Thanksgiving Weekend

We rented a cabin over the Thanksgiving weekend.  It was the same cabin that we rented last year.  And when I say cabin, it's a house.  A beautiful house set on acres of land.  It's so peaceful that you can hear your ice crack and the noise in the distance is the breeze on the trees.

I love it out there.

John & Steven get to chop wood.

Not that John doesn't get to pee outside in the city. 

But apparently there's something about peeing in the "wild".

And Riley loves this place too.

So many different smells.

So many different animals.

Last time we were excited about smores and roasted marshmallows.

Now we know better.

Both John & I do not like roasted marshmallows.

And Riley enjoys sleeping in front of the wood stove.

There's nothing like drinking wine in front of a nice fire.

Did I mention that Pat & Oliver joined us for part of the weekend?

So we went off on a walk.

Can you see Ollie way in front?

We went for a drive.

Great view.

I love this place.

Riley had the best weekend.

Poor Steven.

Drank too much.

Stayed up too late.

The Wedding

My cousin got married at the beginning of December.  My baby cuz.  I was in junior high when she was born and she was my baby.  She was my first experience with babies.  We played together.  I stuck popcorn twists on her lips.  She was my baby Kristen.

And now she's a beautiful grown up woman.  A married woman.  Although, I am actually a bit surprised that she got married.  They have been together since they were in high school. 

It was so much fun.  You don't know how difficult it was to find a fancy dress outfit for John.  You'd think that around the holidays you would be able to walk into any children's store and find black dress pants.  You could think that but you'd be wrong.  Very very wrong.

But we perservered.  I had a vision and by GOD John was going to wear fancy clothes.

He is 100 times cooler than I will ever be.

Yet still carefree & goofy. 

I'm not actually sure what he's doing.

He's like a 50's TV personality.

Thanks folks for comin' out.

You're beautiful, I love ya. 

So. Much. Energy.

My gorgeous Keiko and John.

My handsome boys.

And Justin's goofy side. 

This was hilarious.

Cindy was taking pictures of John while he was blinding her with his camera flash.

hahahaha.

John wanted to dance with Keiko.

Not mommy.

Not daddy.

Not Justin.

Just Keiko. 

They were the only ones dancing. 

They were so cute.

He was so happy.

It's not often that we're dressed up.

Merry Christmas

I can't believe how fast this year has blown by.

I'm sitting in my kitchen, typing on my new iPad listening to my sisters play Trouble with John and Whitey is reading the rules. That's right. My new iPad. And who gave me the new toy?

My boss.

God, I love my job. We all received iPads at work.

After much research, Steven's boss approved the acquisition of a new TV today!

I'll post some pictures later this week. I really need to get that poem sent out.

Redemption

Woot!  Just won Candyland.  I rock.

Candyland

Elmo just beat me at Candyland.

Twice.

Random

So it has come to my attention that I have been slacking off with my blogging. 

In Steven's words, "I've checked the blog, there's been no updates, how am I supposed to know what's going on?"



Look who was sick a couple weeks ago.

He's actually a good sick kid.  Very undemanding....unlike some other people in this house.

Helping dad build the new toy storage bin.

Yes, I am that mom.

I found out that the kids could bring treats to class.

So, I made treat bags.

You can't really tell but John signed each card.

I didn't do all the work...most of it but not all.

Halloween ring from a different treat bag.

Discovered that there's another mom in John's class.

She made treat bags and....and....THEY WERE NICER THAN MINE.

Bitch.

Sometimes after supper we will play a game.

Or practise letters.

Or numbers.

I bought some number flash cards.

We have so much fun.

He can count to 100.

All by himself.

Woohoo!

Look who's finally on the bed.

One day I'm sure I'm going to open the bedroom door and Riley will be sleeping on the bed and John will be on the floor.

Letters!

Seriously, I'm pretty sure he's the most gifted child on the planet.

Such a big boy.

A boy and his dog.

A boy who thought his dog may have been cold.

A boy who wrapped his dog with a blanket.

Overheard

Steven:  I spy with my big round eye....

John: I spy with my tiny little eye...

Me: Really?  We're gonna go there?  Well alright then.
Me: I spy with my slanted eye....