Countdown to T-Day

For the first time in 50+ years, my dad's Milner side of the family isn't getting together for Thanksgiving. This is sad, but not entirely tragic because I'll see them in about a month for Christmas, but still... it will be odd not piling in to Aunt Lynda's house and stuffing our faces. 

This year I am hosting my immediate family... and a few extended family for Thanksgiving. To be exact, 21 adults and 5 kids under the age of 7. Luckily, its a potluck and I'm getting lots of help from the Fam.

So each day until Thanksgiving I will post one recipe that we'll be enjoying. Here's one we did today...
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 TBS oil
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

orange food coloring 
2 cups water

Mix all ingredients together. Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear. Knead the dough on cool surface (like a countertop) until smooth & cool enough for kids to handle.

 

Throw the dough and some cookie cutters on the table and you can buy enough time to get your own pumpkin pie in the oven!

Meme Time! (aka BookMamma's Tired)

The rules? Answer the following questions in one word and then pass it on to seven others.

Tagged by Rhonda.

Where is your cell phone? Charger
Where is your significant other? Bed
Your hair color? Brunette
Your mother? Sweet
Your father? Busy
Your favorite thing? Cocktails
Your dream last night? Work
Your dream/goal? Progressive
The room you’re in? Kitchen
Your hobby? Books
Your fear? Assasination
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Maintaining
Where were you last night? Purgatory
What you’re not? Skinny
One of your wish-list items? Boots
Where you grew up? South
Last thing you did? Coffee
What are you wearing? Jammies
Your TV? Loud
Your pet? Kids
Your computer? Disenfected
Your mood? Sleepy
Missing someone? Grandmother
Your car? Un-vaccumed
Something you’re not wearing? Bra
Favorite store? DSW
Your summer? Speedy
Love someone? Completely
Your favorite color? Green
When is the last time you laughed? Today
Last time you cried? Yesterday

TAG, you're It - Teresa, Amy, Angela, Lee Anne, Stepher, Sarah, Supermommy

Boy Briefs, the Religilous Version

The boys attend an Episcopal daycare (not so much because we want spirituality/religion to be taught to them there, but more because its the best daycare we've ever seen). The classes have chapel every Wednesday, and it is taught by a sweet older lady whose twin daughters just happen to be Finn & Eli's teachers.  

We're arriving one morning and pass Chapel Teacher in the hall. 

"Good morning, Finn," she says. 

"Good morning," Finn stoically replies back. We walk a little further down the hall. When we get safely out of earshot Finn whispers to me, "Mommy... know what? That my chapel teacher. Her name's GOD." 

************************

We've recently been attending church at the very place the boys go to school. This is great for Caleb and I but kind of weird for the boys because they aren't exactly sure if they're going for school or for church. But they're smart... they'll figure it out eventually. 

At children's church the kids go back and do songs and crafts before coming in to sit with the adults for communion. Last Sunday, Finn was NOT happy when he arrived at our pew and was loudly protesting a paper in his hand. 

"Mom, this isn't my NAME," he gestures wildly to the paper. It's covered in glue and marker scribbles with the name "Ben" prominently written at the top.

"MY NAME'S NOT BEN! That lady got my name wrong!" 

We get him calmed down and manage to get through communion with just a few huffy pouts and indignation. In the car, Hubs tries to explain. 

Hotwheel Hubs: "Finn, the teacher didn't do it on purpose, she just thought you said "Ben". Let's practice telling people your  name. Say F-f-f-f-FINN."

Finn: "F-f-f-f-BEN." 

Me: "Hmmm. Say, 'frog'."

Finn: "Frog."

Me: "Say, 'fabulous'."

Finn: "Fabulous."

Hubs: "Say, 'FINN'."

Finn: "Ben."

Me & Hubs: ... sigh

************************

The daycare makes a delicious Thanksgiving lunch for all the families of the kids each year. I signed up to help set up and serve the plates -  it was a great way to match the kids I see every day to their parents & grandparents. Both Grandaddy and Nana came to eat with Eli, and Nana stayed over to eat with Finn, Hubs, and I. 

Our priest, Susan, was also scurrying around serving food and refilling tea glasses. She was dressed in her usual priestly uniform Finn watched her for a while and elbowed his dad. 

"Daddy, know what? Dat lady's name's GOD." Finn stoically goes back to eating his roll. 

Which leaves me thinking maybe if we can keep him thinking all women are God, he'll turn out just fine. 

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Writes a Post About It

WARNING: This post is less about sunshine and puppies and more for the purpose of documenting a pretty craptastic week... in the hopes it can only get better.

BOO!

Finn continues to have a rough time at school. His teachers and his parents are looking in to it. 

BOO! 

Yesterday, my purse gets stolen. Out of my car. In my driveway. **

The only nice bag I've ever had in my life, my iPod, 4 credit cards, my driver's license, my checkbook, my Kohl's & Victoria Secret cards, all my various shades of lipstick, my cute antique business card holder, and a mix of restaurant & movie gift cards - all gone. 

We spent the day cancelling accounts, filing fraud alerts on our credit reports, filling out bank paperwork, and getting a new license (whose photo was nowhere near as good as the one that was stolen.)

YAY!

The thief missed a few things... another iPod, some beloved CD's, and a substantial gift card to the mall were all overlooked. He/She was also nice enough to pull some office paperwork out of my purse before they took it, so that will come in handy. This is me trying to find a positive thing. 

BOO!

Like everyone, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the holidays will be slim around here.

** FAQs:  

Yes, I know it was stupid for me to leave my purse in the car. 

No, I don't usually do that. 

Yes, I meant to go back and get my stuff out of the car after I got home from work, but the boys were fussy & hungry and I only had so many arms to get the backpacks, coats, squirmy Eli, and car keys shuffled into the house. 

No, I have NEVER left my purse in an unlocked car in my driveway before. 

Yes, we usually park in the garage but there's stuff we're taking to Goodwill packed in there at the moment.

No, I don't feel entirely safe in my own home after this happened 3 yards away from where my family was sleeping. 

 And Yes, it only takes one stupid mistake for some bonehead jerk to steal your identity by using your credit card to buy a disposable cell phone at 2:30AM. 

(Also, Yes - I know it could have been much worse.)

One Day I Better Look Back and Laugh

It's been kind of rough over at the Hotwheel Hacienda of late. "Almost-Four" has been trying (at best) the past few weeks and we're at our wits end.  

Please send vodka. 

Oh NO she didn't!

So, in the interest in leaving a productive post, I want to share with you a FABULOUS recipe that came my way. It's super quick, very tasty, and looks like you put lots of effort into it. 

Sarah's Fantabulous Quick Supper Recipe:

16/17 oz package of already cooked Pot Roast (au jus, if you can find it)
1 cup of picante sauce, hot or mild to taste
1/2 cup of sliced white mushrooms
1 box of quick-cook couscous (I use whole wheat)

1 1/4 cup of chicken broth
2 tsp of butter/margarine (can substitute olive oil, if desired)

Warm the pot roast in the microwave per directions on package.

Transfer the liquid from the roast into a skillet, over medium heat. 

Add in the mushrooms and picante sauce and simmer. 

Chop up the pot roast into 1" chunks; add to skillet; bring to boil. 

Pull heat down to medium, cover, leave alone for a bit.

Using the chicken broth and butter/margarine/olive oil, prepare the couscous. It literally takes about five minutes.

Once the couscous is done, layer the dish with the couscous first and then the roast, topping it all with the juice. I found that this made about three equal sized portions, perfect for a family of four with two small kids.

The verdict? My kids ate up every bite and licked the plate. Success! 

"One Nation... Invisisisible"

This morning, I bundled up Finn & Eli and loaded them into the wagon equipped with a variety of Star Wars toys and strategically placed pieces of Halloween candy. Did I mention it was 7:15 AM? We headed to the local middle school, our polling place, and voted in a truly historic election. 

The boys were great, despite the short wait. It only took about 45 minutes from start to finish, and they stayed put, stayed (relatively) quiet, and I was able to have plenty of time to make sure I didn't screw up my ballot. 

Some find it difficult to choose between the "lesser of two evils" and don't bother to vote because they don't think it matters. To this I say, no human is perfect. If we all wait around until the perfect candidate with the perfect political philosophy comes along before we cast a vote, I have a feeling we could end up in a similar situation as our friends in the Middle East and other oppressed peoples of the world. 

And if you're STILL not convinced...

Candy Pushing

Candy Pusher
Originally uploaded by BookMamma

Halloween 2008 was great - we went to a library costume party, had a costume parade at school, and finished up the night with Trick-or-Treating.

Caleb & I have a costume party to attend this evening and then we bid Halloween farewell and get ready for my other favorite holiday... Thanksgiving. And you know what that means - Macy's Parade is almost here!! (For those of you who don't know, I'm a sucker for a parade. I don't know why - but I LOVE them. I will go see it in person before I die.)

In the meantime, enjoy our Flickr pictures by clicking on the link.

- UPDATED -

We are the champions...

Hubs and I won "Most Original Costumes" at the party last weekend. Our Juno & Bleeker rocked the Casbah. Actually, I think it was Caleb's legs that sealed the deal...

No, I'm NOT pregnant. We rigged up a pretty convincing belly. So much so that there were some pretty mad people watching me have libations.