THANKSGIVING FLASHBACK

This isn't really a flashback, I just have never gotten around to posting about this past Turkey Day - except for the picture of Porkchop checking out the Black Friday ads.

This Thanksgiving was extra special, because we got to spend it with our good friends the Myers. In my mind, if you don't spend a holiday with friends or family, then it's just another day - except you eat a really large meal. I love spending time with Marc and the boys, but it's just not the same as with a bunch of people. Marc and I both grew up spending holidays with family, so it's really sad for us that all of our families are far away and we spend them alone with just our boys. So like I said, Thanksgiving was extra special.

Another special thing about Turkey day, was the turkey itself. This was the first time that we got to experience all that is wonderful about a Deep Fried Turkey. I don't think I will ever want to eat one any other way in the future. Marc and Keith, along with Keith's nephews, were in charge of the deep frying. Doesn't it look yummy?

While the boys were outside doing that, we were inside staying warm and getting the table set. There were actually 15 people to be seated... The Myers' - Keith, Linda, Taylor, Scott, and Scott's girlfriend, Bobbi. The Perry's (Linda's parents and sister) - Dave, Pat and Pam. Keith's nephews Josh and Nathan, and Josh's girlfriend (now Fiance) Erica. And, of course us, the Faucheux Four.

Linda was kind enough to allow me to bring the Mayflower ship I had made to use as the centerpiece. When I made that ship, I thought we would be hosting Thanksgiving dinner for somebody, so I'm glad all my hard work didn't go to waste. Thanks Linda.

Once the Turkey was nice and crispy, Keith had the honor of wheeling it up to the house.

Miss Erica was put in charge of whipping up the mashed potatoes.

Along with the Deep Fried Turkey, there was also a traditional Roasted Turkey. Marc and Keith got to work slicing them both up.

While everything was being set out for dinner to start, the boys played quietly at their seats.

And then, it was time to dig in!!!

The rest of the afternoon was spent pouring over the Black Friday ads looking for the best deals, watching the Saints beat the Cowboys, and playing a few hands of Euker. With full tummys from an absolutely delicious meal and spending the day with wonderful friends, what else could we have asked for?

Thank you to the Myers' (and nephews [& Erica]) and the Perry's for allowing us to join you all on this day for Giving Thanks.

LUKE'S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Due to inclement weather the week before Christmas, Luke's Pre-school Christmas Program was canceled. But luckily, they rescheduled it for last Friday evening. They had all worked so hard on it, that the teachers didn't want all us parents and families to miss out. I thank them for that.

We had to have Luke in his classroom a half hour before the show started. This provided the perfect opportunity to capture this absolutely adorable photo of Luke and his little girlfriend Laci, which he pronounces "Weezy".

She LOVES getting her picture taken and was quite the ham. Luke on the other hand... weeelll!!

Marc and I went to get settled in the Church and I was able to get a shot of Luke as the 3 year old classes filed into the sanctuary.

Luckily, he ended up standing right in the middle (next to Laci of course) so we were able to get good angles for video shooting (video, hopefully, to follow soon).

Before the program started Luke was up there yawning away - result of not napping that afternoon. During the first song, he basically just stood there, but by the second song he was starting to get into it. Take note of the little boy (Andrew) all the way to the right in the striped red shirt - he stood there like this pretty much the entire program

Little Laci, was just too cute. She knew ALL the words and ALL the movements.

Towards the end of the program, Luke was more interested in playing with Laci's hair than singing. It was really cute.

We were so proud of him!! He did SO good, and he was SOOO handsome in his Red sweater vest, Christmas plaid shirt, blue Corduroy pants, and his Ostrich Cowboy Boots.

FAMILY FUN FAMOUS

Who'd a thought a skein of brown yarn would give me 15 minutes of Fame?

Remember this from Halloween?

Well, this yarn wig made it into the pages of a magazine.

The February issue of Family Fun.

The October issue of the Family Fun magazine is where I got the tutorial for the basics on how to make yarn wigs. The wig for Princess Leia wasn't actually one they showed how to do, nor were they being shown to be made for adults. But I figured if I followed the basics, I could modify it for an adult, and whip up the Cinnamon Bun hairstyle made famous by the Star Wars Heroine.

The magazine always has a section where they feature photos sent in by readers, that show something that was made from one of the magazines how-to projects.

I didn't actually send in a photo, but instead, was contacted by the editor of this "Feature" section, who had found my earlier post about our Halloween costumes while surfing the internet. How freakin' cool is that?

So the Faucheux Family is Family Fun Famous!!!!

May the Force (still) Be With You!!

THE ELUSIVE ELECTRICAL TAPE FAIRY

LITERALLY, every single day, at some point when I go into our Master Bedroom, this is what I find.

Electrical Tape rings hanging on the Dresser Knobs.

These tape rings are usually stored in the Kitchen in one of the Apothecary Drawers, but somehow, EVERY SINGLE DAY, they wind up in the Master Bedroom. I've never seen how they get there.

Until today... when I caught the Electrical Tape Fairy in action.

Somehow, EVERY SINGLE DAY, without me seeing (or hearing) him, he goes into the kitchen, retrieves the Electrical Tape, and then places them on the Dresser Knobs.

Every Day when I find them, it ALWAYS makes me Smile!!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2010

Christmas Eve this year was filled with yummy food and a visit from a good friend. Last year, your Christmas Eve meal consisted of Cheese Ball and M&M's. Remember seeing the video of Luke saying M&M for the first time? This year, we made sure that our "meal" was a little more well rounded, with some nutritious elements thrown in.

Our menu included Cheese Ball (of course), Bruschetta w/ Mozarella, a Vegetable tray with homemade Ranch, and M&M cookies. Much more substantial and definitely not as "sugary" as last year. M&M's for a 27 month old, right before going to bed, were not a good idea.

We were lucky enough to get a surprise visit from our good friend Marc Wood. He stayed and played with the boys for a couple of hours, which was so nice. It really was wonderful to spend this little bit of the holiday with a friend.

Before Marc left, the boys opened their "One Gift". As tradition (just started last year), the boys opened their matching Christmas Pajamas.

Of course I immediately put them on them. Porkchop really seem to like showing them off.

The boys playing quietly together. A RARE occurrence.

Before heading off to bed to have "Sugarplums dance in their heads", Luke got Santa's and the Reindeer's treats ready.

Santa arrived around 9:30 after he was sure two little boys were sound asleep.

The one thing we were most excited to see was the boy's new Kitchen.

The Kitchen, finished in a popular two-tone look, came complete with Plate Rack, Can Opener under the Plate Rack, a Vegetable storage bin, a DVD / Clock radio under the Vegetable bin, two Pot Hooks, a Sink with removable Cutting Board, a single burner Cooktop, and a little Breakfast Bar complete with Stool

There's also a Cordless Phone, and a Skillet and Pot. When you put the Skillet on the burner, you hear a sizzling sound. When you put the Pot on the burner, you hear a boiling sound.

The refrigerator was well stocked.

One of the cabinets serves well as a little pantry.

And the Oven was hard a work baking some corn on the cob. Cute little Pot Holder.

The Countertop is a lovely faux Black Granite.

The left end of the unit has a nice raised countertop, perfect for prep work, a diagonal laid Backsplash, and the Microwave. Above the cabinetry is a cute little, two-part sign. It says "le bistro" and "bonapetite".

Also under the tree, Santa left a T-Ball set for the boys.

They also each got a new Baseball Mitt and Ball.

After Santa left, we took stock of everything he had left, and just knew the boys would have a great Christmas morning.

It was nice to have some time for just the two of us...

enjoying the quite and the lights, but very much looking forward to the following morning with our two little men.

CHRISTMAS EVE DAY

Using my new lens, I got some great shots of the boys on Christmas Eve day.

Luke helped Marc make Bourbon Balls.

And no, he did not do any taste testing.