Thanksgiving

Just some photos of Thanksgiving day...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dog yacked up a deer hoof.  Of course I took a picture.

 

 The girls set up the village under the tree.  Takes me back about 30 years.

 

 

Is that a squirrel in the Christmas tree?

 

Nope, just a cat.

First Thanksgiving

It was wasn't the discovery of Plymouth Rock, but preparing for the first Thanksgiving at 2967 Hickory Ridge Road feels like quite the feat! Cheers!

Sledding Hill Drive

I've secretely dreamt of the day it snowed and I could tell my kids, "Get your stuff on and go play outside.... without me."

I know, Mommy guilt overload.  Heaven forbid I might miss a moment in thier lives I'll never get to re-live.  They might think I don't care about them.  They might enjoy something in their lives I wasn't a part of.  The shame is overwhelming.

I decided to face the guilt and accept the consequences.  Instead of standing in the cold snowy yard pretending I'd never seen children sled or laugh before while staring at a bush thinking of how to convince them to come back inside, I chose to stay inside, alone, editing photos by the fireplace and listening to Amazon Prime music.  Any mommy guilt present vanished almost instantly.

I won't lie.  I went out during the last 5 minutes they played.  With my camera, because I knew I'd have fun editing the photos after the fact.  I'm noticing a selfish trend as the've become older, and it seems to be working for me.  Go figure.

Maisie's always been so dainty, so polite, appropriate and delicate.

And then there's her...

My heart went out to Goose.  Maisie was treating him like a reindeer.

"Nooo Mooore"!  says Goose in his dog voice.

"Oh fine, one more ride"

 You're a good dog Goose.

I'm behind

I just realized I haven't posted in a while.  Sorry about that.  In the meantime, Maisie lost another tooth.  This one became loose and fell out all in the same day. 

Seriously.

 

I fried my computer on Saturday.  It actually happened Friday night, but I'm not admitting fault.  It just so happened I was hired to photograph a wedding on Saturday morning. 

Ironic timing.

 

Luckily, I live next door to my inlaws.  On purpose.  Seriously.  I almost feel bad for them having to live next to me. 

Anyhoo, they have a computer I'm borrowing.  Otherwise, I would not be typing at this moment.  Therefore, I'll be looking for the best Black Friday computer sale.  Please let me know if you have any insight.  I'm not fancy, but I'm particular, if thats such a thing.

 

We have a mouse in the garage.  I've tried my darnest to keep it out of the house.  I threw Kuda out there earlier this afternoon after I watched the mouse run out of my running shoe.  Literally, threw Kuda.  Kuda got too cold and we ended up bringing him back inside without the kill.  Luckily, Goose is in the garage right now and I'm praying for a blood bath.

 

Sorry for the delay in photos.  The kids played in the snow today.  I took photos but haven't downloaded them yet.  We got 3-5 inches Friday night.  They are most excited about attaching the dog leash to the blow-up intertube and making Goose run them up and down the driveway. 

 

Its the little things.

Goldlilocks

I remember some of my favorite games as a child were acting out survival scenarios.  The living room sofa became a ship and if you fell off you'd be eaten by sharks... our waterbeds were life rafts and we had to protect our dolls from going overboard in treacherous winds and lightening... Our dolls had major fevers and would die if medical help wasn't reached immediately...  My sister and I came up with these types of games before we even knew Lifetime existed. 

 

My girls asked to go for a walk in the woods late Sunday afternoon.  Of course I said 'sure'.  I should have known the walk would turn into a survival scenario before we even started. 

 

 

Upon reaching the backyard, I was notified we were lost in the woods and had to seek shelter.

Naturally.

 

Fire would need to be created so we could rest overnight.

 

As Maisie built the fire, Molly posed in a position that made my ankles hurt.

 

Then morning arrived and it was time to continue seeking shelter.

 

Lo and behold, we found a tiny cabin in the woods.  They discovered kind people living inside and managed to raid their pantry. 

 

My girls being my girls, smuggled string cheese under their shirts before promptly deciding it was time to leave the tiny cottage.

 

Ever so grateful I took the time for a walk in the woods with my girls.

The Big 3 7

What is it about birthdays that bring on so much pressure?  Yes, I turned 37 on Saturday.  Okay, okay it was my birthday.  The anniversary of the day I was born 37 years ago. 

Let's face it, as long as were alive, we'll definitely have a birthday.  Why does Facebook swarm us with messages from distant acquainted civilians on that anniversary...why do people want to talk to us on that day and not others... what makes us famous on our birthday?

 

Two days before my birthday, I shut down my personal Facebook page.  It felt phony to me.  I don't believe an explanation is necessary.

 

  I kept my business Facebook page as a test.  I was curious who would feel the urge to wish me a Happy Birthday through Heidi's Kitchen. 

Call me bored or call me a scientist.  Your choice.

 

On my birthday several Facebookers logged onto Heidi's Kitchen to wish me their best.  Cool.  I 'liked' their post.

Forced?  I don't know.  However, I do know there is a pressure to wish Happy Birthday to people we really don't know on Facebook because of their little reminder button.

 

I think it's ridiculous and frankly, stupid.

If you don't know it's my birthday without Zukenbergs little reminder, perhaps a "Happy Birthday Heidi, hope you have a great day" isn't really necessary?  I don't know, just a thought.

 

What meant the most to me on my birthday follows:

A morning love call from my boyfriend, Sam Schulz

Molly's 'pretty' birthday card.

Maisie and Molly making me dinner.

Mike cleaning the kitchen after breakfast.

Ross sitting at the breakfast bar and saying, "Happy Birthday".  Genuinely.

A beautiful gift from my sister.

A gift of time with stinky, hyper boys from my in-laws.

Wine. Wine. Wine.

A perfect run down a gravel road at my own pace after morning coffee.

A call from my brothers.

Being able to call this life mine.

Knowing my husband adores me.

 

Knowing what's truly important in life....

 

At one point I walked outside and saw my husband in this contraption. 

It's about people.  It's about love.  And it's about laughter.  I may be getting older, but at the same time, I'm feeling more and more alive.

Upside Down and Backwards

Maisie's other front tooth has been loose for quite some time.  So loose it was nearly sideways and jutting out toward the northwest.

Maddie bribed Maisie to let her help with the removal process after school by promising her a whole day with her cell phone.  The stakes were high.

 

 

 

You'd have thought we'd delivered a child. 

There were cheers, applause and congrats all around.  These are best the days...

Apples Don't Fall Far

This girls' learned all my best kitchen secrets.

 

 

She's 5.

 

She's knows food terms I didn't learn till I was in college.  For example, she corrects me each time I call Focaccia bread Ciabatta Bread.  Sheesh.

 

She can't help it.  It's in her blood.

 

Her GG and Maisie...

 

Maisie feeding her...

 

And little did I know she was growing in my womb at this moment...

Like I said.  She just can't help it.  Food and Cooking is in her blood.  Eat it up girl.

Halloween on Hickory Ridge

Halloween was celebrated on Hickory Ridge with 3 little monsters.

 

One with an attitude...

 

One with the wiggles...

 

and one with a Cutco.

 

Elsa got to wear her costume to school.  I thought the days of costumes at school had passed when most schools renamed Christmas parties 'Winter Parties' and Halloween Parties 'Fall Celebrations'.

Guess I-35 hasn't made the switch yet.

 

Pre-Trick-or-Treat on the square with Maddie.  Maisie is a cat.  Ross would be a black thing with a candy bucket shoved in his shirt, Maddie is a human and Molly is the ice queen.

 

Molly shows off some of her loot.

 

Did I tell you we named the cat Kuda? 

Well we did.

 

GG got Molly all to herself Saturday night.  I don't think either one minded.

 

Squirrel Hunt Promises

I promised squirrel hunt photos in my last post.  Little did I know it would take me over a week to get them posted for your viewing pleasure.  What's a girl to do?

What?  The wagon of death photo isn't the one you were hoping for?

 

Perhaps you'd be more interested in the image of young children watching their Papa skin a raccoon?  It is coon season you know.

 

Yee Haw!

 

Uncle Greg was the Squirrel Hunt winner this year.  Sounded like he was attacked by a flock of squirrels right off the get go.

 

Not real certain what's happening here.  However I do know Ross kept complaining about his jacket smelling weird afterwards.

 

I'm guessing his hands didn't smell much better...

 

The fathers and sons line up for the annual squint into the sun photo because it's 11:30 and shade isn't an option.

 

Looks like someone's girls have the open-mouth smile down pat.

 

Is there anything better than genuine joy? 

I think not.

 

Turns out I'm this handsome fellers girlfriend.  He took me on a date to the cabin and the garden.  I sort of felt like I was handed the rose on the Bachelor. 

 

Men with dead squirrels.

 

Cael practicing for a quad.

 

until next year.