Thanksgiving Feast at Preschool

Yesterday morning Eli's class had their Thanksgiving Feast, it consisted of nuts, bananas, grapes, apples, oranges, raisins and marshmallows. A pretty good little fruit feast if I say so. Anyway, the kids were all so adorable and they really enjoyed some of the parents coming up to watch them. They all sat down at their seats and said their Thanksgiving prayer and loved eating their snack. It was so cute watching them pour their own drinks and just have fun, it is a side of preschool you don't always get to see when you drop them off and pick them up. I am going to laminate his little place mat so that it doesn't get destroyed, at least not on my watch. They have also been preparing for a Christmas pageant, I will definitely have to break out the camcorder for that.

Thought I would toss in a picture of Doug & Nic from yesterday.

Mr. Eli pouring his own drink at the feast.

The look of starvation, their snacks are being delivered.

Preparing to sit down and enjoy.

Guess I better get back to preparing my Thanksgiving feast for us tomorrow, a couple things down and a few to go.

Blogging Sweetness

I would love to thank Melinda over at Bloggin' It From the 'Burbs for this great blog award. I am glad someone out there enjoys reading my crazy thoughts and happenings in my family's lives. So, I would like to thank you so very much for the honor I truly appreciate it.

According to her blog, "This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So the eight people I nominate are:

1. It's not Megan it's Megan

2. The heart of Life in Oklahoma

3. Moms are for Everyone

4. The Byrd House

5. From Chaos To Grace

6. 6 Happy Hearts

7. Oklahoma Mom 4 Him

8. Our Peculiar Life

I would like to Thank you again and I truly appreciate it!

Tasty Tuesday

It's that time of year with all the delicious food everyone will be eating for the next few weeks I figured I would start sharing a few of my family's favorites. I hope everyone enjoys and tries these recipes, yes they are delicious but some, if you are not very careful in the portion category will expand those waistlines. So proceed with caution.... This time of year this dish is our favorite and we only have it twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas not quite sure why we do not have it more but it is great regardless.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 1hr, 40 min. Stand: 20 min.

4 1/2 lbs. sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract (I use pure vanilla)

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cup cornflakes cereal, crushed

1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional, if you like)

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. butter, melted

1 1/2 cups miniature marshmellows

Bake sweet potatoes at 400 for about 1 hour or until tender. Let cool to touch; peel and mash potatoes.

Beat sweet potatoes, sugar and the next five ingredients (milk, butter, eggs, vanilla & salt) at medium spped with an electric mixer until smooth. Spoon into a greased (with butter) 11"x7" baking dish. Combine cornflakes cereal and next three ingredients (pecans, brown sugar & butter) in a small bowl. Sprinkle diagonally over casserole in rows 2 inches apart.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle alternate rows with marshmellows and bake 10 more minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy.

Great Pediatrician Switch

Well, it is official after Nic ran a 102 temp late Saturday afternoon and evening and talking to the doctor, we now have a new pediatrician. I have nothing against the doctor I just have not be very pleased with the way he handles situations and sometimes it appears that he is just too busy to be concerned. So, this morning I have been on the computer doing some research and talking to my insurance company, we go next week to see their new pediatrician. This has been bothering me for some time and I finally had it after this weekend. I watched channel 6 this morning and called and talked to their pediatrician on call and asked some questions and he said if I was concerned to definitely get a second opinion. With that Doug and I decided the time was now and for the best for both boys, we need someone who will spend more than a couple of minutes with them and then do nothing about it. Everyone always says to follow your instinct, I have been trying to ignore it, but the time comes to just listen and do what is best for everyone.

Family Portraits

We recently had our family pictures taken, the day before Halloween, a very warm and windy day. Our photographer Liz was absolutely amazing, she put us in a few poses otherwise she just let the boys explore and have fun. We can't wait to get our pictures back and send out our Christmas cards. These are just a few samples of what she took. Thank you so much Liz we had such a great time and we love all of the pictures.

Flu Shots

This morning the boys and I went and go our flu shots, very lovely I must say. Their pediatrician doesn't give them and tells everyone to either go to the Health Department or somewhere else to get them. Last year we went to a pharmacy that gave them to children, $30 each, but she requires consent from their doctor to give them, which was a hassle them and this year he completely refused because he didn't want to be held liable. Let me tell you I am about feed up with this pediatrician, he is starting to get on my last nerve and that takes a lot to do. So, we missed the one yesterday, they only have them every two weeks, actually I just didn't want to get out yesterday morning. But, I knew there was one this morning in another town about 15 minutes away so we decided to go there instead. I get there and the nurse gives me the paperwork to fill I and I notice she gave me three, so I start to take them all back up to her. She says, "Aren't you going to get one?" I think about it not really wanting to because I have never gotten one and reply, "I my as well for them." We head back to the shot room as Eli called it and take a seat. She decided to do Eli first, we were going to do the Flu-Mist but he would not hold his breath long enough during the practice breathing, she was afraid he would get the full dose he needed needless to say the poor guy got a shot instead. After he gets his it's Nic's turn, while I am holding him Eli starts to get real pale and the nurse wrapped a wet paper towel around his neck. I get my shot real quick and hold him and after about five minutes he starts to get his color back, he got a little anxious with the shot and now he is all better. Let me tell you what, my arm is sure hurting right now but at least now we are vaccinated and don't have to worry about that anymore.

Operation Thanksgiving Pictures

Christmas Candy Recipes

I received this in an email from my mother-in-law a while back and thought I would share with everyone, many of them sound delicious. Hope the links work!!

"Christmas Candy Recipes"

CANDY
This is remarkable If you have no particular interest, please pass it on to the bakers in your life. Just click on the name of the CANDY and bam, the recipe appears!
2 Minute Microwave Fudge
5 Minute Fudge
7 Layer Bars
Aaron's Buttery Cashew Brittle
Almond Bark
Amanda's Peppermint Creams
Ann's Cream Nut Candy
Bavarian Inn Peanut Bars
Beth's Delicious Fudge
Brownie Fudge Dessert
Buckeyes
Buckeyes
Butter Toffee
Candied Yams
Candy Bar Brownies
Candy Cane Brittle
Candy Cane Fudge
Caramel Krispie Treats
Caramels
Carmel Corn
Carol's Christmas Treats
Chocolate Almond Bars
Chocolate Balls
Chocolate Billionaires
Chocolate Chow Mein Candy
Chocolate Covered Cherries
Chocolate Covered Nuts
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Nut Caramels
Chocolate Popcorn
Chocolate Silk Bon Bons
Chocolate Truffels
Christmas Candied Walnuts
Christmas Crackle Candy
Christmas Mice
Chunky Mallow Candy
Cinnamon Hard Candy
Cinnamon Popcorn
Cranberry Nut Fudge
Cream Cheese Candy
Creamy Chocolate Truffles
Creamy Microwave Pralines (Texas Stye)
Crispy peanutbutter balls
Dark Chocolate Fudge
Deborahe's Holiday Chocolates
Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies
Dish of Dirt
Divinty
Dorothy's Peanut Butter/Butterscotch Noodle Cookie
Dreamcicle Fudge
Easy Candy
Easy Divinity
Easy Divinity Easy Divinity Candy
Easy Fudge
Easy Granola Candy
Easy Microwave Carmel
Easy Microwave Fudge
Easy Pecan Logs
English Toffee
English Toffee
English Toffee Bars
Fabulous Fudge
Fake Brittle
Fantasy Fudge
Festive Chocolate Truffles
Five Minute Fudge
Fool-Proof Fudge
Frosted Pecans
Fudge
Brownies
Fudge for One
Fudge Puddles
Georgia Nuggets
Grandma Donna's Nummies
Grandma F's Delicious Fudge
Grandmother' s Holiday Fudge
Hard Candy
Hard Tack Candy
Hazelnut Fantasy Fudge
Ho-Ho Hash
Holly Confection
Honey Comb
J & D's Peanut Butter Balls
Jeanne's Tiger Butter
Jen's Chocolate Meringues
J's Cream Fudge
Kim's Famous Cashew Brittle
Magic Marshmallow Fudge
Mama's Fudge
Maple Rum Balls
Margie's Best Candy
Martha Washington Candy
Martha Washington Mounds
Marzipan
Melting Moments
Melting Moments
Memaw's Reese's
Meme's Best Ever Peanut Butter Fudge
Meringues
Micky's Mints
Microwave Peanutbutter fudge
Microwave Pralines
Milk Fudge
Milky Way Bars
Million Dollar Fudge
Mimi's Famous Fudge
Mocha Truffles
Mom's Mints
Mr. Monroe's Famous Fudge
Mrs. Eisenhower's Fudge
Never Fail Fudge
Never Fail Fudge
No Bake Rum Balls
No Cook Peanut Butter Fudge
No Fail Fudge
Novia Scotia Treats
Nut Mallow Goodies
Nutty North Pole Fudge
Orange Balls
Orange Glazed Pecans
Out Of This World Fudge
Oven Carmel Corn
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle (Microwave)
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Bars-An Elve's Favorite Treat
Peanut Butter Candy
Peanut Butter Candy
Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Fruit Squares
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Snowballs
Peanut Clusters (mircrowavable)
Peanut Krispies
Peanut Patties

Operation Thanksgiving

On Sunday at church it was announced that we would be doing Operation Thanksgiving. What is that, well the church is providing the turkeys and is asking the congregation to supply the additional items for a traditional Thanksgiving meal (mashed potatoes, stuffing, broth, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin & rolls). We are doing this to provide meals for families in our community that may not be able to get quite everything they need for their Thanksgiving dinenr. Everyone was asked to take a grocery bag or two and fill them with the items by today and bring back to the church. So my husband being the generous person he is went up there and came back with a handful of sacks, (how many you ask?), fifteen to be exact. So I am thinking to myself as was Doug, this is a great project for our family, not only will be helping these families we are teaching our boys the joy you feel when you help those in need. I had my list in hand and on Monday afternoon the boys and I loaded up and went to Wal-mart to get everything we needed. Eli enjoyed counting everything out and putting them into the basket. The thing that bothered me was people kept staring at us like we were crazy and I am thinking to myself well how hard is it to by a few extra things (ranging $7-$9 a bag, without a turkey) to help a family that may not be able to have a Thanksgiving meal. Sometimes people really amaze you, one old lady asked what I was doing and she said that is so generous of you and your boys are learning a valuable lesson. By the time we got to the checkout line our basket was nearly overflowing, luckily I didn't have to use very many of those plastic bags (hate those, I use the Eco bags), I mainly grabbed the boxes that held the canned items which made them easier to transport. For the boys being such wonderful helpers we stopped off at McDonald's on the way out. After Eli got home from school yesterday morning we started our process of loading all of the bags with each item. The boys really enjoyed doing this (I will upload a slide show as soon as photo bucket starts working), after we were done we headed up to the church to take everything into the church kitchen. I believe we were told with all the bags gone after the service on Sunday our church was going to be able to help out 130 families in the community. This is wonderful and we love that the boys are learning at such an early age you need to help other people, especially when we tell them over and over to love thy neighbor.

Our little Houdini

I get a call yesterday morning from Doug, (I am almost home from taking Eli to school), he proceeds to tell me that he heard a noise and thought someone had gotten into the house. He gets up and walks to the bedroom door and there is Nicolas standing at the door. The little monkey was tired of waiting on Daddy to get him out of bed so he decided to crawl out of his crib on his own. I on the other hand thought it was pretty hilarious and said when you heard him you should of went and got him out because when that boy is ready to eat, you feed him. This is the first time he has done this and I know it won't be the last. Matter of fact this morning, Eli got up and decided to lay down on our bed while I took a shower and just as I am about to get out here comes Eli with Nic walking into the bathroom. Eli tells me Nic scared him when he came walking in. I knew this day would come but I am still not ready to put him in a toddler bed, other wise I will have to put a gate up in his bedroom doorway to keep him from wandering around at night. I really don't think he will get out in the middle of the night, this has only occurred in the morning (knock on wood), even after his nap I go get him out of bed. So there is our new surprise, our little man is growing up way too fast for us.