getting motivated or not

I haven't been very motivated to post over the past few weeks. I think this little baby is zapping my resolve to accomplish much beyond the imperative. I had an ultrasound yesterday and Trigger (e's name for the baby) is in constant motion - totally different from any pictures we had of E before he was born. People keep saying this means it's a girl. I think it just means I could be up a lot at night this summer with a newborn.

Here are a few more pictures from Thanksgiving. E totally got into shooting his bow and arrow - he was a natural at it and I think it made him feel very grown up. I was just glad the tips were round. The guys are in hunter orange because my parents live out in the middle of the woods and people are hunting the whole week - not very motivating to get out for a walk.

wisconsin thanksgiving

E was in utter heaven all week as we played in Wisconsin at Nana and Jonesie's house out in the country. He rode on the four-wheeler every day ("I think I need to go check for mail") and even got his own bow and arrow! I missed getting pictures of him with it but Jonesie will send them on soon.
We went for a 12 foot boat ride on my parents' semi-frozen pond. It didn't matter that we didn't get anywhere - just being on a boat is enough when you are 3.

Nana had the prettiest Thanksgiving tree - full of animals and nature ornaments. We did just a bit of shopping - our annual holiday haul at Target on Friday. My cousin Kallie and I always do a big purchase for her wardrobe. I didn't even get to the Christmas section before we all had to leave for the movies.

Thanksgiving Day was lovely - there were ten of us - a perfect number for chatting and playing cards. I made two pumpkin pies and one pecan. And everthing else was delicious. I allowed myself two inches of champagne - I don't think the baby minded.
We tried and tried for the perfect Christmas card shot - that deserves a photoblog of it's own. I couldn't get just the right combination of pose, expression and framing. Finally, we ended Thanksgiving with our traditional fireworks show at the pond. We sat a little too CLOSE and ended up screaming and defending ourselves from sparks - which was exciting and silly and a perfect way to celebrate being together.

christmas jammies

I found two jammie tops at the Hanna Andersson outlet several years ago for just $3 - I thought I'd be able to find matching bottoms eventually. Fast forward two years and the tops fit E but no bottoms had been found. So on Fri. E and I spent the day together - out for breakfast, indoor play gym and . . . . . . . . sewing!
E and I made the sweetest Christmas jammie bottoms- candy cane stripe flannel and polka dot ribbon down the sides. Admire the front view.

And the side view:




And a close-up. These will definitely be worn for Christmas morning.

previewing Martha Stewart Christmas at Kmart

I HATE Kmart - truly and deeply. The aisles are narrow, the staff is slow, and there are never more than two checkers working when I go - and I never seem to go unless I am on my way to something else and need to get this damm line moving. Regardless of this deep dispassion for the Big K - I can't stay away because of Martha.
I like the Everday Martha Stewart home products but I LOVE it when her Christmas stuff hits the store! It arrived before Halloween and I made an early pilgrimage to check it out. As always, the wrapping paper is the best part. There are several new patterns this year including a lovely bird and branch theme and very pretty blue and silver dimonds.


The ornaments this year look much like last year. I did get E two new ornaments from the "sugarplum dreams" collection - a bike and a wagon. I actually use them on his dresser top rather than a tree. I also got a wooden caroling girl - mostly because she looks like me.
Even though these fake gumdrop garlands are hideous in person, I really sort of long for them in a deep, dark part of my heart. E has the spangles on the right in his room when we decorate for Christmas.









I didn't grab a picture of them but the Martha Christmas cards were charming and I actually scrapped my plans for an ophoto picture card and grabbed two boxes of gumdrop ornament cards - things get a bit heady in martha christmas land. Quick decision making is a must.

happy halloweenie

We had a great time on Halloween - it wasn't a crazy night but rather just enough fun for a school night and a pregnant, sleepy mama.
Peter Pan was in full force. He lost his perfect dagger somewhere in the house so out came the pirate sword instead. We visited a few neighbors on our street and then headed up to Moo's.













Tinkerbell and Peter Pan watched kids come to the door and then did a bit of trick or treating. Moo was scared of anyone in a mask so we parted ways to go to the super spooky house in the neighborhood that has a cast of teenage boys acting as mummies, grave diggers and living dead. E said, "I'm not really that scared" but held my hand the whole time.
It was SO cold - felt like a Wisconsin Halloween instead of a pdx night. E has layers upon layers on under his costume.









One more picture of E and Moo at the Farmer's Market. They were in the Halloween Parade and wowed the crowd. Moo waved her magic wand and said, "Hello, my people" while E cheered "Onto Neverland." They win my blue ribbon!