The Day After

CA and I started our day at Le Petit Paris French Bakery with some excellent coffee and sharing an almond and an apricot croissant. 

Some of the Fun Kids posed with the Lemon and Raspberry Tarts we made yesterday morning. Then, they decided that they wanted a silly pic. 

We managed some last minute gift wrapping in the driveway. Amazon had been busily shipping gifts directly to our daughter's home. 

No tree yet, so we dedicated this corner as the gift repository. Worked for us. Each family will be celebrating separately from us this Christmas.

JE had arranged a photo session for the entire family. We snuck into their neighbors backyard instead of going to the local park, as planned. Thinking we'll have some fine family photos to document this special holiday together. 

DM and I took the 6 Fun Kids to see Trolls at 4:00pm, and we finished out our time together with pizza and then gathered around the firepit with some Creamy Limoncello while the kids jumped on the trampoline in the dark.

We've had a wonderful Thanksgiving; time together as a family. Love, laughter, stories, photo ops, and lots of great food. 

Thanksgiving Day

Our day began with a round of Pie Face. Much more fun than logic might suggest. Delightful for all ages. 

Early in the day, we decided to include GG in our celebration, even though she's hundreds of miles away in her sheltered-care home. 

A favorite pic of GG and JA from a few years ago. 

We took many more photos than usual to text to her, and we FaceTimed throughout the day. 

Here we're sending "cheers" her way. GG loves a good drink. 

The Fun Kids find a tight corner to play together. Where's JA?

There he is! Watching football with Uncle DM. 

Next, while the Fun Kids moms find spots to relax, the kiddos play another game together: Apples-to-Apples. 

Our turkey is in the oven. Looking rather angelic. 

The Apple Crisp with Oat Topping is hot and juicy. Recipe from allrecipes.com. The same recipe I made for CA in the early years of our marriage--from the red and white checkered Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. We ate this with vanilla ice cream. 

I sent this pic to family and friends to illustrate how I was spending my day. 

The beautiful 12-foot table that MA's dad built out of reclaimed barn wood is almost ready for our feast. Four generations of Carlsons and Smiths have lived on the farm in Waverly, Nebraska. This wood is from a barn that was recently disassembled and reclaimed in such a lovely way. JE and MA did all the finishing work themselves, and the table is beautiful. 

The instant-read thermometer said he was done. He wasn't, but we had enough meat for all. Next time we'll stick that thermometer into a variety of places before believing the turkey is done. 

Almost ready to eat. 

We had a wonderful meal, and a perfect family celebration of all the love and blessings our family enjoys. Our hearts belong to Jesus, our redemptive savior and Lord. God is so loving and kind to us. Great Grandpa died just 2 weeks ago at 95 years old. He's with Grandma now. (my parents). GG (CA's mom) had a close-call in September, but she's healthy and strong now, and truly enjoying life.

Family Updates

DM had a birthday last Sunday.

LG was in her school production.

My brother is now a grandfather. Natalie Ann, born late Saturday, 4/16 to my sweet niece JM and her husband MW.

We celebrated my mother-in-law's 88th birthday (4/28) a bit early. CA, GP, and LFW at Metamora Fields.

Our Fun Kids got together in Fort Collins for Easter.

I celebrated RvH's birthday with her by going along for her cataract surgery!

Since both RvH's (4/1) and CA's (4/2) birthdays were just after Easter, I baked them each a coconut-lemon cake.

Our Cincinnati Fun Kids are now our Omaha Fun Kids. Out-and-about exploring their new territories.

Eew-w-w...

I told CA that this will be us in a few years!

The Fun Kids are On the Move

JE's family is moving back to Omaha, so we got a few fun-filled days with the Cincinnati Fun Kids while they were on the road. Woodstock had just the right amount of snow.

March 4 - 8: Omaha

Unfortunately, all photos in this post were just iPhone shots.

Too much luggage to include a good camera.

Long before Mr. Shingles came for a visit, I'd made reservations for Omaha. MA had to be out-of-town and I was invited to stay with the Fun Kids and JE for part of that time.

We stuck pretty close to home, because of my limitations, but JE had plans each day for the Fun Kids. We ate Chinese, we ate Chipotle, we made some burgers, I had a quiet lunch in Midtown at Cantina Loredo--it's always about the food.

Both kids were on their knees on this table watching a "show" when I approached

with my camera phone, but JA high-tailed it out of there lickety-split. Camera shy?

LE got to hand-pick her birthday gift--pink ballet slippers we ordered from Payless Shoes Online. And, both the older Fun Kids had beautiful red boxes with green polka dots filled with small gifts. They each chose, throughout the day, 1-2-or-3 small gifts with their eyes closed. Fun, fun.

JA wanted to wear his retro-Cubs grey t-shirt for pre-school, over the new button shirt. And, he loves button-front shirts. In fact, on Monday morning every member of the Smith family was wearing a new shirt picked out by moi!

This one's from Christmas, but it's my favorite.

LC is the to-die-for baby. He's gorgeous, flirtatious, and yet shy. He loves his mommy, but worships me from afar! He's insisting, at 7-1/2 months, that solid food is the way to go. Very observant of what the older two are doing and desperate to be on their team.

From August, but it's obvious why I have to repeat it here.

Miss Lucy-Lu loves her daddy!

LE is full of witticisms and as sweet as a small, almost 3 year-old girl can be. She's such a helper and pleaser. Decided at one point to call me Grammy, but questions immediately if that was a nice word. She also wanted to call JA, Jo-Jo, which he declined vehemently.

JA is all testorerone and energy, with crazy dance moves, brilliant made-up games, and make-believe. He loves music. He's very orderly-minded and, poor dear, a very overactive brain that takes up to 1-1/2 hours to unwind at night.Yet, he mostly waits it out until the Sandman mercifully arrives.

JE made me feel welcome and appreciated. I loved every second.

Wucy Witticisms

Last night JE bought a set of Peter Rabbit silverware at Pottery Barn Kids for almost 3 year old LE. Too late, she remembered they were still in her purse this morning.

LE pulled them out and said, "I want a computer for my birthday, not silverware!"

Later, JE thought she'd hide the silverware. Maybe LE would forget about it and still be surprised. She couldn't find it, and finally asked LE. LE ran into the playroom-office and reached under the couch. She'd wrapped it in a paper towel and hidden it--so it'd be a surprise ofr her birthday.

Later LE and JA were sword fighting in the kitchen--he with a long spoon and she with a rectangular blue plastic lid as a shield. All the time LE was yelling, "Use your inside voice, Jonah. Use your inside voice, Jonah."

Wucy's Wisdom

From her daddy's Facebook today:

This morning while watching cartoons with my two year old daughter she offered this commentary on the pink female villain: 'I like that she is pink, but I do NOT like her attitude!"

Taking My Act on the Road

Can't remember source. So sorry... Please let me know if you know.

The snuggle bugs in Omaha are calling my name... I fly out of Midway in Chicago very, very early tomorrow morning. I can hardly wait.

I'll be more of an on-looker this time due to the lingering neuropathy (nerve pain) from my recent Shingles virus. Still, we'll have such fun.

There will be gifts. There will be treats. And, giggles, squeals, and delight. The kids will probably make some noises, too. :)

CA stays home to coach soccer and check-up on GG who has developed pneumonia, congestive heart failure, etc. She's really sick, but getting better. Right now she's resting in the hospital, just where she should be.

If all goes well in Omaha, I may have a quick trip to Cincinnati in the near future. Yep! Our kids are on the move and because they'll be closer (just 5-1/2 hours) than usual, they've invited me to join them.

The little girls in Orlando have been enjoying the hot weather and doing lots of swimming. They love having a pool and lots of friends to enjoy it with. Florida has been a dream come true for DM + MK's family this year. Loving it.

 

FUN KIDS