Noble, Douglas Fir, Grand, or Fake?

What is your favorite Christmas tree? We usually get a fresh one. In my opinion there are three elements that go into choosing a Christmas tree, #1 is price, #2 is the look, and #3 is the smell. I am always in a state of confustion when choosing a tree, because I really like the look of the Nobel trees, but because of supply and demand - they tend to be more expensive, also I don't like the way they smell. They aren't as sweet as your Douglas fir. So this year we went on a hunt for the perfect Christmas tree at a local tree farm in La Center. I didn't have to make a decision, this year. We ended up with a tree the kids had chosen. The bonus was we didn't have to do anything, it was was great. The kids sawed it down, and carried it to the car. Spencer made jokes as he carried the tree, acting like he just hunted his trophy elk or deer. He said as we walked to the car, "this is my trophy tree, yea, it's about 100,000 needle pointer. She was fast, but we got her with 4 saws." It was funny. The local tree farm offered hot chocolate, cookies, and a Christmas movie. We lingered around for a while.

Humor, Laughter, and Thanksgiving!!

Every year before we eat the big feast, we usually go around the table and tell what we are thankful for. It's a wonderful time to count your blessings. Well, this year I got the boys involved in entertaining and they made these puppets and told jokes!! After each joke, Spencer would use his snare drum and cymbol! It was so funny, becasue the jokes were so dumb. Here are some of the jokes they told:

What kind of music do pilgrams listen to? - Plymoth Rock

If April showersbring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? - Pilgrims!

If the Pilgrims were alive today, what would they be most famous for?Their AGE

Why can't you take a turkey to church? - Because they use such FOWL language

Which side of the turkey has the most feathers? - The outside

Why did they let the turkey join the band? - Because he had the drumsticks

Why did the Indian chief wear so many feathers? - To keep his wigwam

What happened to the Pilgrim who was shot at by an Indian? - He had an arrow escape

What did the mama turkey say to her naughty son? - If your papa could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!

What a perfect day with the perfect turkey, juicy, moist, and flavorful!! Thanks to Bob and Jolene for sharing this holiday with us!!

The Gravy Diaries

This year I didn't want to feel rushed, pressured, or overwhelmed while cooking Thanksgiving dinner. So anything I could "Make-Ahead" I did. Gravy was on the agenda. I don't like having to use the grease or drippings from the Turkey and hurrying to get your gravy just right and it usually ends up lumpy because you are on multi-tasking overload trying to put the feast out for the Pilgrims. Anyway, here is a fantastic recipe I found and as the Gravy Diary unfolds, you will understand better. You must continue reading, to get the full scoop or should I say full - ladle.

Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy

6 turkey wings - never bought this item before, I found the drum sticks attached which made them look like human arms. Paid only .98 cents for whole lot.

2 medium onions - chopped

1 cup f water

2 quarts chicken broth

3/4 cup chopped carrot

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme - I like it fresh!!

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter - I omitted this. Not necessary in my eyes.

1/4 tsp ground black pepper.

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange turkey wings in large roasting pan, scatter the onions over the top of the wings. Roast for 1 hour 15 min or until wings are nicely browned.

Step 2 - Placed browned wings and onions in a 5 quart stockpot. Add water to roasting pan and stir, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of pan. Stir in 6 cups of broth, carrots, and thyme. Bring to boil, then simmer uncovered for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Step 3 - Remove wings from your broth, do whatever you want with them, save them or give them to your dog. (Splash was sure enjoyed her meal tonight!!) Drain your vegetables, press to extract remaining liquid. Bring drained broth to a gentle boil.

Step 4 - In a medium bowl, whisk flour into the remaining 2 cups chicken broth until smooth. Gradually whisk the flour mixture into boiling broth. Turn down heat and add butter and pepper. Serve immediately or pour into contains, Good for 3 months in freezer.

Not only is the gravy wonderful, but the mouth-watering aroma of roasted turkey stays in your house for two days, instead of just one day!! That is a bonus for me.

As I was putting the drumsticks with attached wings into the stockpot(see step 2), Parker pushed up a chair and looked inside the pot, and with the most puzzled and curious look he said, "Mom, what is that? I didn't have time to respond as he anxiously added, "Mom, are you cooking a man? Or is it something else. Are we eating people.? I set him straight, but as I looked into the pot and studied the angle of the wings and drumstick arm, I could see how it could possibly look that way. I wished I would have taken a picture.

I had to get another opinion, so Spencer came in and we discussed, the man in the pot and cannibalism.

The diary does not end at this. My gravy was done with ease and I was proud that one more thing had been accomplished for the feast. I went about my motherly blessings (laundry and cleaning) as my gravy was cooling.

I came back to the kitchen and found Parker sipping my gravy like it was quenching his thirst. Then he had spilled it all over the range top and floor.

So the end result of my Make-Ahead gravy is about 1 1/2 cups yield of gravy which will not suffice.

Guess who will be making gravy after the turkey comes out of the oven!!!

RUSSELL!! My gravy making days are over..

It's a Feline Celebration!!

Parker is officially 5 years-old. We celebrated with his friends - Issac, Asher, Tavan, and Ethan. Spencer painted all of our faces. Look at the cool cats!! Parker wanted a cake that looked like his cat, Pavlo. We meowed, we chased mice, and we ate cotton candy. It was a purrrrrrrfect day!!

A Declaration to Twilight – The Movie

It’s been over a year since I read the first book. I refused to look at all the movie trailers or even look up who the actors were for each of the characters. I didn’t listen to any of the reviews or let anyone influence me one way or the other. I wanted to form my own opinion on the movie. I had built up a lot of anticipation, and I really was hoping for more of what I got from the books, I wanted that intense climax that beautifully unfolds in an amazing plot, with interesting characters. Except, we all knew what was going to happen, we knew the story, we knew the characters, and we just knew too much!! Or did we??? I took my friend that had never read the books, or never heard of the story until last week. After the movie I was dying to get her take on it, and she reported, " the relationship between Edward and Bella, was so erotic, the movie really got across the intensity of their attraction and intimacy." Her exact words. She hit it on the nail, for all of us who went on opening weekend, we wanted to feel that intensity, again. Then she calls me today, and says, "I can’t get those two characters out of my mind. I don’t have time to read the books, tell me everything that happened." My declaration is that the movie Twilight resurfaced those emotions of love, attraction, and sensuality that the relationship between Edward and Bella gave us in the books. Okay so I am a hopeful romantic at heart. Like the rest of you, I did find a few things annoying about the movie. I didn’t like the tree climbing scene. Also didn’t like when Edward reveals his skin in the sunlight, that was just weird or bad acting. Also at the end when he was sucking the blood out of Bella! The angle was wrong or something, he was sucking just too long!!
I’m embarrassed to admit this but I did reopen book four last night and began reading it again. Like my friend said, I just can’t get Edward out of my mind!!!

Upon the Hill by Sam Hill

I can't count how many times my family has travelled to Utah via Highway 84? I must not be that observant or we usually make a mad dash at night, while everyone is sleeping. But upon a lonely bluff overlooking the Columbia River about 25 miles past The Dallas, going east on the Washington side, is an almost identical replica of the English Stonehenge that can be viewed from the Highway!! It was an amazing site!! This man named Sam Hill built and dedicated this monument in 1918 as a memorial to those who died in World War II (Okay I had a typo, it's really World War I.) So the next time you make an exodus on Highway 84, check out this sacred and awe inspiring monument...

Expanding Ball Holds 4 kids

We have this geometric ball that expands to a large size. I had a few kids at my house and four of them decided to get inside and walk around. Imagine 4 strong-minded, independent boys trying to move around in this ball. They all wanted to go their way and it was hillarious watching them!!

Ode to the pie face kids!!

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always enjoyed a good pie eating contest. I really don't like being the one to get all messy, I just like watching them. So every chance I get, I always suggest the idea to others. Well, Spencer was trying to decided what to do with his friends. Dry Ice bombs were on the agenda, but then I suggested a little safer idea, a pie eating contest. Well, he took the bait and even let me take pictures of the event, too. I think I have discovered one of the worlds best pie eaters. One of Spencer's friends, (we won't mention his name, to protect his amazing skill, just in case he decides to enter contests for money) downed the little pie in 15 seconds. It was a site to behold!! Parker even got into the action!!

The Brightest Hues of orange, red, and yellow found in Nature

If you haven't had the opportunity to search for leaves this fall with your children, do it now. Hurry before they fall to the ground and are saturated by the rain. I love the change that occurs this time of year in nature. The warm colors just delight my heart and soul.

State Capital Museum

This museum was located in a large stucco Mansion, just West of the State Capital. Well we missed the Sachswatch display, they just took it down. So we got to see the Navite American display at the Museum. Bummer, Darn!! We've been following the research and developments on "Big Foot"!

Let the Pumpkins decide our Vote

As we were in our state capital, we saw this lawn full of about 100 pumpkins intricately carved. It was amazing. We saw a pumpkin of Obama and Biden. We thought it was a sign so we should vote for them, but then we also found one of McCain and Palin. So we are still undecided as of Monday, November 3rd. Our ballot needs to go into the mail tonight!!

An Acropolis on Mount Olympia, Washington

Our family went on a field trip to the State Capital. It is set on top of a hill just as the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Most of the buildings mimic the Washington, D.C. Very similar indeed. I think George Washington is memorialized possibly more than he is in Washington, D.C. He is everywhere, on door nobs, in the hallways, on stone fences, on the floor, etc. Check out the photos.

We wanted to show our children where the laws are made for our state. I couldn't help myself by singing the School House Rock song, "I'm just a bill, on capital hill."

Since our country is in a political upheaval, and our congressmen and our government have let the American people down and they all lack leadership and values. I felt it was necessary to teach the boys, " they do have a voice and their vote does count." And we can continue with the hope. My quote for the day "The future is pregnant with Nobel Acheivement in the Whitehouse."

(Even though the electoral college decides who is president, and all 11 votes for Washington have already been cast) Voting no longer is about the party, it's about who can get the job done with integrity. We read some information on each of the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and the kids helped us decided who we should vote for, voting was a family affair.