Who's got the poop?

Never to early to start Beer Pong

Penelope voices concerns to Kerri

The KIDS at 17/18 months old






This toy is a HIT


Great reading material

Reading a book like a good teachers son

Ladies at Play

WHY OH WHY can't I ride in this wagon


Tuesday it was our turn to host! I always use Mom's group as a time to get all the food I crave but don't have a reason to make. Thanksgiving this year I missed out on pumpkin pie...so of course I had to make one for the ladies and I to enjoy. We started our day upstairs watching the kids admiring my Christmas tree. Then we headed downstairs which is filled with kid delight. They watched my tacky Disney Christmas clock set, and played with Rylan's toys. This time round Rylan seemed actually OK about people touching "his stuff". At one point all of the girls surrounded the little table and one of them was "delegating" it seemed..and I thought "hey they are already playing school". The boys got in a mini shoving match and tried to work it out on their own. Penelope saw a mini wagon and didn't know WHY she couldn't go for a ride in it. Rylan decided to get a head start on college and began to play "Beer Pong". My plastic cup of soda was his aim for sending various things at it trying to get it in. When someone mentioned Beer Pong..I had to laugh and HAD to video tape it...as it 100% looked like it. When something smelled alittle funky in the room I began to check pants...I got to Julia and as I was looking she yelled out "YUP"....like she was saying "ding ding ding...you found the winner" :-)
As always it was great to have everyone over and look forward to the next time which will be our HOLIDAY PARTY!
Next week we are off to Bianca's and Anthony Joseph's house!

Happiest of Turkey Times

I don't want to be an Indian I want to be a PILGRIM


The Pilgrim and the ladies he brought over on the Mayflower

HURRAY For Thanksgiving

Hostess gives love to Blogger Mom


A Happy Hostess


I LOVE COLORING

Rylan is...

...HAPPY

AJ saving his Money for a gift for MOM

Ashley..

...and her pretty dress

Julia..

...and her fancy princess shoes

Just Chillen

All of our reasons to be thankful!

Someone does not want a group photo

The Pilgrim and the Indian

Our Thankful Craft

Pilgrim and the Indian seal it with a kiss


We celebrated Thanksgiving this week over Meridith's and Penelope's house. Looking around us mom's could see alot to be thankful for. Our kids happily ran around in their holiday attire. Some even were brave and left the Indian or pilgrim headbands on! Meridith made the BEST food! It was a mini Thanksgiving feast which was topped off with a homemade pumpkin ice cream cake. (yes she got out her ice cream maker and MADE it...unlike the rest of us who has one stored somewhere collecting dust). She also got some great little hand print crafts for the kids! Rylan and I got there early as usual and had some great one on one time with the 2 hostesses. Then the party got rocken but we missed Pam and Melody (poor Mel was sick with an ear infection). The party even ended with a sweet kiss!
Here is the amazing recipe for one of the awesome things Meridith made:

Turkey Cranberry Wreath

2 pkg. refrigerated crescent rolls
1/2 C. mayonnaise
2 T. honey Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. coarsely ground pepper
2 C. cooked turkey, chopped
1/2 C. celery, sliced
3 T. fresh parsley, snipped
1/2 C. sweetened dried cranberries
5 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded
1 egg white, beaten

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Unroll crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles. With wide ends of triangles toward the center. arrange 8 triangles in a circle on Large Round Stone. Corners of wide ends will touch and points will extend 1 inch beyond of baking stone. Arrange remaining 8 triangles in center. matching ends. Seal seams using pizza roller. (Points will overlap in center; do not seal.)

Combine turkey, 1 cup of cheese, celery, cranberries, parsley, mayo, mustard, and black pepper. Scoop filling over seams of dough, forming a circle.

Beginning in center, lift one dough triangle across mixture. Continue alternating with outer triangle, slightly overlapping to form wreath. Tuck last end under first.

Beat egg white lightly; brush over dough. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Yields 8 servings.

Macy's PRE Parade

The Mom's: Pam Loni and Aimee

They watched the entire time without a sound!

Garfield (the parents enjoyed this oldie but goodie!)

Hey Noah are you having a good time over there?

Popeye

If I eat my cracker maybe I will look like him one day

Elmo...a crowd pleaser for the tots

Noah enjoying Elmo

Oscar

Melody is dreaming of her own parade

"Hey Noah isn't this parade rocken?"

Melly wakes for Santa

Today...on this very chilly Sunday...a few of us MOM's, a few hubby's, and our darling little ones headed to Stanford for the "pre" Macy's day parade. Pam let us know a few weeks ago that every year they put on this parade in order for the balloon handlers and people involved in the "real" parade in NYC on Thanksgiving day, get a practice shot in. Poor Melody had a rough night of sleep last night and ended up sleeping through the entire thing until Santa came at the end. Yep she is a smart one...wakes up for Santa just so she can tell him she has been NICE this year (to bad mom has been naughty (just kidding Pam!))! It was a great parade FULL of GREAT GIANT balloons that are some of the kids fav characters. The crowd wasn't so large that you couldn't see, parking was easy, and we had great company. Loni and Noah joined us which was great because we miss seeing them! We ended the day by going to the diner which YES we dined with 3 toddlers at the table...and they were absolute angels (the waitress on the other hand NOT SO MUCH as she snarled at Loni for requesting honey mustard!). It was an all around great day and we certainly look forward to going each year!

Crafty Kerri turns it up a knotch

How cute is this hostess?


Melly ready for PREP school


Food brings people of all ages together


Today Featuring Julia: Mommas' Girl


Ry on the run


CHEEEEEEESSSEEEEEEE (and crackers please)


Rylan takes hold of Ashley


Ladies at play


Rylan's crafty shirt


Penelope enjoys watching it spin!


AJ enjoys Spinning too!



This week Kerri and Ashley hosted our group. Most of the kids took late naps this week so sadly We missed most of the group (Rylan is DONE for the day by 4 (and so is MOM)). But here is my recap of what went down while there.
Kerri made some chicken fingers with sweet potato puree from the deceptively delicious cookbook (see link list to check it out). She also snagged some t-shirts for the kids at Bob's Furniture store and we made "craft" tee's for when we don't want the kids to get dirty but enjoy the craft. Kerri let us dig into her assortment of fabric paint to make them special. Emily and Kerri told us all about MOPS (see link list for details) which seems like a fantastic support for moms and one I certainly hope to look into. Next week we are enjoying our Thanksgiving holiday gathering at Meridith's and Penelope's! It will be GREAT! It is hard to believe that the holidays are happening SO SOON!