turkey day highlights

Turkey Day highlights:

Kicked off the day with a small oven fire due to bubble bread that dripped into the bottom of the oven.  I won’t name names of who is responsible for the fire but her name starts with Sh and ends in Annon. 

Managed to prepare one chocolate pie, an enormous amount of mashed potatoes and pistachio stuffing.  Thankfully, I did not have to prepare the entire meal, although I have faith in my awesomeness that I could have done so if necessary.  Instead, I got to enjoy the day in the kitchen with the girl who helped start the fire in my oven.  And thankfully, she caused no further issues.

For my hosting my first Thanksgiving dinner I’d have to say it went off perfectly.  3 tables full of family, 2 birds consumed and 16 stuffed people.  If I haven’t mentioned this before, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and this year was one of the very best. 

I took pictures of everyone, whether or not they wanted to be photographed.  With my new camera it’s a lot of fun to play Olin Mills.  Or paparazzi.  Hearing my dad yell that he was going to shove my camera, up my you know what, was totally worth stalking him all day. 

Wacked my face on a lamp, approximately two hours after the oven incident.   I was certain this was only foreshadowing a day of doom but I am happy to report, other than walking into the bed and completely bruising my leg, there were no further accidents.  I’ll consider that a success.

Laughing.  Lot’s of laughing. 

As a tradition, before we eat dinner we go around the room and everyone says what they are thankful for.  This year some of the things people said were:

Spending the holiday with family. 

Football.

Being 84 and healthy. 

Being together.

Horses.

Last year on Thanksgiving I got to announce to our family we were expecting a new baby, which made me cry because I’m an emotional sap.  This year I said how I was grateful to share that news last year and how I am so thankful he is here.  This too made me cry, because I am an emotional sap.

Here are some of the paparazzi pictures I was able to snap.

Emmerson, Lakin (nephew), Morissa (niece), Ryder

Emmerson with Bunko (Zach’s dad)

My dad & my sister

Great Nana & Cortland Knox

My sister, Lakin, Great Nana and my bil, Brock.  This is Nana saying what she is grateful for before dinner.

Desserts

Cortland and Bunko

Nana (Zach’s mom) with Emmerson and Cort

My husband, who clearly appreciates my Olin Mills capabilities.

We had a perfect Thanksgiving Day and an awesome weekend with my sister and her family.  My hope is the family who is usually here but were not this year, are back next year because they were all greatly missed. 

I also hope that I can remember to keep my camera battery charged so that when we go visit Santa the day after Thanksgiving I can actually take pictures of my children.  Details, details.

a thanksgiving list

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you things I am deeply grateful for.  I hope this gives you the inspiration to create, and share, your own Thanksgiving list.

My kids.  Regardless of the crap they pull on me, like freaking out everysingletime they have to go to bed, they pretty much rock.  And really, who would have ever thought I’d wind up with 4 of them???

Heated seat warmers.  Let’s face it, if the rest of your body is going to freeze, it’s always nice to have a toasty rear.  Too bad car seats don’t come equipped with this treasure.  My kids have no idea what they’re missing. 

A membership to the gym, which I really don’t use.  However, when it isn’t like planning a vacation to get there, I’ll use it.  Really.

Living in the house I grew up in, flaws and all.  There is nothing better than coming home. 

Our 2 obnoxious dogs.  By obnoxious I mean, one of them likes to use our basement as a toilet.  I’ve never been team dog but these 2 are pretty stinking sweet, even with the above mentioned “issue”.

Dear friends whom I’ve loved most of my life. 

Wine.  And I’m not talking Boone’s Farm here either.  Wine and I, we’ve got a good thing going.

My gray Victoria’s Secret sweatpants.  I could care less whether my husband anyone thinks they’re hot. 
They’re comfy.  And sometimes that is all that matters.

The ability to cook.  Minus the hot oil incident.

How sweet Aidan is with his younger siblings.  I know it has to suck sometimes to be so much older but he’s an awesome brother to them and it melts my heart, just about every day.  For the record, this does not include the ridiculous screaming fits he likes to induce.

That I’ve never been a nail bitter.  Sorry for those of you who are, but it’s a habit that disgusts me.

The fact my husband has introduced me to so many things over the years.  Including, but not limited to, craps and black jack, deer hunting, dogs and kids.

When I won’t let Emmerson do something she tells me, “You really are the fun ruiner.”  Oh funny girl, you have no idea.  Just wait about 12 years.

My mom.  Because she was the coolest woman I ever got to love.

My husband is currently letting his hair grow out, despite the hilarious comments all his comedic friends like to share with him, simply because I like it longer.  What can I say, I like a man with curly hair and he’s got plenty of it.  Meow.

My dad.  My brother.  My sister.  Oh, I love you crazy bunch.

All of my family, including the family I inherited when I got married.

Music and dancing.  Thankfully, my kids have inherited the same appreciation.  Dance parties are a regular thing over here.

And finally, I am grateful that we my husband got our ginormous hot tub working because sitting out there every night is exactly what we need.

when in the hell did i marry someone so, old?

Happy birthday to the hottest hunter I ever loved.  You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I don’t know what I’d do without you.  Even if I don’t totally “get” your obsession with hunting, I’m grateful for your obsession with me and our family.

Things have never come easy for us.  We’ve weathered more storms in the 8 years we’ve been together than most people see in a lifetime.  You’ve seen me at my absolute worst yet loved me as though I was at my best. 

You have stood up for what you believe in and I love you incredibly for doing so.  I am amazed at that man you are. Your character is above what I could ask for in a partner and as the father to my children, and I am thankful YOU are beside me through this walk of life.  The fact you can forgive makes me more proud than words could ever convey.

You are an incredible father to our children and I could not have chosen a better partner to raise kids with.  Not only do our children respect and love you but they adore and admire you.  I love the expression on their little faces when you get home from work, or when there is a special outing planed for them with you.  When I think about what I have wanted in a partner YOU are who I  have always envisioned, even if I didn’t always know it was you. 

I am so proud of all you have accomplished and all that you are determined to do.  There are so many dreams we have and I know they are well within our grasp because together, there is nothing we can’t do.   You are my rock, my cheerleader, my heart and my soul.  You inspire me, motivate me, and make me want to be a better woman.  Mr.. Campbell, you are the piece of my soul I never knew was missing. 

I will forever be grateful that you came into my life, that you forever changed my life, and forever made my world a sweeter place to be.  I don’t know what I ever did before you and I have no idea what I would do without you now.  Thank you for loving me, for completing me, for creating a life with me that is better than I could ever wish for. 

I am forever proud of you.  And I will always love you. 

So happy #37, Zachary.  Here is to the next 37.
xoxo

well, this is random.

Meltdowns are the bane of my existence.  When you have four kids it’s inevitable that numerous times per day someone will be freaking out about something.  It’s also inevitable that with four kids, one husband, two dogs and a cat that you will have more laundry than you ever dreamed possible and you’ll be cleaning up poop or pee either off of people or floors.  Such was my day.  The husband is responsible, in part, for the laundry, not the poop or pee. 

Tomorrow Zach leaves to deer hunt for five days.  By now, you may have figured out that my husband is obsessed when it comes to hunting.  If you haven’t figured that out yet either you don’t read my blog regularly, or you aren’t a quick study.  Anyhow, tomorrow is also his birthday so we’ll be sending him on his way with a lasagna and brownies.  I will celebrate his 37th year of life by spending the evening with some of my favorite girls.  There is a chance we might get around to playing bunco, however, there is a greater chance we’ll skip that part of our evening.

There was one time when I thought that I would take hunter’s safety to impress this man o’ mine.  So I did.  It was me and a bunch of young boys with their dad’s.  And the husband was impressed.  However, he thought that since I had  suffered learned about hunting for two days straight I should actually put all of that sweet hunting knowledge to use.  I’ve been deer hunting the last few years, although I have absolutely nothing to show for it, other than some pictures he took of me while I slept in the deer blind, sitting up, freezing my ass off, none of which I’ll show you.  I’m what you’d call a “trophy hunter”.  I’m only going for a buck.  A big buck.  To put on my wall.  (Who in the hell have I become?   What has this guy done to me???)  Needless to say, in a few short weeks I’ll be rocking my camo, sleeping in a deer blind, waiting on Mr. Buck to show his big rack.  I’ll see if the husband can take a picture of me that do not rival Sitting Bull as previous pictures have done. 

In the meantime, I’ll be getting ready to host my first Thanksgiving dinner.  I should point out that my dad will be smoking our bird, because that’s the only way anyone should have a turkey.  Unless, it’s in the form of bacon.  Or deli meat.  Or jerky.  If I can cook for 65 people this should be pretty easy, right?  That’s my hope.  Pistachio dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, chocolate silk pie…I’m not sure what else we’ll be having but I do like to procrastinate so I guess I won’t worry about it until next week.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, the hot tub is calling my name. 

i’m quitting the housework. again.

Took a little time off from blogging to pursue other things like laundry and cleaning the house.  The good news is I got my fill of both activities and I’ve decided blogging is much more fun so I’m giving up on them again.

Seriously though, we’ve had a crazy few weeks and I just needed to get through them.  We’ve had rooms painted (3 to be exact) and we have officially said goodbye to Old Blue (the color of our house when we bought it.  And the color it’s been since it was born 21 years ago).  I’ll post before and after pictures soon but the trim is being finished up so until then just take my word that it looks AMAZING. 

We’ve trick-or-treated, spent time 4-wheeling and filling deer feeders (very important when you’re a serious hunter like I am the husband is.)  Oh, and we also have taken the necessary measures to ensure we add no more children to our current brood of four.  To be clear, the husband took one for the team.  The hot tub is fixed and we’ve had a fire in the fireplace.  Been to a concert (Zac Brown Band) and had friends over for dinner (altogether there were 17 of us.  3 families.  We just like having kids I guess.) 

Football season is over and wrestling has begun.  I’ve turned on the heat.  My  baby man is four months old and weighs 17 pounds.  He’s started eating food.  I’ve managed to get Emmerson to school on time every day this week.  Currently, all laundry is done.  Daylights savings time has come and I didn’t even get to take advantage of it with an extra hour at the bar  of sleep.  Cut 5 inches off my hair.  Daisy (Aidan’s dog Santa brought him last year) is home from the dog trainer.  For the record, if Santa brings anything with a pulse this year ,he will officially be fired.  Forever.

Since I’ve been such a blogging slacker, here are some pictures of what we’ve been doing.  Enjoy.