christmas cookies

we had a wonderful, whirlwind of a christmas.  it was great...but i can honestly say that i am glad it is over.  i am ready to start fresh...back to a healthy diet, a clutter free home, and a less hectic schedule.  metaphorically speaking, the christmas cookies were delicious, but they kind of gave me a stomach ache!  hope you enjoyed your christmas and are looking forward to the new year!

give

early gift

santa brought macie a swingset in october...he knew that his helper (blake) might need awhile to assemble it.  santa was right...blake finished assembling it over thanksgiving.  macie loves her swingset...although it has been a little too cold to go outside and play very much.  on a side note, blake woke up with a stomach ache yesterday morning and by the end of the day had to have his appendix out.  we are still in the hospital, but hope to be released later today.  you never know when you wake up in the morning what the day will hold!

happy thanksgiving

i can't believe we are only a week and a half away from thanksgiving!  my favorite flavors during this time of year have to be pumpkin and cranberry (separately...not together...together doesn't sound good at all).  anyways, here are two new recipes i think i will try this thanksgiving... pumpkin oreo cheesecakes and upside down cranberry cake.  what are your faves on turkey day?

best halloween!

we had the best ever halloween last night with buzz, woodie, and the peacock.  it only took macie one house to figure out the concept of trick-or-treating.  then she didn't even want us to walk with her up the doors...and she definitely did not want any help carrying her treat bag!  after she would get a treat she would run down the drive way screaming "chi-chi, chi-chi" (her aunt cherith) wanting to show her the loot.  and after all the excitement she even remembered to tell us when she needed to go tinkle...even peacocks have to go potty!

bumble bee

i got to take some halloween pics of macie's sweet friend olivia.  isn't she the cutest little bumble bee!?!

pumpkins

last night we attempted to carve pumpkins.  it's been about 7 years since i have carved a pumpkins...and frankly, i forgot how much effort it requires!  we cleaned out 3 pumpkins, but quit after we got one and half of the other carved.  blake wanted to carve "macie mae" on a little pumpkin and got through her first name and quit.  i originally picked an intricate ghost scene to carve, but realized that i better just stick to a simple pumpkin face.  p.s. - i know we should not have let macie play with the carving tools, but they were so cheap and dull that i felt they would be harmless!