Getting Ready for Christmas!

Scoping out the trees.  That one's too little guys!

Yesterday (Sunday) we went to get our tree.  Luckily living here in the great Northwoods, we live close to many different family tree farms.  Last year and this year we went right down the road to Stacy Tree Farm.  It didn't take long before we found the perfect tree and cut it down.

Jason carrying our tree

Kaitlynn being licked by a goat

Daisy with a llama

The gang with Santa and Comet

There was also a petting zoo with Santa and Comet!  Matthew was very concerned about talking to Santa this year and went right up to him and let him know what he wants- a remote control helicopter!





After that we came home and trimmed the tree, the kids had a great time and not too many ornaments broke.

Naughty or Nice? reminder.  Four Precious moments angels~ 1 for each girl.

After that, we cooked up some Northern fish that my dad left in our freezer and the kids got to play the Nintendo.

Today we woke up for a busy day around the city (Minneapolis).  I had a doctors appt that way so I made a day of it.  Matthew didn't get up at his normal wakeup time of 6am, so after the older kids got on the bus I checked on him.  He was so hot his face was rosy!  He had a temp of 99.2F under each arm.  Then he said he had a sore throat, I decided then and there to take him in.  We got to CVS MinuteClinic about 20 min before it opened, so we were the first ones in.  Rapid test said strep, so we got him on some penicillin, luckily we were able to get tablets as he hates liquid medicine.  I called my clinic since I had been feeling crummy with a raw throat in the mornings, so they called in some penicillin for me too.  This evening as we read stories (The Gingerbread Man) I looked at his tummy, and a rash has appeared, so he officially has Scarlet fever!  Kaitlynn had it this summer, and now him.  I had never seen it before, and everyone says "Isn't that an old time disease that doesn't exist anymore?"  I can most assuredly tell you it is still around.

Popcorn shrimp with red beans and rice

One last note, I got to eat lunch at my favorite restaurant today, Popeye's.  I can't tell you how much I miss the South, and this one Popeye's in all of Minnesota satisfies my craving on the rare occasion I get down into the city.

What a week

     Here I am on a Sunday after a crazy Thanksgiving week.  It all went well though thankfully!  My sister came to MN to visit from SD. Her baby is getting so big and handsome.  She also had her first pampered chef party yesterday and it was alot of fun, I found many new products that I could not live without in my kitchen, so many I had to start a wishlist, I think I will be keeping her in business for the next year.
     For Thanksgiving I made pumpkin and pecan pie, and pumpkin cheesecake.  I used the pumpkins that I prepared in Oct.  I also made roasted sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts, both were pretty yummy.  My husband made the turkey, smoked of course on his gigantic grill.  I think it turned out delicious.  I never liked turkey much until he started making it the last few years.  It all turned out very well and everyone got along great, which is a blessing! 

     Another thing I got accomplished this week is my sewing nook.  I never got anything done because I always had to put everything away as soon as I was done, and the whole process was such a hassel.  So, I cleared room in our room for a table for my machine, and I have been sewing up a storm!  I am finally getting somewhere on a very special quilt I've been working on for months.  I am also making cloth pads that look fabulous now that they're coming together.  I also can't wait to get started on some very special Christmas presents.  I am happy as a lark right now.  I plan on adding more wall shelves and cleaning up the cords a bit.

I also made a dog bed for my big Pom Cookie since she was always in here sleeping next to my bed.  I just did the cut and tie on some fleece, it was so easy and she loves it.  I've even caught some other Poms in it!

On that note I will leave you with a cute Pom picture: