Happy Thanksgiving

Do you see my mom in the background? (above Ruth's head)

We had a great Thanksgiving this week. We spent Thanksgiving at my sister's house. My parents were there too. Just a small group this year.  It was nice and low key.  We enjoyed good food and then after dinner a few of us played "Just Dance" on the wii.  It was tough on a full stomach, but fun. Even my mom joined in the dancing though she said she didn't want to play the game.  We played other games and finished the evening taking part in the annual family snow flake cutting.  When we all get together the snow flake cutting can get somewhat competitive.  But this year, with such a small group it was pretty casual.

Muppet Movie

On Friday we went on a fun family outing to the movies and then out to dinner. We saw the new Muppet movie and it was pretty cute.  Afterwards we went to Red Robin. Our younger kids could probably count on their fingers the times we have eaten at a "sit down" restaurant.  It's not often that we splurge like that so it was a real treat and we had a good time.

Up House

Kaitlin hasn't practiced driving for awhile, so on Friday she drove us to the "Up House".  They were having an open house and we were able to tour the inside for the first time.  (A couple had bought the house and it will be closed to the public at the first of the year.)   The inside was so adorable! We tried on the hats, looked in all the appliances, found the secret room and I even played the ukulele (after I asked the owner for permission).  After Kaitlin drove us safely home, I told Chuck and the other kids that they had to check it out, so later that day they went as well.

The front room was just like in the movie.

How cool is this phone.

There's a Toy Story Bedroom in the basement!

Once Upon a Mattress

Kaitlin's play was this week and it kept her very busy. In the few minutes I would see her each day I'd try to make sure she was eating, getting at least some sleep and keeping up with schoolwork.  Our family went to the play on Thursday night. There was a bigger crowd there than expected, but we got good seats.  Kaitlin's ensemble was always sharp and did a great job. All the dance numbers were good and the singing was great.  A few of the leads struggled on the Thursday night show, but Ruth and I went again on Saturday (Donna and Diane also came up) and the leads were much better that night.  Every night Kaitlin was up there singing and dancing her heart out.  The costumes were wonderful and the orchestra and general directing were much better than last year.   Kaitlin had a great time doing the show and is a little sad today that it is over.  However, she is already thinking of auditioning for the winter play that starts in a few weeks.

First Snow

We got our first good snow this weekend.  Jared was excited, so he talked Ruth into going sledding.  There wasn't a lot of snow, but they had a good time.









Lego Fun

Ruth and Jared are off-track for most of November. They have been really interested in Legos recently, so one morning they made this stop action movie. I thought it turned out really cute.

Once Upon a Mattress

Kaitlin's play is this Thursday-Saturday.  She has been working very hard after school for months. This week she rarely walked in the door before 7:30pm.  She is exhausted but overall seems to be having a good time. One of the challenges of dress rehearsals this week has been curling Kaitlin's hair every day.  I've gotten pretty good at putting in soft rollers each night and a few times Kaitlin has even worn them to school. 



Applesauce

This week I finished up the bushel of apples by canning some applesauce (my first ever attempt) and making a few apple pies.  The applesauce was so delicious that my family liked it more than the pies. Even Jared liked it and asked for more (that is saying something).  I'm determined to get even more apples next year so I can make more because I only got a few quarts done this year.



Veteran's Day Concert

I was able to sing with the community choir at our city's Veteran's Day observance. Our director is a choral music composer and we sang an original song she wrote for 9/11. Here is the poem that the song is based on.  I'd never heard it before but I thought it was wonderful and especially meaningful.

	Remember by Christina Rossetti
	REMEMBER me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you plann'd: Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or pray. Yet if you should forget me for a while And afterwards remember, do not grieve: For if the darkness and corruption leave A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, Better by far you should forget and smile Than that you should remember and be sad.

Who said a mime couldn't be scary?

This is Halloween

We were blessed with a warm and sunny Halloween this year. Ruth and Jared enjoyed trick-or-treating and we had over 140 kids come by the house. We ended up turning our lights out early; seven bags of candy is my generosity limit. 


Apples

I finally got the bushel of apples I had ordered a month ago.  The timing was just right because I had a free day I could devote to my first ever attempt at canning pie filling. I used a recipe from Allrecipes.com. It wasn't too difficult and it tasted delicious.  I'm excited to pop open a bottle in a few weeks to see how it has turned out.  I still have half a bushel of apples left so I will be trying applesauce this week.

Belated Halloween

Kaitlin missed most of Halloween this year because she was at rehearsal for her musical until almost 8pm.  She felt so cheated that she asked if we could have a make-up Halloween mother-daughter party.  Friday afternoon we dressed in costumes, watched "Back to the Future", ate treats and did a photo shoot. We had a great time and laughed until we cried.  It was the best belated halloween party I'd ever had.