Happy Thanksgiving! I hope yours was filled with lots of great food, family, and good dessert.:)
We kept things pretty low-key but it was perfect. The weather was actually beautiful so we got the turkey in the oven and took a family walk. Molly even came with! I think it might be a new family tradition. Here we are taking a pit-stop along the walking path.
I had planned to go out early on Black Friday but it didn't happen. I get up at 3am enough on a weekly basis, I figured I would take a pass if it meant missing some deals.:) I got out there about 11-ish and still snagged some goodies. Although I did discover one of Gabriel's requests is going to be tough to track down. Evidently "Bakugan" is one of the hot items of the season. I had no idea! A buddy gave him one for his birthday and he's been asking for a bunch (along with trading cards). A fellow mom at Target in the empty Bakugan toy isle, informed me that I stumbled upon the latest craze. Great! Why can't Gabriel request a chess set?! Actually, it's the only "toy" on his list (he asked for a telescope, scouting items, etc) so it's not too bad. I'll keep you posted if I find any. Oh, and if you know of a shipment coming anywhere in NE Ohio, please let me know!:) Lol.
We, in the media always talk about the importance of geting a flu shot. Unfortunately, I usually don't get one myself, and Len has never gotten one! So today we stepped up and set the example. Thanks to Patty and Ken Frame from Euclid Hospital for coming in. Look how tough we are. (ha ha).:)
Also, today we were featured on "Good Morning Cleveland" on News Channel 5. Thanks to Brian, Pete, and Kimberly for coming, filming, and having some fun with us! If/when they post the video I will link it up. Here are the pictures.
We had such a great day today. Some days are challenging, other days you just want to freeze because they are so good. Today was one of those with the boys. Last night as Grant was helping me carry laundry upstairs, he commented that the big bundle made him look like he had a big belly, "like Santa". So jokingly I said: "you are Granta Claus"! We giggled and that was that. Well, today he took that and ran with it! He wanted to dress up like Santa and drive a sleigh and deliver toys. So we made a beard (that kept falling down) and we made up a story that Santa Claus got sick, so Granta Claus had to finish the delivery! I think we may make another home movie with that theme, it's just waiting to happen! Lol. Here are some pictures:
He's saying "Ho Ho Ho", and Molly was his reindeer!
Granta Claus has his sack of toys and is ready to hit the road.
This is one of my favorites. About a year ago I sent it to all my friends/family in a personal e-mail. I still refer to it periodically and I thought I should post it here. It's a great reflection and a powerful message. It's from a Catholic website but it's truly for all denominations, all people. It's called "Your Life's Movie" and if you have 2 minutes, please check it out here.
On another note, I have to share this e-mail from Janet:
Brooke,
My daughter, Sarah, and I made your pumpkin cookies over the weekend. They were delicious! Sarah enjoyed sharing them with our friends and neighbors.
Janet
Wohooo!! I am so glad you liked them (and they turned out)!:) You can see the recipe a few posts down. I'm feeling like it's time to whip up another batch!
A heartfelt, humble thanks to the 240 women who came out to the Mom Squad Luncheon at Hartville Kitchen. What a day! It was truly a blessing and I felt honored to be in such good company. Here is a pic of Mom Squad panel members Susan, Paula, Darlene (and me). Darlene had the idea that we color-coordinate our outfits...I love it!:) If you aren't familiar with the Mom Squad, check out our website at: www.themomsquad.blogspot.com. Hopefully we'll do it again next year!
Here is a picture of Kristine and me (she does afternoon drive and is our Promotions Director). She was a HUGE part of why this event was a success! P.S. Sorry about the glasses glare, I wish I had a tool to edit that out for Kristine.:)
Well, here it is! Jim's year-long hard work on the basement is just about complete. We haven't decorated yet (as you can tell) but who cares right...it's the basement after all.:) I still want to get some picture frames up, we have an art wall planned, etc. The other side is our movie/workout area. I actually like that we only have a few things down there right now because it allows the boys to...be boys! They wrestle and play football and we don't have to worry about much more than one of them getting rug burn. Thanks again to Jim! My handsome handy-man.:)
Earlier this week he sent me a news story from Fort Bragg that I thought was so funny. We used to live there when he was in the 82nd and Gabriel was actually born at the hospital referenced in the article. It's about how many of the soldiers came home at the same time and now 9 months later it's a baby boom the likes of which the city has never seen! Ha ha. We've all heard those stories before but not to the extent that it's happening in Fayetteville. Cute. Click here to read about the surge in babies.
This video is called "I'm Watching You Dad". A nice reminder.
About a year ago Jim signed for the weekly updates from All Pro Dad. It's an initiative started by coach Tony Dungy. Well, time and time again he has been touched by the information he gets. Tips about how to connect and talk to your kids, how to inspire leadership,etc. I love what they lists as the #1 way to be an "All Pro Dad" (Jim has a t-shirt with the top 10). It is: LOVE YOUR WIFE. Amen Tony! I think this website is great for anyone, but especially the great dads in your life.:)
I have found one of my new favorite cookies. Over the weekend my mom decided to bake something different and pulled out her old recipe box. She uncovered a finger-licking' treasure! Lol. We went over Sunday to visit with some relatives and everyone was raving about the cookies. It was such a hit that I decided to try to make them today. They turned out sooo good! The thing is, I only eat chocolate when it comes to dessert. I will mix it up with other flavors (chocolate mint, caramel, etc) but that's it. The boys are the same way so I was shocked when they gobbled up the cookies too! They are Pumpkin Butterscotch Drops. I didn't think I would dig pumpkin in a cookie but I am forever a fan! It's a good one for this time of year so I'm posting it in case you want to try it too.
Pumpkin Butterscotch Drop Cookies
3/4 cup butter (room temp.)
1 cup brown sugar
1 Large egg (beaten well)
1 cup canned pumpkin
1tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups of flour
1tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1tsp cinnamon
1 bag of butterscotch chips
*Lightly grease baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.
-I added mini marshmallows on top too.
Enjoy!:)
Gabriel did it! The second graders have been preparing to make First Reconciliation (confession) and Saturday was the big event! It's been such a blessing to experience school from the parent perspective. I love being a part of helping him learn things...and me re-learning it again! I can't believe all the things I forgot over the years, and it hasn't even been that long!:) Lol. The best times though, are when we discuss faith. Sometimes I am amazed that the conversations we have. I know this is just the beginning and I love every minute.
The other big event is that Jim FINALLY finished our basement! He started the project about a year ago and it's been a long time coming. He said it's the first...and last basement he will ever do! I think he did an amazing job and I give him credit for sticking with it. He gave me a few small projects to help him and I wanted to quit because I couldn't figure it out. If it was me doing it, I doubt the insulation would even be done yet!:) So thanks Jim for sticking with it and giving us a great space. I'll have to post some pics when it's decorated.
My last thing is another neat website I found. It's Christmas-Cookies.com. This weekend I was so tempted to put the tree up. The snow was falling, I'm still listening to that Faith Hill Christmas cd and it was the perfect ambiance to decorate. In the end I decided to wait but I still might go early and do it next week. Anyway, in the meantime I'm planning to try some new cookie recipes this season. The website I posted has over 540! Enjoy the site and let me know if you make any of them and I'll post the favorite's.:)
My husband Jim is so funny. You know, some men like to see their wives dressed up with their hair done and ready for a night on the town. Other guys like a lady more relaxed in an oversized sweatshirt and jeans. For my man, nothing beats some good Carhartt's! So you can imagine his joy when I sported this nice Carhartt flannel shirt and jacket. Ha. I am really excited to be working with Hartville Hardware to promote their line of women's Carhartt gear. I knew about the overalls and jackets for men, but I had no idea all the wonderful items for the ladies! I am thrilled to explore this new discovery!:) The kids line is also the same impeccable quality and durability. A few months ago Jim got Garrett all outfitted. Check out our duds!:) 
I was just going over my calendar and realized this week we are a month and a half away from Christmas! Our Toys R Us and Target toy catalogs came in the mail a few days ago so you know we are getting close.:) Jim even put up the Christmas lights over the weekend. We aren't going to turn them on for a while, but he thought it would be smart to hang them before the 20-below wind chills kick in.:) I kept thinking of Clark Griswold because Jim had to get on the roof and I was just hoping after risking life and limb that the lights would work! I have to say, this was a first for Jim. He's jumped out of airplanes as a Paratrooper in the Army, but hanging lights on our roof may have taken the cake! Our roof is not a friendly environment to be, so I am grateful he got down in one piece. I have a feeling we will be the house on the block with the icicle lights that stay up year-round!
I think my Faith Hill Christmas album jump-started my excitement for the holidays. I would rather be over-prepared though because usually it's the other way around. My schedule gets so busy and before I know it, I have only a few days to get everything wrapped up. Oh! Before I forget. I found a cute website with old Sears Christmas catalogs. Someone scanned in all the pages and it is funny! Brings back old memories for sure. It's www.wishbookweb.com.
Here's one the kids will LOVE! I found the cutest website and I admit, I probably love it as much as the boys! It's www.talkingpets.org. You type a message and make the dog/cat talk. You can get funnier than that for a 2 year old, (or a 30 year old apparently)!
I found this article about the election and I thought it was a good perspective. Speak it sister!
What a beautiful weekend! Here are some pics of my cowboys, daddy, and even Molly dressed up.
Yes, we are one of "those" dog owners now! I never thought we would dress Molly up but we had a coupon and it was my chance to buy something pink.:) Ha. Here is our neighbor Megan too, she loved the tutu!
