar on our ciabattas. A little red wine and a lot of laughs later we all sat down by the fire and watched Mark play his guitar. What a talent he has! I could listen all night. The day ended with more dessert and hugs and plans to see one another one last time before everyone left to go back down south. What a great Friday- far from black.

Thanksgiving 2010

We all made it up to Granny and Papaw's yesterday afternoon. Granny and Avery made their famous pumpkin pie with pumpkins that I'd spatchcocked (the word of the day) and pureed. I have to get together all the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie pictures I have of those two- they always turn out so great. Linda, Richard and Mike arrived as mom and I were drinking pomegranate martinis and listening to the Black Eyed Peas (I was dismayed to learn of the lack of Christmas music on mom's iPod- but we had fun dancing around nonetheless). Grandma T was with them, and the first thing she said to me (before hello) was how glad she was not to have had to make the 12 hour each way drive to Missouri to see us this year. Mark and Tammy arrived a couple hours later, everyone loaded with gifts for one another and the kids. Aunt Linda had pictures of Granny's last Thanksgiving, which brought tears to all our eyes. Thanksgiving growing up was all about being at Granny and Grandpa's house and seeing the photos made us all miss them terribly. I was the official potato peeler for this year's feast. An honorable job, as aunt Linda informed me that it was a very long time before Granny let any of them do much of the work when it came to the dinner. Of course, Grandma T chided me for peeling a bit too much of the potato along with the peel, but I'm only going to be so careful when I have to peel five pounds of potatoes. Mom, Linda and I worked to warm things through and finish dinner and had it on the table by 5 or 6. What a delicious feast! I ate way too much and actually felt a little lightheaded afterwards, but of course that didn't stop me from eating a piece of pecan pie.

Over the river and through the woods

I'm so excited! Today I am leaving work early and we are headed to mom and Paul's house for Thanksgiving. Tomorrow the whole family is headed up, so Aunt Linda, Uncle Richard, Mike, Mark, Tammy and grandma will join us there. I have such good memories of my Thanksgivings when I was young I hope our kids get to have that too.

Kids are funny

I'm going to have to start writing more often about the funny things my kids say. What's even more funny is that they're so innocent and honest when they say these things. The other night at dinner I said something that was uncharacteristic (not even sure what that was, now) and Jamie said 'who are you and what did you do with my wife?' After about five minutes Avery leaned over and asked me if I had married daddy. I told her yes, why did she ask. She said, 'then why does daddy wonder where his wife is?' And little Asher! Poor bubs, for some reason, has been waking up scared in his room. So, he comes into our room every night in the middle of the night and sleeps with us. It's not bothered me much til lately (honestly, the straw was yesterday morning when I woke up with his foot in my pajamas) so I told him that he really had to start sleeping in HIS bed. He has a nice new bed in a big room that's perfect for him. And there's only room in mom and dad's bed for two people. He looked from me to Jamie and said 'then why don't one of YOU leave?'

Daddy daycare rocks!

So, we've been in Midland a month and I've been working for a week. I was a little worried about Jamie staying home with the kids. They tend to fight a lot when they're cooped up and spend all day together. And if that gets you in a bad mood, they sense it and act up even worse. But, he seems to be doing well with it. He went out and spent a ton of money on easy to make lunches and workbooks for the kids. He spends a little time every day with them doing 'schoolwork' where they use the workbooks to do activities with letters and numbers. They swim nearly every day in the pool, and have quiet time. I'm proud of him for handling it so well. Hopefully soon he will find a job and we can get the kids back in preschool... they do so well with little friends and loads of structure. But for now Daddy Daycare is rocking!