Preparations

We're elbow-deep in preparations for our Thanksgiving feast and celebration over at Aunt L & Uncle J's. There's rumor of a backyard football game after dinner that I'm really looking forward to. That and my run this morning should help burn off some of the extra calories.

Here's an overview of our calorie contributions for the day: southern smashed potatoes, homemade artisan bread {from this book}, honey butter made with Big Bear's pure honey from our family in GA, and a little take-home treat for all of our guests; cranberry-apple jam {recipe courtesy of my favorite canning blog, Food In Jars}.

A little eco-note on the cran-apple jam jars; cloth is recovered from a Goodwill shirt find and the tags are cut from leftover letterpress scraps from the invitations for my brother's wedding last month. Our little way to thank mother earth today.

Also on my "I'm thankful for" list this year:

Cars that work in crashes

Jobs that survive the economy

Families that love & laugh together

Friends through sun, rain and sometimes pain

Baby butts and sloppy kid kisses {can't get enough}

Tickle fights

After-dinner dance fever to Cotton-eyed Joe & Can't Get Next to You

Having everything we need

Turkey Day!

We're looking forward to Turkey Day over at the Smith household. I was thinking about coming up with a few fun decorating ideas to add to the festivities when, lo and behold, Martha popped into my in-box in a serendipitous moment of crafty-esp. Get the tutorial here.

Birthday Celebration x 2

Note to self: When (if?) you have another child, have him or her in May. Or June or July. Or any other month in the year outside of October and November. JB & MK have birthdays exactly one week apart. This is only a problem for me because I have to cram all of my creative energy into two short weeks. I'd much rather have weeks and weeks to plan one party. Thankfully, I have the support of some pretty great blogs for fun ideas (see the Wedding & Entertaining blogroll at the right).

Oh, Baby...

I've got baby envy. And it's bad.
Last month at my brother's wedding the bridemaid that stood next to me was ready to give birth at any moment. MK was enthralled with her belly {"Mommy! What's IN HER BELLY?!" Why is it so big?} and I was jealous....

UGH! Jealous of what?! Jealous of feeling like you're hiding a tractor-trailer in your abdomen? Jealous of swollen feet shoved into high-heels? Jealous of waves of nauseousness every time the baby feels a need to stretch a little? Well, uh... yeah, actually.

I've got it bad.

And now I'm feeding this craziness {utter insanity!} by perusing the inspiration boards over at Serena & Lily.

To do list:
1. Get a baby
2. Get a couple extra {thousand} bucks to build nursery of dreams

My sane self is having a heart-attack right now.

Hope

"Bonfire," painting by Lisa Congdon.

The Gift of Days

MK and Cousin G

Everyone checking out the island campsite

Cousin G and JB

Last Thursday I flew "home" for a three-day weekend packed with festivities and preparations for my brother's wedding in October. I knew in advance that my trip promised to be non-stop and I'd be on my way home before I even had the chance to fully appreciate it.

What I didn't know was that I would spend the weekend fully aware of God's grace.

The kids and my mother-in-law, K, were in an accident last Friday while I was I busy getting ready for a bridal shower and G {the hubby} was hard at work. Amazingly, the kids came away with hardly a scratch and K with just a few bumps and bruises.

If you saw our car now, you'd never believe that last sentence. As JB said, "God cares.".

We had more than our share of miracles, a few of which came in the form of earthly angels. Including some of the first responders to the scene; a nurse and the chaplain from the local fire department and eventually, the EMTs and other emergeny personnel. All whom comforted, cleaned and cared for my kids {and K} while I was thousands of miles away.

We have all been given the gift of days and I've never been more grateful. They may be young, but I believe the kids know this, too. I received pictures in my inbox this morning that were proof of this. They were of the weekend I missed -- the kids clearly past their ordeal and enjoying their gift of days by the lake.

Play House

One summer when I was a kid I was shipped to my Aunt & Uncle's house for my first vacation away from my parents and to help out with their new baby {I'm pretty sure that I was not that helpful, though... sorry Aunt J!}. I came home that summer to a brand new "tree house" that my father had built while I was away. Although there was no tree involved, it was one story off the ground and was the best tree house I had ever seen. It had a roof and three open sides, a ladder and monkey bars. There wasn't much else too it, but it was my castle. I think I spent my entire summers in that tree house and on most warm nights I would hang old sheets* on the three open sides so that I could sleep out there. Over the years that tree house became a school room, a pirate ship, an army fort and countless other imaginary places that my brother's and I would dream up.

Things have been a little on hold for us over the last couple of years, but when we finally move into a new house, our kids will get a castle of their own. This playhouse from miko design is great inspiration.

*Now that I think about it, it's possible those sheets were not that old.... sorry mom!