three beggars

moving onto the next item

It always feels good to cross something off the to-do list.  Tonight I did just that!  The invites for Nicole's 40th are officially done!  I still have a mess to deal with, but the actual task is complete and I feel good.

fancy feet

Let's eat turkey

The turkey was still slightly still frozen this morning when it was supposed to be going in the oven. We froze our hands trying to pry the frozen carcass apart so we could pull out the neck and giblets.  A long soak in the sink helped and the bird hit the roaster slathered in butter about an hour behind schedule.

On the menu:
Roasted turkey
Gravy
Mashed potatos
Cornbread dressing
Green bean casserole
Glazed carrots
Peas
Cranberries
Rolls
Pumpkin cheesecake
Tirimisu cake
Cranberry cocktails
Noodles {for Justin}

Brandi, Chuck and Max {their exchange student from Germany} joined us.  I was so busy in the kitchen that any plans I had for photos disappeared.  Luckily Amanda picked up the camera and snapped a shot of us in the kitchen.   

  And another of Justin and Max playing a soccer game.

We had a nice time!  But what a lot of work it is to pull a meal like this off.  And since I am not known for taking the easy route in the kitchen I was ready for a nap come meal time.

So thankful for this guy!  He is awesome!

ouch

Today was Justin's 5 year check up.  A shot was immenent and he knew it.  I thought he would only be getting a flu shot.  I was wrong - he actually needed 2 vaccines.  Bummer.  We had been talking about how shots are not a big deal, they don't really hurt, it is just the anxiety over them that is the bummer.  He wasn't buying it - I hated that he was worried, I understood why though.  We headed to his appointment.  He got weighed:   37.8 pounds (29% percentile).  He got measured: 43 inches (69th percentile).  He got three shots, 2 in one thigh, one in the other.  It sucked!  I hated seeing him so freaked out and scared. 

After the appointment I got duped into a trip to Toys R Us for legos.  We also went to Freddies for a few last minute Thanksgiving items, including these flowers.  Later in the evening I could tell Justin's legs were hurting from his injections.  He was limping, he had those - sore, punched in the leg - legs.  Amanda was on the train coming down from Seattle and he was eager to go to the train station and pick her up.  As we walked from the car to the station I could have sworn that it was snowing.  I think I was just imagining things though.

disappointed

We didn't get inches of snow like I had hoped for overnight.  The same skiff remained from the night before. 

please let it snow!

They forcasted snow today.  Snow to start at 11am.  Then it was pushed back to start later and later.  I was dreading what could have been an ugly comute home with slick streets.  It didn't happen.  I saw reports all evening on facebook of falling snow.  But my neck of the woods had none.  I wanted snow.  Lots of it!  It wasn't coming.  I headed upstairs to take a bath, it was raining.  I got out of the tub and found this.  Just a skiff.  And it was mostly hail.  I am craving a winter wonderland.

the LEGO Lair

Justin turns FIVE

Justin wanted mini cupcakes for his special day.  White ones, with no frosting.  His wish was my command - I would have made anything he wanted, but was semi-greatful he went with something super simple. 

We also frosted and decorated a small cake {we needed something for candles, afterall}.  And I made a few frosted cupcakes for me.

Justin spread his present opening through out the day.  He got a lot of legos, which thrilled him to no end - and they kept us pretty busy all day long.  I think it was his definition of a perfect day. 

Justin didn't want a big party.  But he did want a party.  He decided his party would start at 4:00 and he invited his dad over.  Justin asked me all day long "what time is it?", "how long until my party?"

Justin blew out his candles and we celebrated his fifth year!  I wonder what he wished for?  More legos I bet!

paper towels

I like to think of myself as somewhat "green".  I recycle, a lot.  I really do think about the enviornment and my impact.  But one thing I can't seem to get away from is my love of/ use of/ reliance on paper towels.  I use them to throw down on the counter for sandwich makin', or cheese slicin', or use them for general couter wipe downs.  I know there are greener alternatives out there, I just haven't been able to make the switch.

for pre-school {birthday cupcakes}

They are celebrating Justin's birthday tomorrow at pre-school and asked me to bring a treat.  Justin voted for chocolate cupcakes with white frosting.  I threw on some blue sprinkles and the yellow lego-dudes and called it good.  They are cute, simple, and sure to be a hit! 

scenes from my cell phone

Traffic recently has been a bear.  Simply horrible: morning and night. 

My  boy and I headed to the mall tonight to pick up his five year pictures from the portrait studio and we stopped for some dinner at the California Pizza kitchen. 

starting his cake

Ever since Halloween, I have been getting near constant reminders from Justin that I needed to get started on his birthday cake.  I have had a lego cake in-mind for awhile and although Justin was on board with that idea he at one point changed his mind and decided on a TV cake.  Then he spotted a pumpkin cake in a magazine and wanted that instead.  Then he changed his mind once more and wanted a cloud cake.  And now back to lego.  He was thrilled when I started making edible "lego dudes".

leaves

procrastinator

What happens when it is 10:39 pm and you haven't yet picked up the camera?

You grab your cellphone and shoot a picture of something close by. In this case it was the load of dirty glasses sitting on the side table. All from today. Today's coffee. Water. Milk and water glasses from Justin. I really should load those into the dishwasher. Maybe tomorrow....

The one thing I didn't procrastinate on was the shopping for Thanksgiving.  Justin and I got most of it done this evening in what was a very  busy Fred Meyer.  Now it's time to research how to brine a turkey and I have a week+ to work up the courage to unwrap that big bird and "deal" with it.  

glitter and guns

We headed to the portrait studio at the mall today for Justin's annual pics. He wasn't thrilled - but I like mixing "professional" studio pics in with all my everyday shots. Jamie and Jimmy met us at the mall and we did a little shopping and had lunch.

After spending way too long in the craft store with two little boys in tow we came back to crank out the birthday party invites for Nicole. I love these and am so happy with how they turned out.

Justin and Jimmy played. We made them pose like this {kind of a Charlie's Angel's inspired pose}. This will make a great addition to the list of photos I can pull out later to embarrass him with.

head shots

Jamie asked me to come down to the office and shoot some new head shots for her and the gals. I was nervous. The weather was crappy, dark and gray. I needed natural light to even kind of get a good picture. I got lucky. I still need to crop and "photoshop" everyone - but I think they turned out good.

friends again

These two used to cuddle all the time.  And for a long time they didn't.  Now they are back to being cuddly again. 

stick figures have never been more cute

Another awesome picture from my little artist Justin. 

Christmas wish list

Justin started working on his Christmas wish list. I am kind of surprised that he didn't just hand the entire catalog back to me and say "put it all on my list!"

Monday

Today I left work early for a 3:30 annual doctor visit. I got a flu shot. And blood drawn to check my vitamin d level. It got me thinking to how nearly six years ago the thought of a blood draw or shot totally freaked me out. What a waste of stress! There I was in that very same Dr office totally not freaking out or even stressing. In prior years the thought of getting a flu shot was far worse than the possibility of actually getting the flu. Sure, I'll take a week of feeling like total crap in place of a tiny poke in the arm - that. doesn't. even. hurt!  What was freaking out about all those years.  Sometimes I want to whack myself upside the head for being so dumb.

But due to the appointment I got home a little earlier than I normally do, fixed dinner, had a long bath, watched some TV and headed to bed early.  It is raining out.  We "fell back" yesterday and gained an hour, but now it gets dark so early and my internal clock is all kinds of confused.

oh how I have missed you...

eggnog latte - the second of many this holiday season!

Enjoyed while browsing the toy isle at Target where Justin was adding to his birthday and Christmas list.

unsavory tasks

Had a very productive day today that included a few things that were totally disgusting.

 Here is a brief run down of the good and gross:

• put together a lego Christmas toy store
• raked up leaves
• threw 6 moldy halloween pumpkins away
• cleaned guts from 5 mice from the garage floor
• made a lego turkey
• had my first eggnog latte of the season
• declogged the bath tub drain
• scrubbed poop off Justin's boots
• watched Toy Story 3
• washed 4 loads of laundry

Lego store

 I remembered that they had an actual Lego store at Washington Square mall and Justin was pumped about going to check it out.  This store is a lego lovers dream. 

artwork

Justin was very very excited to show me the drawing he made today at school!

That is me on the left and Justin on the right.  The story goes that Justin says "Mom!  You need a haircut!"  I say "Ack!  I need a hair cut!"  The building on the upper right is the hair cut place {the address on there is 191}.  The smaller buildings on the top are houses and the building in the middle is a gas station.  The green is grass.

This is pretty darn awesome if you ask me!

Lego wish list

The Lego catalog came today and Justin was indicating what he wanted for his birthday.  The list is mighty long!

Plankton

Justin drew a picture on my leg
{with my permission}. 

It's Plankton holding a balloon.

November! Already?

Today was a stormy fall day.  The wind swirled the leaves in the air and then it poured rain this evening.  I can't believe that is November all ready.  The countdown to Justin's birthday and to Christmas is on!  Justin asks me everyday how many more days until his birthday.  And now that Halloween is over he has indicated that I better get started on his birthday cake!