thanksgiving '09

what a great day! dinner for 12! centerpieces! 6 pies! this was the best photo of the day -- my mom pretending to beat auntie nancy over the head with a turkey leg.:) silly girl.

oh deer!

here is a photo of my dear cutting up some deer. another one of his many many talents!!!

IKEA

went on a road trip with my mom and auntie lana last saturday. we went to trader joe's, a fabric warehouse, IKEA, and the albertville outlet malls. that's a lot of shopping! it was fun and exhausting. we arrived at IKEA just in time for lunch at the cafeteria. i had the stuffed salmon with sides, and a princess cake! if you know me at all...you will know that this was very very exciting for me.:) the sunny cafeteria had a view you don't get every day -- the mall of america! which we didn't even consider as a shopping destination for the day.

auntie lana hadn't even heard of trader joe's. she didn't know what the fuss was all about. but, she was a bit impressed, i think. she and mom were both very excited with the french baguettes they bought.:) i was excited about everything and i vow to bring a cooler with next time!

i am a big fan of IKEA. i started clapping with glee when we got near. which amused my auntie.:) it wasn't just IKEA that i was so excited about, or the lovely meal, it was jack's Christmas present. i had spied an easel in the catolog for only $15!!! chalkboard on one side, dry erase board on the other. it has a tray down below and i bought the roll of paper so you can use the easel to paint. i can't wait to put it all together, wrap it, and put it under the tree. there's nothing like a huge Christmas present! jack will be so excited.

FUNKY

jack and i found this old pair of dan's sunglasses in the basement. photo op!:)

snuggle time

jack had just got up from a nap. he was still groggy and wanted a snuggle. the camera was at hand. i thought i'd get in a few shots of us together. you know, so he'd know i was around.:)

caught brown handed!

jack helped himself to some cupcakes the other day.:) naughty! but, so cute. he pushed a chair over to the counter. i didn't think he really knew the cupcakes were in that container. i guess i underestimated him! he unwrapped 4 of them, and licked the frosting off of about 5. there's also one with a bite out from the previous day. what a scamp!:) was he repentant? NO! you have never seen anyone so pleased with himself.

this has got to stop...

jack likes to steal our shoes and wear them around. this day it was my current favorite knit slippers. at least he wears them with ATTITUDE.

holding on...

for now.:) sometimes i lay on the floor next to jack's bed when he starts a nap. sometimes i fall asleep myself...only to be awakened by the sound of my own snoring! he wanted to sleep this way with his head on my arm. once again i had my camera. don't know why, but i was so glad.

the prince and the pea

jack has a toddler bed. it's a hand-me-down from angie's kids. he's WILD about it. love! i am glad. i was worried he might make a fuss about moving out of his "cribby". as soon as dan put it together jack wanted to get in it. dan piled a bunch of love seat cushions in it and made a little bed, complete with pillow and blankies, for jack. jack reminded me of the "princess and the pea" fairytale. once again i rushed for my camera.

buddies

well, here's jack's favorite buddy. papa dan! papa came over to visit the other day. jack immediately took him by the hand and led him to his bedroom. then he got behind papa and pushed papa's behind right through the door.:) then he shut the door. after a bit i heard them playing "rock 'em sock 'em robots" and had to get a photo.

"mus mash"

jack calls these a "mus mash". he takes a drink from his cup and laughs saying he has a "mus mash like papa!". :) this mus mash was made out of homemade kool-aid play-doh.

"the stout scout"

that's what dan named it.:) isn't that cute? dan's uncle jim gave him this old International Scout. dan has had it about a year. just recently he ripped the body off it, added huge tires, chopped up the body, added brakes, and a roll bar. hopefully seatbelts will be next, if they aren't already added. andy has been helping him with the modifications. it is really fun to use. dan took jack and i for a ride. we had a great time! and i'm really glad that my shoe didn't melt all the way through... i was stepping on the exhaust pipe, apparently!

a frenzied flurry of knitting

i haven't posted on knitting in a while... but that doesn't mean i haven't been knitting! i knitted the first hat for a lady at church who wanted it to match a special knit snowsuit for her baby. this was my first time working a pattern into a band of color and my first pompom! i love learning new techniques. the second set of "butterfly" hats were knit for a cousin-in-law and her kid. the last hats and booties were a baby gift for a cousin. whew! and now i am knitting for december bdays and Christmas!!! and after that?... hat for jack and a sweater for me. please?:)

an alternative to halloween -- part 4

halloween was over ages ago! you are crazy, schroeder! yes, i know. these things happen. this will be the end of halloween altenative, i promise.

isn't it sweet to see your child make his first friends? i can't get enough. watching jack and abby take a drinky break and run around in circles with paper airplanes made my heart swell with motherly happiness.

i just wanted to share how GREAT the Church's party was. a LIGHT in a very dark holiday. light. don't we all need more light? well, everyone needs THE LIGHT. "even so, come Lord Jesus."...

an alternative to halloween -- part 3

pumpkin carving! fun and scary at the same time. not that the pumpkins scare me... i am afraid of the knives!:O i gave jack the ultra-safe task of "stirring" the guts.

an alternative to halloween -- part 2

i made 5 double batches of kool-aid play-doh for the party. it smelled so good. the kids loved it! so glad. jack SAT in the same (jack just interrupted me to say, "i'm so happy to see you."! i'm in love!) chair for hours!!! there were some other play-doh lovers that kept him company.:) there is an ice cream bucket of play-doh on the dining room table right now. once i saw how well he played with it, well, it is going to be around all the time! have to encourage his artistic side, of course! and, of course, he is truly gifted.;)

an alternative to halloween -- part 1

i've got a lot of photos from this year's "halloween alternative" held at my Church. so much fun! i didn't really put jack in a costume. he has this really fun tee that makes him look like popeye. look, he's making muscles.:) and he wore the funky fun belt that papa dan made for him.

at one point i realized that my BABY was playing "box hockey". i was glad to see that dan was supervising him.:) i think jack really did a good job. that action wasn't too intense :), but the puck did make it from side to side and out the goal slots. and then the little boys would raise their sticks and yell, "YES!!!". as you can see, jack has natural athletic ability.;)

giraffes in the rain

kids NEED time outdoors. kids NEED to be warm and dry when they are outdoors. soooo, therefore kids NEED giraffe raincoats. and the rainboots just happen to match!:) jack was so happy. i am so happy.

babysitting benson

sweet little benson comes over sometimes on fridays. it is so much fun to have a friend over for jack. jack just adores benson. this is a photo of a snack time. these are some serious babies.