A North Carolina Thanksgiving

Me, Myself and I

Besides having to work 2 of the days they were gone (Wednesday and Friday), and spending Thanksgiving afternoon/evening at the Moss's, here is what I did with my time while Phillip and Ellen spent 5 glorious days in North Carolina:

• Slept in
• Piddled around the house
• Cleaned, lots of cleaning
• Laundry, lots of laundry
• Went Christmas shopping
• Wrapped presents
• Trimmed my bangs
• Talked to/Texted Phillip regularly
• Talked to my parents
• Searched the web
• Arranged the letter magnets on the the refrigerator in alphabetical order
• Grocery shopped
• Watched football
• Watched movies
• Played with the dogs
• Decorated our Christmas tree
• Listened to Christmas music whenever I was in the car
• Counted down the days, then eventually the hours, until they would be home

I liked having some time to myself.  I need that every once in a while.  But I sure did miss my partners in crime.

Under one roof

My Phillip and my Ellen are home!

The first thing Ellen wanted to do when she got home tonight was show me a "surprise" she had in her backpack.  Nana, Phillip's Mom, gave her a reindeer Christmas ornament and she was anxious for me to see it.  Since I already had the Christmas tree up and decorated, I let Ellen pick a spot to hang it.  She was so funny about that tree!  She looked at (and touched) every ornament.  I just sat on the floor and watched her.  It was magical.

I am now officially in the Christmas spirit.

Keeping me in the loop

Caleb emailed me these pictures so I could be a part of my family's Thanksgiving meal.  Phillip has been keeping me updated on the happenings at home (Charlotte and Winston-Salem).  It sounds like everyone is having a great weekend.  Eating, shopping, playing, laughing... memories are being made.

My little turkey

As Ellen was running around the house over the weekend the crotch of her pants kept getting lower and lower (makes me want to sing, "Pants on the ground, pants on the ground.  Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground").  We were finally able to pull her pants up far enough to keep this from continually happening only to discover they could double as a one piece outfit.  Not the look we were going for.  Ellen thought it was funny.  Here she is trying to pull them up herself.

Count your blessings, name them one by one...

...Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

Happy Thanksgiving!  This is my favorite holiday.  I am missing my family but I know they are having fun and that makes me happy.

Thanks to wonderful friends, I had a delicious meal tonight that included good conversation, turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, lima beans, asparagus casserole, sweet potato casserole, Jello cranberry salad, rolls, apple pie and pecan pie.  And no Thanksgiving celebration would be complete without watching football and playing a competitive (neverending) game of Uno Attack. 

I have so much to be thankful for today and every day.

One man's trash is another man's treasure

In case of an emergency (fire, flood, tornado, fleeing the police, etc.), Ellen will not be the one chosen to run back in the house one last time to salvage any valuables.  The toys, books and animals that girl wanted to pack for her trip to North Carolina was the most random assortment of her possessions possible.  She chose things she rarely plays with, books she doesn't want to read anymore and stuffed animals that never make it out of the toy chest.  Maybe she was just caught up in the moment or overly excited about the trip; whatever the reason, it makes me miss her that much more. 

Kids these days

Me:  [Jokingly] Do you want an iPad or a new TV for Christmas?

Ellen:  I want a car

The secret is in the sauce

Matt made some delicious grilled wings Saturday night.  It was his first attempt and they were really good - great flavor.  Thanks for letting us be your taste testers!

The only pictures I took all week

Trying to get a good picture of Ellen is not easy

She informed me, "This is what kids do when they are older".  I decided it was best not to ask any questions.

 

Home and Away

At Home

Ellen thinks all screens are, or should be, touch activated.  Despite our efforts/reminders, she frequently tries to touch the screens on the TV, our iPods, the computer monitor and our cell phones to make something happen.  Laurie's iPhone and her cousin's iPad spoiled her!

She is so sweet and loving toward her stuffed animals.  She even does the excited, high-pitched voice thing and hugs and kisses are constantly being exchanged.  She plays that they have lost their Mommy or need to go to the doctor and she always helps them. Her imagination is growing and growing and it is never ceases to amaze us.

We have two plates, one pink and one green, that Ellen requests (more like requires) at mealtimes.  They each have 4 divided areas... one is a circle, one is square, one is a rectangle and the other is almost like a trapezoid.  She calls them her "shape plates" and she likes there to be something in each space.  I don't think it is just a coincidence, I really think she has been eating better ever since we started using them.

Ellen only has one clothing issue (so far)... she is particular about her pants.  She only wants to wear "soft" pants.  She doesn't like the sides to dig into her waist so her preference is leggings or non-restrictive elastic waistbands.  She also likes to be able to pull them up and down easily (for going to the bathroom by herself).


At School

She is really learning her letters and what words start with each letter.  At home we focus on whatever the letter of the week is and that helps reinforce what she is being taught at school.  She seems to have a good memory and I think that helps too; she is like a little sponge.

On Monday when Phillip picked Ellen up (I was in bed sick) he said all of her friends rushed over to give her a hug.  Two of them were fighting over who got to hug her first.  These kids all love each other so much.  I hate that I missed it!

Show and Tell is a highlight of her week (TGIF!).  They usually have to bring something that starts with a certain letter or follows a certain theme.  She would probably bring a stuffed animal every week if we didn't encourage her to branch out. 

She stays in her classroom most of the day but if the numbers are off some of the kids move across the hall.  She loves going to the other classroom (she has been known to cry, like really cry, when she doesn't get to go).  The teachers are great and are always doing something fun with the kids.  We are so thankful for all of the wonderful teachers at Ellen's school.

In the Car

Ellen wants to listen to her music.  Her top choice is Laurie Berkner (we have her greatest hits) but she also rocks out to Justin Roberts, Jack Johnson and Elizabeth Mitchell.  We have a Disney CD that came with our copy of Beauty and the Beast (the movie) that she likes a lot too.  It only has 5 or 6 songs on it but it became an instant favorite.

She asks which way we are going (turning right, turning left, going straight, etc.) and wants to know why.  "Why are we going this way?" is a popular question (as if she knows a shortcut).  Another trend is asking where our destination is as we are driving there.  For example, "Where is Cole and Savannah's house?" or "Where is church?".  Not really sure how much detail she is really wanting but she knows a lot of street names, names of neighborhoods, cities, and counties :)

Ellen likes to see walkers, runners, bike riders, animals (alive), motorcycles and convertibles.  We see a lot of cows and horses every day.  With the way our area has grown and continues to grow, I am afraid it won't be long until a lot of the land around us is sold for development.  Phillip still talks about missing the cows that used to graze on the land across the street from our neighborhood when we first moved in.

Second Opinion

Conversation on the way home from daycare as we were all 3 shouting out words that start with the letter 'J'.

Phillip:  Jesus!

Ellen:  No

Phillip:  Jesus starts with 'J'

Ellen:  No it doesn't

Phillip:  Yeah, Jesus starts with 'J'

Ellen:  Mommy, does Jesus start with 'J'?

So long, farewell

Julie's post about this encouraged me to pay tribute to one of my favorite places in Nashville that will be closing it's doors next month.

When I heard on NPR last week that Davis-Kidd Booksellers was closing I was shocked and saddened.  I went a few times a month when it was located further down Hillsboro Rd in Grace's Plaza (parking was horrible!) but ever since they moved to the mall, within walking distance of work, we go 2 or 3 times a week.  It is the perfect place to spend your lunch hour, or any hour.  You are more than just a bookstore to us.  We truly hate to see you go.  Thanks for the memories.

Mama has strep

Maybe I should have seen it coming:

Friday - tired, more so than usual

Saturday - overly exhausted and upset stomach

Sunday - migraine, fever, nausea, vomiting, achy and sore throat
(upside: Colts won!)

Monday - all of the above (except no more throwing up)

Tuesday - diagnosed with strep throat

I felt like a new woman soon after taking that first dose of penicillin.  Well, that and a four hour nap (which was really just make-up sleep from last night).

Phillip is also down for the count with sinus pressure/drainage.  He started feeling bad Monday night (you should see some of the stuff that man coughs up).

Why does it seem like Ellen has extra energy when one of us (or both of us) is sick?  She is a pistol.

Hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Jumping

After filling her princess bucket with candy, and changing out of her Cinderella costume, Ellen had a blast jumping with her church buddies at Trunk or Treat.  Swinging is probably her #1 favorite thing to do but jumping is a close 2nd.

Graffiti

[Easy] White Chicken Chili

This is a version of a recipe for White Chicken Chili my Dad gave me several years ago.  Like regular chili, I make this a lot... winter, spring, summer and fall.  It is very hearty and filling. 

1 10oz -12.5oz can of chicken
1 small to medium onion, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced (we usually use the refrigerated jarred kind)
1 can Navy beans
1 can Northern beans
1 can diced tomatoes (I like petite diced)
1 can shoepeg corn
2 4oz cans of green chilies (or 1 7oz can)
1/2 tsp cumin (we like cumin so I usually use more)
2 chicken bouillon cubes (or bouillon granules equaling 2 bouillon cubes) dissolved in 1.5 cups of water (I usually use a little more than 1.5 cups)

One good thing about this recipe.... with the exception of the garlic and onion (and you could just use garlic and onion powder if in a pinch, although it wouldn't be as good without the onion!), all of the ingredients are non-perishable/pantry items.  We do a lot of our grocery shopping while on lunch so this is a plus for us.  You can definitely use "real" garlic and "real" chicken (boiled and shredded or cubed and cooked on the stove).

Here is what works for us:

Saute onion and garlic. Add chicken (if using canned, break up the chicken chunks with a fork before adding to the onion/garlic). Cook for a few minutes so the chicken can soak up the flavors.  Meanwhile, in a large pot heat water and add bouillon cubes or granules.  When the bouillon is dissolved, add all other ingredients, including the chicken/onion/garlic.  Simmer for 30 minutes or more, stirring as you go along.

*Sometimes I just use one pot, the soup pot, for everything.  I saute the onion and garlic, add the chicken (cook for a bit), add the cumin and then add all of the canned items.  I just dissolve the bouillon in the measuring cup after I measure the water (using hot water helps speed up the process).

It's good, really good.

Time Change Robs Working Mother of Much Needed Beauty Sleep

Belle and Beast, the zoo, dinner with friends, Lipscomb High School Chorus followed by a fellowship meal at church... we had a busy weekend.  I also cleaned out Ellen's closet and organized her shelves and drawers.  Our last plastic Rubbermaid container is filled to capacity and even if we get more, where will we put them?  We are officially out of storage space.  We are still not sure if there will be a baby #2 but we are saving everything just in case, and "everything" takes up a lot of room.

Daylight savings time was not kind to us.  Sure we got an extra hour of sleep but Ellen kept waking up at odd times in the night and therefore I lost much more than I gained.  It probably didn't help that she didn't have a nap Saturday and fell asleep in the car at 7:00, which was really 6:00.  Sunday night was rough too making us dread Monday morning even more than usual.  When Phillip went into Ellen's room to wake her (a rare occurrence) she said, "No Daddy, it's still dark outside.  It's still night night time" (hmmm... due to the time change it was very light out compared to the last several weeks).  She proceeded to roll over and go back to sleep.  When I went in a few minutes later she simply pushed me away and said "No".  Who is this child and where is my daughter?!

We don't have much going on between now and Thanksgiving and I am thankful for the lull.  Phillip and Ellen will be home for the holiday (lucky!).  They will get to see both sides of our family and eat lots of good food (Grandma's homemade noodles come to mind).  Eat, drink and be merry but please bring me back some pecan pie!

Kids running (always cute)

FAC picnic at the Nashville Zoo

Tea with cast of Beauty and the Beast