Tutu Hits

I can't believe how many hits my blog gets every day from people who have googled "pretty tutu", "colorful tutu", "girlie tutu", "fabulous tutu"...you get the point....

So, I thought I'd go ahead and put it out there. If you happened upon my blog because you are in the market for a fabulous, pretty, colorful and very girlie tutu, I would be happy to make one for you. I'll charge much less than any of the online tutu stores and promise to have it to you by Christmas. If you are one of the tens of people who regularly read my blog, let me know if you'd like one....I might just send you one...I'm nice like that.

Santa

Last year, Sam loved the idea of Santa but was terrified of the man himself. I remember driving to the mall before Christmas and telling Sam that Santa would be there. His face lit up, "Can I talk to Satan?" (Not a typo...he couldn't say "Santa") I promised that he could. He talked about it nonstop until we got about ten feet away from jolly old Saint Nick. Sam started crying and yelling, "I don't wanna see Satan, I don't wanna talk to Satan....!"

Christmas morning was equally memorable. When I heard Sam up and playing in his room I snuck out of bed to turn the tree lights on. From the bottom of the stairs I called, "Sam, come see! Santa came!" I heard the pitter patter of his little feet as he ran from his room. Then he peaked around the corner and asked in a very worried voice, "Is Satan gone?"

This year I thought it would be different. Sam is after all a very tough almost 3.5 year old! Tonight we went to the mall (Trying to kill time before bedtime...it was that kind of day.) Sam was very excited to talk to Santa...until we got about ten feet away from him. He turned and looked at us and said in a very quiet little voice, "Can we just go right by him?"

Black Friday...

We get the Boston Globe on Sundays. Yesterday, there was a complimentary copy at the end of our driveway...as soon as I picked it, I knew why they were giving them away. It weighed about five pounds and was four inches thick...full of fliers for all of the Black Friday sales.

Everyone who knows me, knows that I love a bargain and am really good at finding them. I must admit, the adds got my blood rushing...Disney movies regularly priced $14-19 for $4. GPS systems for 70% off. Leather jackets 80% off. Toys for almost free. Coupons for 50% off any item... it's a bargain shoppers dream! I thought that I was done shopping for my kids, but at these prices, I can afford to buy them more!

Brad and I both drooled over the adds for flat screen TV's. While we were comparing prices, something clicked...you see, I have ALWAYS said that I don't want a big TV in our living room. I don't want it to be the focal point of the room or of our lives. However, the adds were soooo enticing, the deals too good to pass up...a huge, flat screen, HDTV regularly $2000 for $700...how can you NOT buy it? Of course, they only have four per store and the stores open at 4 a.m....but what if you are one of the four lucky ones?

I started to feel a little sad. You see, although I don't want a big TV, if Brad really wanted to get one, I wouldn't tell him he couldn't. I'm sure he'd like one, in fact, I know it. The reason we haven't taken the plunge is that the TV we have is totally adequate. Someday, I'm sure it will die and we will likely replace it with something bigger and more hi-tech, but for now, it's fine. Furthermore, we don't have an extra $2000 or even $700 to spend on something that we don't need. I started wondering how many people would be waiting out in the cold this morning to get a "great deal". How many people will be spending money they don't have on things that they don't need?

I don't want the true meaning of Christmas to ever be lost on my kids. I never want them to think of Christmas in terms of all the things that they get. I want them to know first and foremost that it is Jesus birthday and yes, they get presents but the presents from us are nothing compared to the gift that was given that day, so long ago in Bethlehem.

I'll always love a bargain, but I draw the line at Black Friday. I will not participate. There is nothing that I or anyone I know needs so badly that I will brave the cold and the crowds to purchase. If I can't afford it at the regular price, wouldn't have thought to buy it at full price, or wouldn't want it if I had to pay full price, than we won't be seeing it under our tree or ever. Boston Globe....you waisted that free copy on me.

As predicted....

Gracie's walking!

Shortly after dinner Grace started walking. She got up and tool a few steps. We all went nuts!She got up again and walked around the room and then turned and came back. The best part is that she was holding the telephone up to her ear and "talking". She wouldn't walk without it....such a girl.

Other highlights from our Thanksgiving...stomach bug. Sam took a nap at 10:30 this morning....strange...but I didn't think much of it. He woke up crying that his stomach hurt. He ate a carrot. On the way to my in laws he threw that carrot up all over the back of the car.

I hate throw up....I hate it so much that I almost didn't have any children for fear of having to clean up throw up...but this wasn't bad! Looked just like carrot that had gone threw the food processor, and it didn't smell.

We talked about going home but decided to go and drop off the carrot casserole. Sam wanted to go so badly that he offered to "hide so no one gets sick". Nobody cared that he was sick so we stayed....Sam had some grape juice...and 30 seconds later threw it up all over grandmas rug...it's been a few hours and he seems okay....crossing my fingers, cause I can't deal with puke in the middle of the night!

Happy Thanksgiving

It looks like pea soup here...really grey and dreary, but not as cold as it's been. I just hung up with my mom...I really wish I could be in CT right now....most of the time, two hours doesn't seem too far, but today, I feel a little homesick. I'm thankful for my wonderful family, more specifically, I'm thankful that I have a family that I love to spend time with.

We're heading over to Brad's parents in a little while...Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

P.S. Mom, will you stick some pecan pie in the freezer for me? Please...

Almost walking!

Tonight Grace started standing up without using something to pull up on and took a few steps. She was so proud! Unfortunately, the moment was much too fast and even with my new camera, I missed it. I have a feeling that she will be walking when she wakes up in the morning.

A week of Thankgiving...Day 3 (Thanksgiving Recipe)

When I was a junior in college, I went on a short term missions trip to Honduras. It was the first (and only) time that I visited a third world country. We stayed in a small village. We slept in a building made out of cinder blocks with a cement floor...grand accommodations compared to the mud and grass huts that the villagers lived in. While we were there, we worked with the local people to build a church/community center.

The thing that I remember most about the trip is how generous the people were. The same people who watched us eat our dinner with hunger in their eyes, would bring us fruit and bread all day long. The children played with things like old bicycle tires and sticks with string tied to them as if they were the most wonderful toys in the world.

We weren't supposed to share our food or give the people anything because in the past when this happened, hundred and hundreds of people had come from miles away hoping to get food and medical attention. When they learned that there were not provisions like this available, the atmosphere had become dangerous and there had nearly been a riot. Several of us washed our clothes and left them in trees to dry hoping that the people would take them. They hung for days and nobody touched them. We were so surprised...in this country people who have plenty steal and yet these people who were wearing nothing but rags and desperately needed things, did not.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and as I look through my recipe box for the recipe for a very indulgent carrot casserole, I find myself thinking about that place that I visited over 13 years ago....and I am thankful.

I am thankful that I live in the United States, a land of plenty. A land where most of the poor have much more than the people I met in Honduras (I understand that there are many homeless in this country...I have worked as an advocate for the homeless...I am not making light of the many social problems that exist in this country). A land where there is medical care and it is accessible. IA land where grocery stores never have empty shelves. A land where most children only go to bed hungry because they chose to not eat their dinner.

With that, here is my carrot recipe. If it's too late to make it for Thanksgiving, than you MUST try it for Christmas. It is amazing!

Carrot Casserole

1 lb sliced, cooked carrots

2T flour

1 T baking powder

1/4 t Cinnamon

3 eggs

1/2 c butter

1 c milk

3/4 c sugar

Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor and puree'. Put in baking dish, bake at 350 for one hour or until firm.

I usually double the recipe....make two separate batches and bake it in the same large pie plate.