The Ugly Side of A Toddler

It's such a pain being a rock star and having people always wanting to take my picture. Maybe if I hide behind these glasses, they'll won't recognize me and I can go to preschool like a normal kid and be left alone. Wait, am I wearing these right? Mommy, help me! Help me but don't touch me because I also want to do it by myself. I said help me! No, don't help me! Ugh, why is it so hard for you people to figure this out??

CSI - Plymouth Rock

What happened here? You make the call.

 Meet Myles and Rose Standish.

As the only Thanksgiving decorations in the Cook house, Myles and Rose take their roles seriously. They represent their fellow Pilgrims with great pride. But behind those gentle expressions lie a dark secret...

Good Gracious Rose! What happened to your head? Was it:

A) Myles became violent and whacked her with a turkey drumstick after she asked if he would kindly hold her basket of fruit too;

B) She's allergic to tryptophan and her head exploded;

C) She got tired of listening to Myles talk about "those Native people" and bashed her own head against a wall;

D) Nikki dropped her in the garage while rearranging her holiday decorations.

If you answered D, well, you're wrong. It's B. Poor Rose. She should have stuck with the Tofurkey.

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

We take so much for granted

of life and liberty,

and think tht we deserve it;

that all was done "for me."

Think how they must have struggled,

new pilgrims in this land.

So many died from hardships

yet still they made a stand.

When all the work was finished,

new crops sowed in the ground,

they gathered with their neighbors, 

asked blessings all around.

Oh, God, help us be grateful

for gifts you've sent our way.

For these we want to thank you

on this Thanksgiving day.

- Kris Ediger

Scarry World

I was thrilled to find this 1968 book a few weeks back:

Richard Scarry was a BIG part of my childhood. I didn't have this particular book but I had others and I can recall vividly how much I loved pouring over every page and every illustration. This story book has been a real hit with Nate. Some of the poems and tales are a little old for him so I can see how this book will grow with us for years to come. Currently, Nate has his favorite 4-5 stories that we read over and over. One of them is a lesson in numbers/counting and I have to share one part of it with you to give you a laugh:

The first time I read this and saw the handsome husband sitting on his behind while he was suppose to be doing housework, well, I thought that just sounded like someone else I know....ah-hem. When we get to number 7, the handsome husband is trying on his wife's hats. He's kind of an odd duck, this handsome husband. Not unlike, uh, you-know-who (who has never tried on any of my hats, as far as I know).

A Holiday Favorite: Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are one of my favorite holiday traditions. Period. I love receiving cards and I love sending them out. On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, you'll find me out in the garage, digging through my Christmas decorations until I get to a large tin box. This box holds every photo Christmas card I've received. Yes, every card. It's so much fun to see how people have changed, how babies have grown into big kids, how everyone looks so jolly and happy. I've been enamored with photo Christmas cards since I was a kid myself.

This is the week I'll start thinking about our family Christmas card for 2010. We've tried a few different vendors over the years and have been pretty pleased with all of them. But I consistently go back to Shutterfly because of their large selection of designs. This year's crop doesn't disappoint. (how do I decide on just one?!?) Here are a few of my favorites:

Merry Plaid Christmas Card

I'm a sucker for plaid.

 In His Name Christmas Card

I like the message on this one.

Love Stockings Christmas Card

Hey, we're a 3-stocking family so this would work, right?

Good Blessings Christmas Card

I really love this card. The design is modern and the message is true: Every good gift is from above.

Now for the big news: this year, Shutterfly is giving away 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers. That's a great deal -- 50 cards is a lot! If you're a blogger and you're interested in participating, go here.

Disclosure: This post is part of my participation in the Shutterfly 50 free cards promotion.

Wedding Bells

(source)

Royal wedding on the horizon.

I'm excited.

PS - Kate, love your blue dress!

21st Century Child

Last night after bath time, Lee and Nate played peekaboo with his bath towel and this was their conversation:

Lee: "Where did Nate go?"

Nate: "Gramma's house!"

Lee: "Now where did Nate go?"

Nate: "Ruth's house!"

Lee: "Now where did Nate go?"

Nate: "Target!"

And here's this morning's response after I woke up Nate and told him about our day's activities:

Nate: "Nate excited see Ikea! Yea Ikea! Go Ikea now!" (I heard this over and over for 2 hours. We got to Ikea and within 5 minutes he says "Pay. Go home now." Figures....)

Is he a child of the 21st Century or what?!? Little Man can't identify his colors all that well but he knows what Target, Ikea, Trader Joe's, Von's, and Fresh & Easy are. Umm, am I doing something wrong here???

Miranda

One of my mom's closest friends has a new granddaughter and, since I've been itching to do a little sewing, I decided to finally tackle the Black Apple doll. So let me introduce Miranda:

I love that the photo doesn't reveal any of her flaws. Oops, did I just say that out loud? Scratch that.  For this sewing novice, she wasn't too difficult to make. I figure I learn something with every project  I attempt so that's a good thing. I am a little disappointed in how her face turned out; I'm a lousy artist. Lee recommended leaving her face blank like a true rag doll and I'm now kicking myself for saying "Silly Lee, she HAS to have a face!" 

Anyway, I named her Miranda because I was watching Miranda Lambert on the CMA Awards this week as I finished sewing her up. Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I'd call her Miranda if there's an "L" on her dress. That would be for Louise, her soon-to-be playmate. So Miranda will soon be relocating to Orange County -- we'll miss her around here. But she got me thinking about how I could adjust the doll pattern to make a boy doll for Nate or make cute little Christmas elves. I'm leaning toward the elves...

Brrrrr, it's 60 degrees

Typical Southern Californians -- 

bundled up for the *cold* weather. 

(said with GREAT sarcasm)