Monday, November 29, 2010

Angels

Tonight I went Christmas shopping with Tommy's confirmation class. Our church buys gifts for several hundred children who have a parent in prison. So the 10 or so eighth and ninth graders went to Target tonight and bought about 25 gifts. It was interesting to watch the kids. The girls were much more mature looking and acting than the boys.
After shopping they went back and talked about the project There were a couple kids who really "got" why they were doing this and what it will mean to the recipients.
I am hopeful that my kids will learn this lesson.
Bless all those angels out there who help others.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Gobble Gobble

November 28, 2010

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving feast:
We had 3 grandparents, 3 aunts, 1 uncle, and 3 cousins plus the 4 of us.

Em playing corn hole before dinner
 Tommy with Joyce & Don
 Poppy with the Halter grandkids
 Kathy's always-beautifully presented turkey

 Cousins sitting patiently for Aunt Kackery
 Me serving one of the five desserts I made this year.   Actually I made 4 and bought a pecan pie.  What is that stuff under the pecans?  Ick.


 Kid table

COUSIN FUN!!








 Singing Happy Birthday to Kackery
 Tommy & Grace trying to light the candle on the Key Lime Birthday Pie (I know the pictures are out of order)


 Tommy &  Grandma
 The big table (Grace put herself at this table this year...)

 Kid table
 Auntie A being silly and putting the cute stuffed turkey on Allie's head.
I hope you had a fabulous feast!

Karen

Friday, November 26, 2010

Happy Birthday Kackery!

November 26, 2010

Tom's oldest sister, Kathy, has a birthday today.  Tommy nicknamed her Kackery back when he was itty bitty and said cute things.  Now he says sarcastic things.  But not often.

Kathy always gets jipped on her birthday because it is usually on or near Thanksgiving.  Tonight, though, Kathy, Melissa, Ashleigh and I are going to a new restaurant to celebrate it properly.  I hope there is a chocolate dessert involved.

Kackery is one of the best aunts/sisters-in-law ever.  She's an amazing cook, decorator, mom, and friend.  Mrs. Elwardt, our kids' teacher, told me Kathy should run for president (of the US, not the PTA).  So you see, everyone thinks she's great, not just us.  

We did celebrate a little last night at Thanksgiving by singing and treating her to a key lime pie instead of the usual pumpkin pie.

Happy Birthday!

My New BFF

November 26, 2010

Meet my new BFF, Dolly.

She is visiting me from next door.  I borrowed her to help make my Christmas decorating easier.  I was not disappointed.  In no time I had my many bins out of the shed and into the house.  

As Grace and I emptied the bins, they went out front waiting to return to the shed.

In about 5 minutes I had them all back to the shed thanks to my BFF.
I love Dolly.
I asked Tom to get me one for Christmas, but he said she could just come visit again next year.  (Actually, he said, "Just borrow the Bettins' again.")

Karen

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tooth Fairy

November 23, 2010

Miss Grace has 3 baby teeth pulled today.  She was funny after they had her sniffing the laughing gas for few minutes.  She got a huge grin and the giggles.  Then I stepped out.  It took all of 25 minutes.  She's recovering well.  Dairy Queen for dinner and all is well.
Earlier this morning I was a little worried when I read this article in the New York Times.  Guess what? Her oral surgeon read it too and we had a nice little chat about it.  He totally agreed with the article. That did not relieve my anxiety when he confirmed that he does indeed use the CBCT.  Grace has has 2 or 3 of these 3D scans.  Plus the 3 foot x-rays, one head x-ray, and a couple other panoramic dental x-rays in her little 10-year life.  I am now sick with worry about all that exposure.
Not what I wanted to read on the morning she goes to the dentist.  What do you think 3 baby teeth pulled by a dentist will run the tooth fairy?

On a happier note, I made the cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving tonight and it smelled so yummy and holiday-ish.  I also found Christmas music on the radio last night.
Fa la la la!

Karen

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Trick or Treat!

November 2, 2010

Here is how different my kids are:
Tommy told me on Friday (the 29th) that he wanted a mask for a Halloween party he was going to that night.  We went to Target and he found his costume in about 5 minutes.  It cost $5.  He spent more time and money on new golf balls during the same trip.
It's an inflatable Rastafarian hat/dreadlocks.

Grace decided about 3 weeks before Halloween that she wanted to be a present.  We found a box, cut holes, bought bungee cords to hold it up, bought wrapping paper...a lot of wrapping paper, bought red tights and t-shirt, a headband, and bought several different bows because, you know it has to be THE PERFECT bow.  Finally, we found the ultimate bow at Michael's in the wreath department.
She was a hit on the trick or treat circuit.
So here is the big project  present


Tom and I dressed up for the first time this year.  Here we are...Chilean Miners

 Steve & Jane Irwin

Miner, Jane, & Sue Sylvester

An angel, Twister, Flapper, Miner, Sue...one of these is not like the other.  Guess who...
is the Drag Queen??

Hope you got lots of treats!

Karen