BLUE "CHEESE"

Grey just enjoyed a blue colored Icee... can you tell?

NO LAP SITTING THIS YEAR

This is why Luke and Grey didn't get to go visit and sit on Santa's lap this year.

Last weekend it was Grey. He had diarrhea and was vomiting, so we took him to the doctor on Saturday morning to have him checked for dehydration. At that time, he seemed to be fine. But as the day wore on, and he didn't go to the bathroom at all after lunch, we decided it was probably best that he be taken to the Emergency Room. So around 11:00pm Marc took him and I stayed home with Luke. After an IV of fluids, and some Jello and Icees, he was released. He seemed to be getting better on Sunday, but then vomited again on Monday. A neighbor was kind enough to come over and watch the boys so I could run out and get him his anti-nausea meds. After a few doses of that, and another day of rest, he was back to his old self.

Then this weekend it was Luke. He had been coughing a lot since Friday and had a low-grade fever. Then yesterday afternoon, his fever spiked up to 104.6. After contacting the pediatrician on call, we gave him a bath, administered some fever reducer, and waited an hour to see if we would be making yet another trip to the Emergency Room. Luckily, we were able to get his fever down and keep it down. I decided to take him this morning to see the doctor, to get him checked out before I sent him to school tomorrow. Good thing... he has an ear infection. We're keeping him home from school tomorrow, but hopefully he'll be able to go on Wednesday so he doesn't miss his little class Holiday Party and the Holiday Program that night.

Maybe, if they're both feeling good by the end of the week, and we want to fight the crowds, we'll still be able to take them to see Santa... Maybe?

DECORATING THE TREE

Just realized that I never posted these pics about the night we decorated the Christmas tree. As you read in a previous post, the boys and I put the tree together and put the lights on it on a Friday. The picture below was taken later that same day. I also started pulling out some of the decorations, and this little Advent Calendar was my babysitter. All those little doors kept them preoccupied and out of my hair. Amazingly, no fighting ensued. Not sure why Luke has no pants on.

One of the decorations I immediately put together was the little tree for the boys room. They really enjoyed putting the (4) little ornaments on their tree. I guess Grey felt he needed to be up close and personal, so he got a little leverage by climbing up on the dresser.

Why only (4) ornaments you ask? That was all that was left after the tree's little stay in their room last year. Note, today is the 19th, and there are now Zero ornaments on the little tree.

Saturday night, while watching the LSU Tigers, we decorated the tree. We did it in two stages. First, I pulled out about 10 ornaments for the boys to hang themselves.

Most all of them were hung on the bottom 1/8th of the tree, but Grey did get a little assistance from Daddy to hang one a little higher.

Before they went to bed, I tried to get a pic of them in front of the tree. This is what I got...

Then we asked them to point to what they had hung. I guess Grey misunderstood the question since he seems to be pointing in the other direction.

Then he got it, and pointed to the tree... Luke's proud of his work with a Thumbs Up!

After they went to bed, then Marc and I finished hanging the rest of the ornaments. This year however, only the Sentimental ornaments made the tree. I didn't hang any of the decorative bulbs... and I think it looks just fine.

Another note... see all those Candy Canes? Yeah... none of those are any longer on the tree.

Love this pic, but still a White Light fan. Will need to buy new lights for next year.

Then on Sunday, I whipped up this new Christmas Wreath.

It's coffee filters hot glued to a wreath form I made out of plumbing pipe insulation.

MAKING CHRISTMAS

Today, we started decorating for the Holidays... or as Luke called it, we're "Making Christmas".

This year, we decided to save a little money and put up our artificial one. So this morning, after getting everything out of the shed, I put the boys to work bringing in the tree... one branch at a time.

I have to say, it was nice not having to do it all by myself.

Before "making" the tree, we stopped for a "Cheese" break... meaning, Grey wanted his picture taken.

He is definitely a "Cheeseball".

The boys had their own way of "making" the tree.

I had to show them the correct way.

I don't know if you can see it, but Grey is holding up a stray piece of tinsel. We were having a lot of fun with the tinsel that had been left on the tree.

The static electricity from the tree was so strong, that when we held a piece of tinsel about two feet away from it, when we let go, the tinsel would "fly" sideways back to the tree.

Luke told me he Loved the tree and gave it a Big Hug...

and a Kiss.

To get this shot, I had to throw out a couple of bribes. One, the TV had to be turned off, and would not come back on until they cooperated. And two, they would be rewarded with candy.

Grey also Loved the tree.

I propped the camera up on the arm of the couch, and got a few shots of me with my little helpers.

The tree is up and now has lights on it. We plan on decorating it tomorrow.

A NEW TRADITION IS BORN

Thanksgiving 2011. I wanted this year to be different. We were spending it by ourselves, just as a family, so I wanted to start a New Tradition. I didn't want to spend the entire day sitting around the house, stuffing ourselves on appetizers and sweets. So I suggested to Marc that maybe we go for a little hike - somewhere not too far away, and something easy for the boys. I asked some friends for suggestions, but did a little research of my own, and decided that the nearby Lake Anna State Park would be Perfect. It's only 20 minutes away. They had Easy trails. We could get up and go in the morning, and be back before lunch so we could shower, and finish getting the Thanksgiving meal ready.

And so that's what we did...

I picked a trail called Fisherman's Trail. It was just short of a mile, and wound through the woods as well as running along the water's edge.

It was The Perfect Morning for the boy's First Hike, and our First Annual, Family Thanksgiving Day Hike!!

As soon as we reached the top of the first hill, which was at the very beginning of the trailhead, we set about finding each of the boys the perfect Walking Stick.

Grey stuck with it, but Luke's stick got lost somewhere along the way.

My Little Hikers.

Saw this breathtaking little, crimson leaved tree just off the trail, and had to take a pic of it.

Grey followed me off the beaten path to the little tree, but used his Walking Stick to help himself maneuver around a fallen tree.

At about the mid-point of the .8 mile obviously Very Strenuous hike, there was a bench. Luke proceeded to lay down and proclaim he was tired.

Little Bird House along the trail

This park Map was at the beginning of the second trailhead.

Once the boys saw water, our Hike turned into Rock Throwing. It was hard to get them to keep going.

Trail along the water's edge.

Loved this tree that leaned out over the water, sooo....

of course I had to get a pic of Luke leaning up against it. He was just positive he was going to fall in.

Grey's not looking down to watch where he's going, he's looking for his next rock to throw in the water.

Towards the end of the trail, there was a tree with a huge gap in it's trunk. I told Luke to look through it. Also told Grey, but he was still on his rock finding mission.

Before we got to the end of the trail, I told Marc I REALLY wanted to get a picture of the four of us. I just had to find the perfect spot to prop up the camera. There was a very unstable tree brach that was lying on the ground that we tried first, then Marc suggested I hang the camera from a tree branch. So I hung it by it's strap, and then to help stabilize it, Marc stuck his Buck Knife into the tree just below the camera, so it had something to rest against... hence the acute angle.

But anyway... TAH DAH!!

The Three Things I'm most Thankful for... My Wonderful Loving Husband, Marc, and my two Amazing, Beautiful Little Boys, Luke & Grey.

The end of the trailhead as located at a playground, so of course we let the boys play for a little while. This picture I think illustrates the Pure Joy of Play. Marc was making this little bouncy ride buck like a Bucking Rodeo Bronco, and Luke was having a hard time staying on, but was laughing uncontrollably at the same time.

*after note* the boys and I had to go back to the park the following morning to look for Marc's backpack. He had inadvertently left it on a nearby bench when we left. Luckily it was still there. YAY!!

When we got back home, Marc went about finishing the preparation for our Thanksgiving meal. Our Menu this year was not your typical Turkey Day fare. When we discussed what we wanted, I said we had to have his Snap Beans - they're one of my favorites. But then I said that we couldn't just have one Entree, there had to be something else. So Marc suggested a Deer Tenderloin - I said sure. The day before, he marinated the Venison in Brown Sugar and Soy Sauce. Then before putting it in the oven he wrapped both tenderloins in Bacon - "Everything's Better with Bacon!". This is what it looked like right out of the oven....

and this is what it looked like right before serving - thinly sliced and garnished with the crumbled bacon, green onion and blue cheese. Can you say De-Lish?

I have to tell you, believe it or not, I didn't even miss the traditional Turkey.

We had some appetizers during the afternoon - the Edwards family Cheeseball and Chips and Salsa, and we also had a little something for the sweet tooth. Again, we wanted something other than Pumpkin Pie, so knowing my husband's love of Red Velvet Cake, I made Red Velvet/White Chocolate Chip cookies.

They were a big hit and will definitely be added to my Cookie Recipe Repertoire. Go here if you want to try the recipe for yourself.

And finally, I got a decent picture of Grey with his new Haircut.

A Perfect end to a Perfect Day. We started a New Tradition by Enjoying a Wonderful Morning Hike, we visited with some dear friends before our meal, and then, we Ate a Very Yummy, Non-Traditional, Thanksgiving Meal.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! We Love You!