Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgivng from these turkey's to your turkey's

Shiny Brite

Mrs Epi and I have been on the lookout on our thrifting adventures for Shiny Brite Ornaments. The picture above is how I display mine during Christmas. This picture is from last year. Don't look to close. There is dust. I like glass candlestick holders. I display different things on the top. The Shiny Brite Ornaments that I have belonged to Giant Man Child's Grandma. I am itching to put out my Christmas Decorations.

Thanksgiving Art

Chuckles - age 6

Art #1 Son purchased from another 5th grader during Market Day

Diva - Age 6

Kitty Love

Picture by the Diva - Age 6

The kittens took a trip to Nonna's house but the older cat there didn't really take a liking to the kittens. So, the kittens are back at our house.

Puss trying to Escape

Chuckles and Puss

Link Love

It's Thursday and WE need some entertainment. Well, the Polyester Princess is demanding entertainment. She is very demanding.

Here are some interesting links

Kid Photography

Foot Bike I think this would be perfect for #1 Son who compulsively scooter rides and bike rides. This is a combo of both. Too bad, it is $300. Doesn't this look fun.

Jesse Tree I have never heard of this tradition but it sounds like a great way to put more meaning in the Christmas season.

Eddie Ross - If you haven't checked out his blog you need to . He is a total thrift God. I can only hope to have his thrift skills.

Penguins

Chuckles - Age 6

Chuckles: Wouldn't it be really cool if we had a really cold room and THERE were penguins in there.?"

Me: Hmmm!!!

This is my conversation with him before I had my first cup of coffee.

A Week in my Life

I have been working on "A week in my Life" project found on Ali Edwards blog. I have finally completed the actual scrapbook portion of it. YEAH! It really highlighted my change of season in my personal life. I noticed that there are lots of pictures of things and my kids but none of me. I've got kinda lost. It highlighted the in-between feeling that I am having. I am able to fill my days but is it with activities that are quality or simple busyness. I am on the cusp of seeking more employment or volunteering more time. There are pros and cons to both. I am really missing connecting with other Moms that I did through MOPS and preschool and taking care of Chuckles and #1 Son. That has been my identity for so long that I feel kinda lost without it.

I also feel so lucky that I have some great friends that keep me grounded (Mrs Epi and Mrs Respiratory Therapist)who can laugh with me or at me. I also have the Polyester Princess to laugh at me and remind me I am still older than her.
I am still finding my purpose. I am OKwith that.

Kittens

While, I was gone The Giant Man Child found two kittens in our wood pile. Aren't they cute? Don't you want to adopt them? The Giant Man Child is calling them Puss and Boots. They are both girls. As much as I would like to keep them, I can't as The Giant Man Child is allergic to cats.

Viva Las Vegas

Fremont Street
My lucky self and Mrs Epi spent most of the week in Vegas celebrating my Birthday. We had a good time . We stayed at the Excalibur for 2 nights and 1 night at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Bellagio

Photographic Proof that I CAN make it pass 10 pm. LOL

edited to add: I can't thank my hubby enough and Mrs Epi 's hubby for manning the home front so we both could get away. It was much appreciated.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Happy 37th Birthday to ME!

Going on a Trip

Mrs Epi and I are going on a trip in honor of my Birthday. So, I will update my blog on Thursday. I have a special scheduled post for that day. Can't wait to share all the details of our fab trip. I know it is a little sad that I have Little Einstein's Theme Song in my head for my trip. Maybe that is a sign I need to get away.

Read Aloud Update

Well, we are doing some more read aloud. We finished the SOS Files. That was a good one as it was short stories within a big story. There is one story that made me a little uncomfortable so if read this one to your little ones you might want to pre-read. Now we are working on Stone Fox. It is a good read. It more on the mature side and a definite boy story. These both are good reads for a Kindergartner and 5th grader. I have no idea what we are going to read after this. I keep a box of Christmas Books but I think it is too early for that.

Confused Cacti

Well, I think my Christmas Cactus is confused. Hey, it is dark and rainy here. I have a lot of time on my hands. LOL

My Thanksgiving Cactus is early. The whole world is going to hell in a hand basket. The picture below is of some Christmas Cactus that Kevin's Nanna had. These are huge. This picture really doesn't do it justice. She was definitely the Christmas Cactus whisperer.

Election Day Graffiti

This is the railroad bridge that is along the main through fare into our town. For along as I have been a resident here, there has been graffiti on it. 90% of the time there is Metallica stenciled on this bridge. I kid you not. Our heavily manned police department isn't able to catch this urban artist. But evidently our Metallica graffiti artist is an Obama Supporter.

One thing I can say about this election, it has brought out passion in both sides. For fairness sake, I did see McCain spray painted on a large rock south of Bellingham. (No pic!) I hope that passion brings people to the voting booth. For gosh sakes, the candidate graffiti should be in your ballot not on a bridge where it can actual count for something.

Read Aloud

We have been working on some read aloud. It is a struggle to find books that fit a Kindergartner and a 5th grader. Sometimes it just is easier to read to them separately. As Mrs Respiratory and I were glancing through the Scholastic book order form, we were discussing how difficult it to choose books. There are so many good ones out there. My Kindergartner is working on all those lovely sight words so I have been really concentrating on finding early readers so he can help me read. We have been doing a lot of reading. So, I went back to the bible of reading aloud, Jim Trelease The Read-Aloud Handbook for some suggestions. This book was recommended to me when #1 Son first started to read. Trelease makes some compelling arguments for continuing to read aloud even up until High School. You just have to be a little more subtle and crafty. LOL My 5th grader enjoys reading with me sometimes he is just a listener and other times he helps in the reading. He will read just about anything. I have to admit though I have somewhat fallen down on reading aloud with him so I hope to get back to doing that with him. It is rewarding for both of us.

Chuckles reading - age 2?

Chula Vista - 2003? Chuckles and #1 Son

Seriously, I can't make this stuff up.

A couple weeks of ago, I see a guy in a duster riding a horse with a burro attached at the gas station. It was just weird. I seriously did a double take. Later, I saw him riding down a very busy country road and I still thought it was strange. We have a lot of people who ride horses around here just not on major roads. Well, apparently he rode here all the way from Oklahoma. Here is the story . I just can't make this stuff up. LOL

SPOOKS

Princess, Bones, #1 Son, and Chuckles

#1 Son wanted to be a ghost and after the whole Clone Trooper Debacle Chuckles decided he too would be a ghost. #1 Son kept saying this idea for a costume looked better on paper. LOL He told me next year he wants to be Luke Skywalker.

Big E (Didn't get a pic of his sister, The Diva. She was an adorable Dorothy.)

Me - Princess Fiona (Stop laughing Polyester Princess - the IHOP Queen)

Emma our Neighbor did this pumpkin - It's says Boo with Obama's Face. Her parents are McCain supporters. She totally free handed Obama's face. Impressive!

Giant Man Child's Pumpkin lit up

All in all it was a nice Halloween as the all day rain stopped. We had a lovely meal of mummy dogs and vampire cookies prior to trick or treating. It was perfect weather for trick or treating. We only had about 20 trick or treaters. Our street is secluded so that isn't that unusual. One of the best costumes we saw was a whole family dress as the Incredibles (Mom and Dad and kids).