The First Thanksgiving

This was the first Thanksgiving in our new home. We had a nice, simple day which describes our life these days. Eli was up promptly at 8 a.m. to start watching the parade. Rick got up with the kids and I slept in until 10 a.m.! We were off to a good start!

I started cooking dinner at noon. I posted about our menu a few days before Thanksgiving and all of the recipes I used were amazing! I kept them to use every year. And I have declared that I am now in charge of the stuffing. The crock pot stuffing was to. die. for.

Eli decided that we needed to act out The First Thanksgiving. So, Rick made indian headbands and I made pilgrim hats. The scenes (Eli "wrote") were as follows:

Scene 1 ~ The pilgrims come in on the boat, pointing at land, discussing how they will step off the boat and immediately start hunting for a turkey to shoot for dinner.

Scene 2 ~ The pilgrims spot a turkey and start shooting. The indians think that the pilgrims are shooting at them, so they run!

Scene 3 ~ The indians decide to try to make friends with the pilgrims and teach them how to properly plant corn using fish as fertilizer.

Scene 4 ~ The pilgrims invite the indians to Thanksgiving dinner, and they celebrate their first Thanksgiving together.

It was really quite fun and special and sure to be a tradition.

The other funny part about our Thanksgiving was that I had to make a FULL Thanksgiving dinner, turkey and all, for just Rick and I and the two little kids. And the two little kids don't even like turkey! But, they are very much about tradition, so that's why I do it. Plus, it was DARN GOOD and Rick and I thoroughly enjoyed our dinner!

I decided to do the Walmart pre-Black Friday sales event alone while Rick and the kids stayed home. I got more great deals than I intended! ::wink::  But, I was thankful on Friday morning when I was sleeping in and not up at 4 a.m. racing to the Black Friday sales. And, a great majority of my Christmas shopping is done! Hurray!

It really was a nice Thanksgiving. It was sweet and quiet, just how I like it!

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... Cold, cold, cold, with biting wind! Brrrr, so cold ....

I am thinking... how stress free and peaceful this life is.

I am thankful ... for the warmth of our home when the cold wind is howling outside.

I am wearing... layers! It was 17 degrees when I rode my bike and walked this morning.

I am planning...  Kyndal's senior pictures. We are interviewing photographers right now, looking for that special someone.
 

I am creating... an Advent garland. I saw a neat idea for one, and I think we'll do it!

I am going... to log all my food on MyFitnessPal until Christmas AND complete a yoga sequence each morning before I go on my bike ride and walk. Thirty days won't kill me, right?

I am reading... Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard, Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss (want to finish this soon), Stuart Little by E.B. White (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud). After I finish Cage of Stars, I am going to read Anne of Green Gables and then Christmas at Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball to get me into the warm and fuzzies of Christmas.

I am praying... for my friend Cheri who is struggling with some decisions in her family, Kiley Palmer as she continues to have horrible reactions to her chemo, and for Rick as he continues to be alone in Oklahoma.

From the learning rooms... Back to the books this week and SO HAPPY! We had a great day yesterday learning some new spelling rules, editing our "sloppy copy" color stories, doing some geometry, and continuing to learn about Japan.

Noticing that ...  the lake at the park is so pretty in the mornings! It's just a peaceful place to walk. This morning there were hundreds of geese who were passing through, so happy to have the cold water and mist off the lake.

From the kitchen... the leftovers are about gone. There's enough turkey left to use in turkey tortilla soup. I would LOVE to be able to finish off the stuffing, but that doesn't fit into said calorie-counting extravaganza mentioned above. Boo! (I should have scarfed the rest of it down Sunday night before I went to bed!)

Around the house...  are some Christmas decorations (the tree and outside lights are done). But there are four tubs sitting in the kitchen with decorations waiting to be distributed.

One of my favorite things... Ugg boots.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Remember last week's crazy week? Not this week! We had scouts last night, my friend is coming over for some chat time tonight, and we have church tomorrow night. Other than the normal lunch at mom's today, it's a very quiet week! I do play bells on Saturday afternoon at church for a fundraiser, and Rick is supposed to be coming back this weekend (but we just found out his car is acting up, so now we don't know). We were hoping to slip away for dinner and a movie at some point.

From my picture journal.

Brynne as an Acolyte at church for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

$50 Granite Countertops

Our house is old. It's almost 100 years old. Through the years, it's been updated somewhat. So the kitchen was not the original kitchen, but it's been a long time since it's been updated and what was here when we moved in was OLD ... and not very pretty. It was dark and cheap (faux wood laminate countertops, "fake" brick backsplash, dark paint).

Since moving we have painted the woodwork, painted the walls, painted the cabinets, painted the brick backsplash, and added vinyl tile flooring. All total, we have spent around $250 to spruce up the kitchen (including flooring). All it's really needed to make it totally doable until we can afford a full reno was painting the metal cabinet next to the dishwasher, new appliances and new countertops. But, we have no money to do those things right now (with the exception of the painted cabinet).

In the meantime, however, my mom found a faux granite kit at Walmart on clearance for $50. Have you seen these? This one was a Giani brand. I had seen pictures of a countertop someone else did, so I decided we should give it a try. Really, it couldn't end up looking any worse than the faux woodgrain laminate countertops we had.

We cleared off the counters on Friday evening and rolled on the base coat. It took less than an hour. Easy!

After letting that dry overnight, we then dabbed on the color minerals in the pattern we wanted to give it that granite look. (It took me back to my sponge-painting days of the '90s. Remember those days?) Again, it was SUPER EASY! It took less than an hour.

We let that dry for four hours and then rolled on the top coat. Let it dry four more hours and put on the last coat of top coat. Again, less than an hour total.

We had to let it dry for 3 days before we could put items back on the countertop and use it as normal.

And here it is in it's finished form.

Again, Before ...

and After ...

Not bad for $50. In fact, I really love them! I am actually going to buy a brown kit and do it to my bathroom next.

** I typed this about two weeks ago. I wanted to give an update as to durability of the countertops. I LOVE THEM! They are completely durable! I do not put anything hot on it (as recommended), so I have had NO problems! Cleaning them is a BREEZE! They also keep their shine even better than our real grantice countertops did in our house in Oklahoma. They don't streak or stain. This is a GREAT product!! It doesn' t make me want to run out and get updated countertops. I am perfectly happy with these!! **

These Girls

Following are pictures my baby nieces. Ashtyn was born in July. Bell was born last month. They are as different as night and day in their features. But, they are both beautiful! It's so fun being an aunt again after all these years!

The last time I became an aunt was 15 years ago, but I had my own 9 month old baby and a 2 year old and we lived far away, so I didn't get as close to Rylee as I should have as her aunt. But now my kids are older and these babies absolutely light up my life.

For them, I am thankful during this holiday season!

Bell Nora

Ashtyn Rae

Wish I could snuggle with my two girls today. But Ashtyn is in Kansas City with her mommy and daddy, sick with a urinary tract infection, and Bell is in Portland, Oregon, with her mommy and daddy.

So, I'll snuggle with my own babies, instead, and be grateful for them! We've come a long way from the baby stages. But I love them all the same!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving Dinner

We have a nice and easy Thanksgiving tradition.(Ok, so the tradition part really started last year. But because it was so good we are doing it again this year!) We sleep in as late as we can. When we get up, I make biscuits and gravy and then we sit down to watch the DVR'd "Macy's Day Parade". We relax ALL DAY, maybe playing some board games, watching some football, hanging out. Then I cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. It's important to Eli that we have a turkey on the table. He loves tradition. Then sometime that day we all snuggle up to watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving". Oh, and he announced last night that he wants to have a play on Thanksgiving with him and daddy being indians and me and Brynne being pilgrims. Looks like I have some costumes to make today!

I've been planning our Thanksgiving dinner. And here is what we are having ..

Roasted Turkey using "Uncle Bill's Method for Cooking Turkey". No, it's not my Uncle Bill. I don't have an Uncle Bill. I have a dad named Bill, but I'm not using his method, either.

Party Potatoes using this recipe:

Boil 3 cups water, 2 tsp. salt, and a stick of margarine.

Take off heat and stir in 4 cups instant potato flakes.

Add 12 oz. cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups of sour cream.

(I just add an 8 oz. package of cream cheese and a 16 ounce tub of sour cream)

Stir in 2 cups of milk until smooth and creamy.

Add to 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

Crock Pot Dressing courtesy of Lora at My Blessed Life.

Amish Egg Noodles. Yeah, I go lazy on this one. The noodles are cooked in turkey broth with salt and pepper.

Fresh Snapped Green Beans, cooked with onions, garlic and turkey bacon.

Easy Dinner Rolls. This will be my first time making homemade rolls. Eeeeekkkk!

Crock Pot Molten Chocolate Cake, using this recipe:

Mix 1 devil's food cake mix, 3 eggs, 1/3 cup oil, and 1 2/3 cup water.

Pour in crock pot.

In separate bowl mix 1 chocolate pudding box with 2 cups milk.

Pour on top of cake batter in crock pot.

Cover top with 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Bake on High for 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

See, it's all pretty easy! It's about an hour of prep time and then slow cooking for everything except the potatoes (30 minutes), rolls, and green beans. That way I can relax, too, and just enjoy my blessings ...... my husband and children.

Have I told you that Rick is here with us for 10 DAYS over?? He got here on Friday evening and it has been SOOOOO great having him with us!! He brought Clifford, our 12 year old cat and he is getting acclimated to his new home.

On Thanksgiving evening my sister and I are doing the unthinkable ... we are going to Black Friday, that really starts on Thursday evening. Can we even call it Black Friday anymore? Well, since I will be pulling an all-nighter when I am used to being in my pj's by 6:00 p.m., it might end up feeling like a Black Friday after all. (Except that Eli's birthday party is that afternoon, so I'll have to "buck up" and be cheery despite my exhaustion.)

It's been a busy Thanksgiving break already, and there is definitely more fun to come. What traditions do you have? Having a traditional Thanksgiving meal? Chancing a Jerry Springer moment at the stores?

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it is a beautiful day! It's crisp and cool but sunny. I love it!

I am thinking... about all I have to do today.

I am thankful ... for small town living.

I am wearing... black workout pants and a gray Old Navy hoodie.

I am planning...  Eli's birthday party that is this Friday.
 

I am creating... nunchucks, a "pin the headband on the ninja" game, a kickboxing pinata, candy sushi, and swords for Eli's party, and a "Twas the Night Before Christmas" float for the boy scouts' entry in the Christmas Parade on Saturday.

I am going... to try to get a lot accomplished today since the dogs are all getting groomed.

I am reading... nothing right now. There's just not enough time.

I am praying... for the futures of my children.

From the learning rooms... We are on Thanksgiving break, although I am going to put the kids to work today making Japanese lanterns and origami throwing stars for Eli's party. We ARE studying Japan, so that counts as school!

Noticing that ...  I always plan everything needing to be accomplished in a 3 month period in two days so that I am completely nuts trying to accomplish it.

From the kitchen... are leftover burritos tonight. I made two pans for us last night, and then not everyone ended up eating. That's fine with me. They are just as good the second time around. (Besides, with the nutty afternoon/evening schedule I have, there is no way I'm getting dinner on the table tonight.)

Around the house...  are clean floors! Rick brought my Dyson home to me this weekend and I cleaned like I haven't cleaned since we moved in. I love that piece of equipment!! She's 6 years old and still going strong!

One of my favorite things... is relaxing in front of the t.v. at night, with a hot cup of green tea, and getting to bed early with a good night's sleep, none of which I have done in several days. I am tired! I even dreamed last night that I was sleeping in the shower standing up.

A few plans for the rest of the week... BUSY week! Today the dogs are getting groomed, so I was up getting them delivered early. Today I have to get the majority of Eli's birthday party prep work done. This afternoon I am spending a few hours on the boy scout float. Tomorrow it is more prep work for the party, and for Thanksgiving dinner. We might go to Kansas City to eat sushi with my sister tomorrow evening. Thursday is Thanksgiving, of course, and it will just be Rick and I and the two little kids. We will have a full Thanksgiving dinner, though, so I will be doing lots of cooking. Then I am leaving at about 5:00 p.m. to head to Kansas City to do Black Thursday Friday shopping with my sister. Don't judge me, I'm really just going to spend time with her. If I get some good bargains, then fine. But then on Friday I've got to boogie back here because Eli's birthday party is at 4:00 p.m. Saturday evening is our town's "Moonlight Madness" and lighted Christmas parade, and Eli will be on the boy scout float. Sunday after church, yeah, I'm collapsing!

From my picture journal.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

18

She turned 18 years old yesterday. Unbelievable.

She's been sick for the past three weeks or so, and it's been wonderful having her here full-time for me to take care of her. Her and Collin have hung out here, livening up the place! Soon she'll be off and running again.

What's she running toward, now that she is officially an adult? She only has six more months of high school. Wow. She's working on applying for cosmetology school to start as soon as she graduates. It's always been what she has wanted to do. Her and Collin together forever? That is unknown, but it looks as though they are thinking of a future together.

She'll never venture too far off. She's a small town girl who doesn't like to be alone. She might be a big girl out there living her own life, but we'll see her often.

I worry that Kyndal has wished away her childhood, and now she's an adult and it's time to step up. But, I did the same thing has a teenager, so I can relate. She's a lot more like me than I want to admit, at times.

Now my role as mom completely changes. I really can't tell this child of mine what to do anymore. Because, she's an adult, whether she's ready for it or not. But I can be her friend and her mentor, and help guide her toward a safe and secure future. And I'll always pray for her, never ceasing.

Happy 18 plus 1 day to my adult daughter, Kyndal. Live strong! Be happy!

And .... she's back!

Kyndal was gone all of one day before she called and said she was sick again. I called the doctor, because they had done more bloodwork on Monday after determining that her mono test was negative. They learned that she has severe iron deficient anemia and tested positive for the virus that causes mono. She has been put on a couple months regiment of strong iron supplements, with Vitamin C, ordered out of school until after Thanksgiving, and given strict instructions as to rest, diet and fluids. So, she is back home with us again so we can monitor all these things and hopefully get her back to school soon. She ran herself ragged, and now she just needs to let her mama take care of her.

All in Knots

Eli has been learning to tie knots in cub scouts. Doing great! (And I love his facial expressions.)

Cub Scouts has been an amazing experience for him!

He got his first patch at their Pack meeting a couple of weeks ago.

It is an "extra" patch (not to go on his uniform) for walking in the homecoming parade.

For Christmas I am going to make him a fleece blanket to add all his extra patches to. I guess I'll just make it blue and gold, but I wish I could find some actual cub scout fleece somewhere. Anyone know where I can find some?

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it's sunny and cold. There was frost on my windshield this morning.

I am thinking... about the tough stuff so many parents put their kids through, specifically thinking about one of Dawson's friends.

I am thankful ... that Kyndal's mono test results came back negative and that she can go back to school on Wednesday, that Brynne woke up fever free, and that Eli and Dawson haven't caught any of the yuckiness.

I am wearing... sweats and a hoodie.

I am planning...  Eli's birthday party and my Thanksgiving menu.
 

I am creating... some items to put in the church's Christmas bizarre, Eli's boy scout float for the Christmas parade.

I am going... to start bringing all my ferns into the house to try to keep them alive until next Spring.

I am reading... The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore,  Stuart Little by E. B. White (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud). 

I am praying... for Dawson's friend.

From the learning rooms... We had to take yesterday off because Brynne was sick with a fever all day. I am REALLY hoping we will be back into the regular swing of things starting today. We are moving onto a study of Japan and need to get back into our regular daily studies. I just feel like we aren't accomplishing as much as I want us to. Math is really my only concern.

Noticing that ...  it's time to lose those pesky five pounds again.

From the kitchen... are new "granite" countertops. Pictures will be coming soon! I just need to wait another day or so before I put things back on my counters so I can take the "After" photos.

Around the house...  are dogs who desperately need groomed! I am going to make their appointments for next week ... definitely!

One of my favorite things... sleeping in on Saturday. It just feels so good!

A few plans for the rest of the week... Tonight, thank you Lord, I have nothing on our schedule! Tomorrow night is regular church night with our pot luck meal and bell choir practice. On Thursday night, I am meeting our den leader at the scout cabin to construct the fireplace for the boy scout float. On Friday I need to go get groceries. And Rick is coming to town FOR 10 DAYS!!! We are so excited to have him here for that long! We don't really have any plans for the weekend, other than church on Sunday. I'm looking forward to just being together as a family.

From my picture journal.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Bugs

The bug that followed Kyndal here seems to have bit Brynne. She was up in the night with a fever and sore throat. Then this morning she had a headache and then vomited. With ibuprofen, her fever came down and she is feeling better. She says her tummy and throat are feeling better. However, she still has a headache so is on the couch. She looks as though she may be ready for a nap now.

So, today we are all staying in our jammies and loading up on hot green tea and getting lots of rest.

Hoping we aren't starting a cycle of sickness!

A Sick Baby

When Kyndal was about 9 months old, she had a really high fever. It wasn't anything alarming, but we just couldn't get it to go down. We had to get a late-night prescription for Children's Motrin (this is showing you my age ... at that time you could not buy children's ibruprofen over the counter!). She was pretty lethargic and just layed in my arms. Her dad said, "You like it when she's sick, don't you?" And the truth was, I did. Kyndal was always going, going, going. She didn't want to be held and snuggled. She had things to do, places to go. And when she was sick she was quiet and snuggly and dependent on me to make her feel better.

Fast forward 17 years. Kyndal has been sick for the past couple of weeks. She went to the doctor and they put her on an antibiotic for an upper resperatory infection. She went back to the doctor on Friday and the doctor tested her for mono. The doctor ordered her out of school for two weeks, and she is now on bedrest here with me.

Kyndal is always going, going, going. She doesn't want to be held and snuggled. She has things to do, places to go. And now that she is sick she is quiet and snuggly and dependent on me to make her feel better.

Of course I don't want her to be sick. She's missing parts of her senior year. She's going to be sick on her 18th birthday. But, oh how I love having her here so I can take care of her. In a couple of weeks she'll be (mostly) better and will be off again. I am going to cherish this time.

No Matter

As I snuggle into my little bed in Missouri, after a long 4-hour, late-night drive to get here, I am thankful ... thankful that Rick and I started making the decisions a few months ago to change the course of our life to better our family.

With the re-election of President Obama, I am particularly thankful for our decision to simplify our life, to downsize to just what we need in order to preserve what we have.

We have talked with our kids, including our little ones, about the impact of President Obama's presidency on our country and our lives. When they found out that he was re-elected, they were upset. Eli was even scared. But I explained to them a few foundational truths:

1. Our Leader is sitting on His throne in Heaven. He is in control. He loves us. And, he has promised to protect and bless those who fear Him. 
2. President Obama has been given "another chance" (as the kids say) to do a better job protecting the people of our country. We will respect him and support him as our President and will pray for him, that he makes decisions that are right in God's eyes.
3. Daddy and I have been working to take care of our family in the event the leaders of our country do not do their job to take care of us. This is one of the reasons why we moved to Missouri, so that we would not have to rely on the government and its' empty promises. But, instead, we will do our part to take care of ourselves and protect our family from the decisions of others.
4. We live in a country where we have the right to not be controlled by our government and its' decisions. We have to stand strong to protect our rights. This is a huge reason why we have chosen to homeschool our younger two children.

Folks, we have to work hard for what we have and NOT rely on others to provide it for us. We need to protect ourselves from the interference and control of the government in our lives. We can attempt that in an election. But, ultimately, it starts at home, in our individual families. I cannot control what other people do. But, I can control what we do as a family.

In the next four years, instead of relying on President Obama and his administration to provide us with a good life, we will do the following:

1. We will willingly and happily reside in a $30,000 home and will strive to have it paid for completely within two to three years.
2. We will pay off all of our debt so that we are not held in bondage because of it.
3. We will live within our means.
4. We will drive paid-off cars, and take care of them.
5. We will homeschool our younger two children, and will fight for the rights of our older two.
6. We will be responsible for purchasing our OWN health insurance and will choose our OWN medical providers.
7. We will spend loads of time together as a family.
8. We will pray for our leaders and serve in our community.

What will you do? Whatever you do, however you feel, remember:

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... it is a sunny day in Oklahoma. We are here for a couple of days while Dawson has his ortho appointment and I vote. 

I am thinking... about how you CANNOT be a sissy and raise teenagers.

I am thankful ... for the time the kids and I have had with Rick this week. We are really looking forward to the 10 days we get to have him with us over Thanksgiving!!

I am wearing... a black top with red, turquoise and gold print with red skinny jeans and black UGG boots.

I am planning...  Eli's ninja birthday party and ideas for the boy scout Christmas parade float.
 

I am creating... some items to put in the church's Christmas bizarre.

I am going... to vote.

I am reading... The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore,  Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud). 

I am praying... that God's will is done in today's election. I am fearful of the outcome, but know that our true Leader sits on His throne.

From the learning rooms... We are actually doing schoolwork in Oklahoma. Yesterday we went to the zoo to observe animals in their environments and to further learn about ecosystems. Today we are learning all about the Election. Tomorrow we will be traveling home, but will finish the week completing our studies on Indonesia, as well as our other regular book studies.

Noticing that ...  our kids really do want us to be involved with what they are doing, even when they seem they don't.

From the kitchen... Tonight we are having lasagna with daddy.

Around the house...  are signs of the coming end of fall.  Trees are more and more bare.

One of my favorite things... a good book and time to read it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... We are at the library right now, in Oklahoma, and are heading home to do our Election unit for school. Then Dawson has an orthodontist appointment at 2:00 and then Rick and I are going to vote. Tonight we'll just spend time with Daddy before our trip back home to Missouri tomorrow. I have bell choir practice tomorrow night, and then I am PRAYING that the rest of the week is quiet!! We have a weekend at home. My aunt and I are planning to put the faux granite finish on our kitchen countertops.

From my picture journal.

An official flag retirement ceremony at Boy Scouts on Friday.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Halloween Goodness

Our Halloween was super busy and lots of fun! We really, really missed daddy! It's so hard not having him here for a holiday, but we made the best of it. Here's how we celebrated.

During the day we went on a little field trip to a local pumpkin patch. It was very picked over, and there wasn't much left, but we had fun seeing the pumpkins on the actual vine. Every pumpkin patch we have ever gone to has had the pumpkins shipped in and arranged in large piles. So, we had a little lesson in a real pumpkin patch. And, the pictures were fun ...

 

After the patch we rushed home to get changed for trick-or-treating! This year we were NINJAS! 

The first stop was the costume contest. Brynne got 1st Place in her age category!

Eli didn't place in his group (there were LOTS of kids), but he sure gave a full performance to try to draw in the judges.

After the contest we walked to our church for some hotdogs.

Then we trick-or-treated on Main Street where all of the businesses sit out in front of their stores and give out candy and other treats. We circled around and walked to my parents' to see my niece and get goody bags that my mom and dad left the kids (they are in Florida). Then we walked another couple of blocks to a trunk-or-treat location.

After the long walk back home, we hopped in the car and went out to the nursing home to see my grandma. She gave each of the kids four quarters that she won playing poker!

I think my grandma fell asleep in this picture! Must have had a long night of poker.

A few pieces of candy and a shower later, we were ready for bed!! What an exhausting, but fun, night!!

Hope you had a nice Halloween!