The Holidazzle

We have really loved living in a big city, and it is especially fun during the holidays. Over Thanksgiving break, we rode the bus downtown to watch the Holidazzle Parade - a storybook parade of lights. Will thought the bus was great, and he wasn't so sure about the parade. It was a good night to go though because it wasn't too cold, we were bundled, but it was still bearable. I'm not sure Will really "gets" this whole Christmas thing, but I'm sure he'll be excited to open presents this year. We've been trying to teach him about the nativity, baby Jesus, etc. However, the only thing he's really caught onto is the Donkey in the stable, and he thinks it is pretty hysterical when he "HEE HAW" at him. Maybe we need to rethink our teaching methods?

We are really looking forward to our vacation to Utah, and spending time with family and friends during the Holidays. We are VERY excited to see snowy mountains, and hopefully go skiing. Just a couple weeks away.....

10 LBS. of potatoes?... no problem

I'm SO excited... naturally, over food! I was assigned to bring the potatoes to dinner tomorrow, so I found a great recipe from my friend and I used my favorite kitchen tool ever! My bosch... it's a wonder, it whipped my potatoes and they look like frosting. I was even licking the beaters, just like frosting going "mmmmm good!"

Don't they look heavenly? I think so, and more amazing, the bosch did all 10 POUNDS at once! I should write bosch a thank you note, I love them.

Pumpkin cookies

With Thanksgiving around the corner... and Christmas shopping in sight, here's something to make the holidays a little sweeter:

Egg Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

INGREDIENTS
2 cups white sugar
1 cup shortening
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Cream the sugar, shortening, pumpkin and vanilla together. Mix until light and well combined.
3. Mix the flour, baking soda and ground cinnamon. Stir the flour mixture into the creamed mixture. Mix until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Drop by teaspoons onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12 to 15 minutes or until set. Let cookies cool on a rack.

THREE THINGS TO LOVE

Isn't it funny what your kids begin to love? We read a dinosaur book a LONG time ago, just once, but it started something with Will. He loves wearing his dinosaur jammies and reading his dinosaur book. He also loves having mom or dad draw a dinosaur and then he colors it. He can even say "brachiosaurus" - what a wonder child! If you didn't know what he was saying, you might wonder what the heck he's talking about when he walks around saying "Nasanay (dinosaur... of course), suchus (sarcosuchus - a huge crocodile that lived during the time of the dinosaurs... found in one of our many dinosaurs trips to the library), or sceeery nasanay.... " He's really loving the books "How do dinosaurs eat their food, What if a Dinosaur gets sick, How do Dinosaurs play with their friends... etc." If you haven't read them to your kids, you should, their great.

Other than dinosaurs, Will's most favorite things right now are: NEMO NEMO NEMO.... we watch Nemo daily, and most of our conversations revolve around who says or does what on Nemo. This kid is obsessed with NEMO - he's getting a fish for Christmas, I hope it goes over well!

He's also very into his Curious George books. When we ask him what George says he says "hooo hoo hahhaaa" just like the little monkey!

We love our little Will, he is growing up too fast!

I survived.... barely

Well, I now finally feel like I have the energy to sit in a chair and type... how pathetic! I had my gall-bladder surgery last Friday. Things went well, but I felt horribly sick until yesterday. YUCK. The pain wasn't even bad, it was the feeling yucky that kept me from recovering. It was quite a bit more stressful than I had anticipated.

Thankfully, we have a wonderful mother in-law who has been here helping us 24/7 all week. We were SO blessed to have her here, we seriously could not have survived without her help. Plus, Will has LOVED having lots of time with Grandma.

Thanks to everyone for your phone calls, e-mails, and support, sorry I've been really out of it the past week! I hope to be back to my normal self soon.

JANE EYRE

If you havn't read the book, or seen the movie... I highly recommend it. It is a classic, and one that is so inspiring and captivating. The newest movie is the best - it is a Masterpiece Theater version and it came out in Jan. of 2007 I believe, so check it out from your library, it is amust see and I promise you'll love all 4 hours of it... well, I did, but I like that kind of stuff.

Last night, me, my sister in-law Lorinda, and two friends (Tina & Monica) went and saw Jane Eyre - the play - at Guthrie Theater here in Minneapolis. It was great, better than I expected actually, maybe because I had such high hopes. It was great to spend a night out, relax for 2 and 1/2 hours, and enjoy such a great love story.... I know, cheesy, but Jane Eyre is by far one of the greatest heroines in history!

Anjelah Johnson: Nail Salon

I am sure I'm not the only one whose had a great experience such as this. I couldn't help laughing, it was too true.