The Adventures of Jimmy Gourd, and Jerry Gourd
It all started when I was out last week, and Brad was home with the girls. I came home to an ever-so-enthusiastic Liv, who was eager to show me her two new friends, Jimmy Gourd and Jerry Gourd. They were created by Brad, which made them that much more popular. (Many of you probably recognize our new housemates from Veggie Tales).

Anyway, for the last week Liv has been playing with her two new friends. She chatted with them at breakfast (their home was her little table). They colored with her, they were great company. The problem started, when it came time to prepare our part of the Thanksgiving Feast: Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing, and SQUASH. Liv was distraught. It went something like this.

Liv: MOMMY, that's Jimmy Gourd and Jerry Gourd! Mommy, Daddy made those!

Me: Yeah, I know..... =0( (trying to think of what I am going to tell her)

Liv: But what are you doing with them? Does Daddy know you are doing that to his Jimmy Gourd and Jerry Gourd, Bets?

Me: Yes Daddy knows... We have to bring them to Nana's house for our special dinner.

Liv: (As I finish washing them off, and begin to cut them, and then throw them in boiling water) (pretending to be Jimmy Gourd and Jerry Gourd) AAHHH, OUCH! THAT HURTS!! OUCH OUCH AHHHHHHHHHH OUCH THAT SHARP FING HURTS ME! OUCH!

Me: (All I can do is laugh)

Liv: (Still destraut, and a little bit confused)

Who knew it was more sad to eat two squash, than a turkey!

Fresh Cranberry Sauce

Ooh, this is so yummy! It is my sister Angi's recipe, and you definitely need to adopt it into your Thanksgiving feast!

1 bag fresh cranberries
1 apple, cored and quartered
1 orange, peeled and quartered
about 1/2 -1 cup sugar (to taste)

Put the cranberries, apple, and orange in your food processor, process and then add sugar to taste.

Thats it! Easy, and DELICIOUS! We even ate it last night on Pork Chops, and it was a hit!

Happy Eating!!

Traditions

Okay, so as of today, both of my sisters are home at my parents house for the Thanksgiving Holiday. I really wish I was there, and I am feeling homesick. SO, I have decided that I need to start planning something festive. What are some of your FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS??

Some that I have heard-

• On Thanksgiving day, write letters to members of your family telling them why you are thankful for them, put the letters inside their Christmas stockings.
• Have a Thanksgiving table clothe, each year have everyone write what they are thankful for on it.-- Thanks to the Tews, and the Rolands.
• Have a Pie night the night before Thanksgiving, everyone brings a pie and you eat until you can't eat any more, that way on Thanksgiving day, you don't miss out because you are too full =0).

I can't wait to hear what YOUR favorite holiday traditions are!!

Still the same old DADI came across this picture of my dad playing baseball in High School. It speaks volumes about my father. He is still the same guy. Not afraid to be the only one wearing jeans, and his everyday shoes while everyone else is decked out in their baseball specific attire. It is probably just as likely that he forgot to bring his uniform as it is that he didn't buy one.

Here are some of my favorite "Frugal Dad" moments from my childhood-

1. When we went on road trips (i.e. every summer we would drive 24 hours to Utah to visit Grandparents, etc.) if we ever asked for a special drink at the gas station, he would bring us back "ice juice." a.k.a. water, that is after he told us how the Indians used to suck on rocks when they were thirsty. (I am laughing, almost crying as I type this, I hope you think it is even a little bit funny =0)..)
2. Him Duct taping everything together to make it last longer.... including the side view mirror on his truck.
3. He made/fixed almost everything, and if he didn't already know how to do it, he would learn.
4. He has never passed up a pile of free dirt, rocks, manuer, fill in the blank on the side of the road. No matter what he is wearing, he fills up the back of his truck with the golden item, and puts it to good use.

I know there are more, that I just can't think of right now... Angi and Kari, you will have to remind me of some of your favorites, and thanks Angi for the picture =0).

Boston
We had a little mini trip this weekend. Brad had Friday off, and we headed down to Boston. We had planned to spend the afternoon in Salem, Mass. -- Home of the Salem Witch trials. We got there, went to the visitors center, and decided it was too scary for Liv. SO, we went on a walk around Salem. It was such a neat, well kept, old city. Full of great old architecture, quaint little shops, and this dry fountain. We played here for at least an hour. Liv jumped around and let her little imagination run wild. She orchestrated a whole little world here. As it began to get dark, we headed over to a little soup cafe that had been featured in FOOD magazine, it was SO YUMMY! Especially since our hands and noses were cold from the crisp fall air. Saturday, we took the girls to a babysitter while Brad and I went to the Boston temple (I was so proud of myself for actually finding a babsitter in a town where we really know no one....I called the Young Woman's president in the ward of the Boston Temple, and VwaLLAaAa a cute little teenager who was SO happy to watch my munchkins). Being in the temple is always such a peaceful experience =0). After we picked up the girls, we went to a wonderful little Indian restaraunt, called Kashish. Being a Chicago girl at heart, I do miss the variety of tastey food, and good shopping that is available in a big city. We took advantage while we could (the food, not the shopping.) These are really the only pictures I took, although I must admit I was salivating at all the awesome "backdrops" in Salem, but I opted to play instead =0).

I used to be Crabby =0)

One of the things that really attracted me to blogging in the first place, is the idea that I could use it as a journal. I guess this way of keeping track of memories is why I love blogging. As I think of it, that is also a HUGE reason why I love pictures. Just another way to hold on to the precious moments in life. Even with the hundreds of pictures I take each month, I have only ever looked back at months past and thought, "I wish I had taken more pictures" =0). This will make complete sense to some of you, and seem crazy to others. Anyway, all of this is to say, this is the first time I am posting with the idea that what I am about to say is a true Journal Entry.
About a month ago, I went to church looking for something. I really missed my family, and I had developed a complaining spirit about me, and didn't realize it. Our Relief Society lesson was on Gratitude that day. A real answer to my prayers. I really felt this principle speak to me. The teacher is a mother of 5+ children, all grown, except one who is in High School or Junior High (I'm not sure). She is now raising many of her daughters children. Until recently, they did not have a car. She spoke of how grateful she was for A, B, C... (A whole list of things). She spoke of looking at our lives and seeing our blessings. What a perfect lesson for this month of Thanksgiving. I left that day feeling inspired, and full of gratitude. I have SO many blessings, I was just crabby because I was looking at them as, how it would be better if... or I wish... I have been counting my blessings, and it has made all the difference!
This goes right along with President Eyering's talk about keeping a journal of God's hand in our lives(If you don't know what I am talking about, I can get you a copy of this talk...it is very good).
I am so grateful for this time of year when we focus on our blessings....the perfect introduction to the next season, where we celebrate the birth of Christ...the greatest blessing of all!

Happy Holidays =0)!

Vignette-

Okay, for a long time, I have been trying to figure out how to create a vignette in Photoshop. I have tried a million ways, and haven't been happy with any of them. Well, I found one I like, so I thought I would pass it along =0). Here is the link=0)

Today...

I started singing Christmas songs with Liv... I am really feeling the Christmas spirit this year! I can't wait to pull out all of my decorations =0).