Fun Day

We had an awesome day today. We started out going to see Tangled. How fun!

Then we went and did some music lessons followed by family pictures and ice-cream. (May I just say that I have the coolest friend in the whole world. I called her up last night and asked her to come do some pics for us today. She was not only willing but happy to do so. She is wonderful!) These were two of my favorite pics. No, we're not putting them on our Christmas cards, but I am posting them here. I hope they make everyone happy!

Thanksgiving to my Mom and Dad

It's Thanksgiving Eve...well, no not any more... it's after midnight.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Today...er... yesterday and today I did two things. One thanks to my Dad, the other thanks to my Mom.
Daddy, guess what I did all by myself. Yes it's the back-splash for my new kitchen. Even though you taught me how to do tile, I have never done it alone. You have always been there in the past to walk me through the hard cuts and measuring and such. I missed you terribly and thought of you throughout the whole process. I still need to grout, but the tile is all in and I feel like it came out beautifully. YEA! Thanks for being a great teacher. (Check out my edge on the long wall. It started out with perfect halves on one side and ended with whole tiles on the other. Good planning or just luck? Perhaps it was just a good teacher...) I am especially pleased with my edging. You know me I can't do it all boring and blah. So I made it pretty. The cuts weren't as hard as I thought they would be, and they sure make it fun. I think I need to replace the blade on my tile cutter. Remember how we debated about buying it? It's been worth every cent we paid for it.
Mom, guess what I did. I made pie. Like real pie from scratch. And I couldn't resist making little ones for Dad and the boys, I think I will even let them eat them for breakfast...hey, it's a vegetable! Yes it's aunties crust recipe. (Thank you again for making me that cookbook, I love it and when I want to do some REAL cooking I always pull it out first. I'm also using one of your salad recipes, and of course your stuffing.) I also have an apple pie in the oven right now. It doesn't look as cool as yours always do, but it's from scratch. I can't compare with the master, but I love that you gave me the tools to at least come close.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. I'm thinking of you both in so many ways today!

My Birthday Present

It's almost done! YEA! My whole house is a disaster area, all aside from the kitchen that is. This is what our living room/dining room has looked like the last few days. And there are boxes of dishes and food everywhere. I feel like I can't get anything done simply because the kitchen is in transition. Proof that the kitchen is indeed the heart of the house.I wish I could get better pics, but the space in the kitchen in REALLY tight. Those of you who have been in my kitchen know what I am talking about. It's called a galley kitchen. In other words...tiny! But it sure is beautiful. Here is the microwave and a sample of the cupboards. They have an antique finish I just love. I wish you could see it better in the pics. You'll just have to take my word for it. Here is my stove, some drawers and my beautiful granite counter top. The color is just yummy to me.

My cool faucet. I love these kinds of things, different and just fun! It's on the left side of my "D" shaped sink.

And last for today is my beautiful new light. I hated that old rectangular florescent thing. I love this. It's just pretty.

We're so lucky!

The other day we were all together somewhere and someone commented on all of our boys. When we got in the car Blue Tiger said, "I think our family is the luckiest family in the world."
I asked him why he thought that.
"There are three reasons. Because we have all boys in our family, because we are Christians, and because we get to stand in a different place in the carpool line at school." (This is because often I am being pulled to the side of the carpool lane to have parent/teacher conferences on a regular basis. I didn't realize it was a cool thing for the boys.)
Then last night he told me. "We have so many blessings, we don't have any more room to receive them."
YEA Blue Tiger. I am grateful that I am lucky enough to have you as my son.

The Moon

EZ has been studying the moon in science class. We have been keeping a record of what the moon looks like (at least on the days/nights that we can see it). I always have to look up in his notes or ask the older boys which way is waxing and which is waning. I told them yesterday that I just needed a song or something that would help me to remember. So Star and Blue Tiger came up with one for me.
(It's to the tune of Jingle Bells.)
Waxing's on the right, waning's on the left,
These are phases of the moon you'd better not forget.
Oh moon phases, moon phases,
they are really great.
Oh what fun it is to learn how the sun affects us....
(or something like that.)
The funny part is...it really did help. I can remember now that waxing is on the right and waning is on the left. Too funny.

Colors

A good friend of mine introduced me to this gem of a song this week. It's called 'Colors' and it's by April Smith and the Great Picture Show. I simply love it and had to share!