Thanksgiving in Review

Whew! We're done with Turkey Day! We started last weekend with dinner at Schusters. Thursday was dinner with my family, all the kids were pretty good, playing dress-up, looking at Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas lights and watching Snoopy...I mean Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving on TV after dinner. We had a great evening. Then we were very lucky to be invited to a friend's for dinner with his whole family on Saturday night. I didn't get my camera out, but I should have. Riley was on her best behavior and he have them convinced she's an angel:) Thanks to Neds and family for the invite!

TIGF

I'm thankful that I didn't get scheduled to work Black Friday. THANK YOU BRE!

Riley's First Movie in Theaters

Ok, so the movie was bad...I don't recommend "Planet 51". But Riley is into Monsters and Aliens so we took her to see the animated alien flick the day before Thanksgiving. (Josh had the day off for my doctor's appointment) And Riley loved the whole experience...I'm not sure she liked the movie either, it was pretty scary, I think, but she did great and loved the popcorn and M&Ms and the Cherry Icee...who wouldn't love movies with all those treats:)

Turkey Skate Video

Turkey's Can Skate?

Daddy was super excited to find out the BP had an open skate this morning, complete with a skating Turkey! They had a great time while Mommy stayed home to bake pie. Josh is thrilled with her progress on the ice. In the past three weeks she has gone from barely standing to moving pretty good on her skates. Soon she will loose the walker and move on her own:)

Riley would like to type her own Thanksgiving message:

khhl 9ppiguiiiiiiop[]]
\ Love Riley...

Happy Thanksgiving!

So much to be thankful for...but we are especially thankful for healthy kids (inside and outside), wonderful family and surviving this economy with jobs in tact. Later today I'll post pictures if I have time, but I'm also thankful for Turkeys that ice skate with my kiddo...and I'm not just talking about Daddy:)

We hope you all have a fun, yummy, wonderful and safe holiday season...let the stuffing begin!

Proud Godparents!

While we're discussing the topic of proud...I just want to post one picture of Zacky, our nephew and Godson who had his singing debut at church this weekend with his Sunday school class. Our family was a regular paparazzi in the front row trying to get a good picture and video of the occasion, but poor Zack was stuck by a little girl who was taller than he is and he spent most of the time trying to peek out from behind her. I think he did a little singing, but mostly he did a lot of smiling and showing us he could see us:) We were so proud of him! He wasn't scared at all:)

Progress!

Riley did great at her second skating class! She got up to standing several times on her own from a sitting position...this is something they work on in class, not an indication that she falls all the time. She stayed on her feet better this week too. Not to say she didn't fall a few times, but I don't think we will have any bruises to show for it tomorrow. She is also moving across the ice better and learning to turn herself around when she gets off course...which she tends to do a bit:)

Maybe it was the extra practice she got at open skate with Josh yesterday, although, Josh insists she didn't want to move on the ice because she was afraid to fall. Tonight, she didn't seem afraid at all. She likes to do the "teacher part" and she concentrates really hard. You can even see her talking to herself saying "march, march, march," the whole time she's practicing. We also did not have to fight her when leaving class. Overall a MUCH better night tonight. Daddy is bursting his proud papa bubbles all over the place!

Puppy Needs a New Home

My sister-in-law rescued this English Staffordshire Terrier from a family who wanted to put her down because she needed treatment for an totally curable infection. Apparently she got a can stuck on her lower jaw and it tore the skin and got infected. The clinic is currently taking care of her until they find her a new home. She is a sweet dog, we met her at Thanksgiving dinner at their place tonight. She's 4 years old, seems to be great with kids and other animals, and Jessie says she's a great patient. They have to scrub her wound twice daily and she lets them do it without any struggle. The wound will heal fine and she will be spayed before she goes home with a new family. Jessie says she is free to anyone who can give her a good home. If you want information about taking Tia home, let me know!

Thanksgiving at Schusters

We went to Thanksgiving a little early this year and I'm thankful for that arrangement especially when I'm pregnant! It's not easy doing two turkey dinners in one day, much less trying to squeeze those two meals into a tummy already crowded by "Baby Brother"...Here's a few pics from the festivities. Riley decided she wanted to "do grandma and grandpa's hair" so she brought her own hair clips to play beauty shop!

TIGF

I'm kinda stealing this one from my mom, but it's valid so...I am super thankful for a unseasonably warm and sunny November. This is normally a gloomy, cold and yucky time of year and we have been very lucky this month (especially considering how lousy October was!). I'm even more happy that this will make winter seem a lot shorter. Gotta Love el Nino!!! Now bracing the for temperature drop next week though! Here comes Winter!

Skating 101 - Age 3

Last night was Riley's first skating lesson. I have to say I was less than impressed with the woman who was running the show, but the teachers who were working with Riley were great...I just wish I knew there names. There was no introduction, no explanation of the program, just some snobbish figure skating coach barking orders to parents who didn't know what they were supposed to do in the first place.

Riley had a great time and didn't want to leave...which led to it's own set of problems, but I think she's going to do fine once she gets the hang of the fact that we're going back every week. This is her first real experience in an organized sport/class/teaching setting since she was too young to remember when we used to go to story time at the library and we never took ECFE and she's not in preschool yet. Overall, I was really proud of how well she listened and followed direction and she wasn't nervous at all, even though she had never met the teachers before...She did great!

The class is broken into two parts. The first half hour is instruction, the second is "open skate" which I only knew because I re-read the registration information before I left for the class. Again, no discussion of this with the parents. Josh brough his skates and got some play time on the ice with his little girl...He's pretty excited about this too:)

Friends and Family

Just in case any of you are looking to kill some time in the morning before stuffing your Thanksgiving Turkey...or your tummy...I have coupons for 35% off your entire purchase at Sports Authority valid only on Thanksgiving from 9-3. Also, there is a friends and family weekend this coming weekend. I can get you a coupon for 25% a single item, this one is valid I think Friday the 20-Sunday the 22nd. Neither of these coupons is valid on clearance items, but they would work on big-ticket stuff like treadmills or winter apparel (some exclusions on brands in apparel). Also, if you want a 35% coupon, I would appreciate if you could use it at my store by Northtown. There's a contest for employees as incentive to get you guys in the store that day. The coupon is good at any store, but obviously I'd like to help keep the numbers up at our store so my job is safe:) Let me know which coupon you need and when and I'll try to get it to you ASAP!

In other news...Riley starts her first skating lessons tonight. And we have a full week of play dates and lunches. Lots of pictures to come, but not sure when I'll get them posted:)

TIGF

This week was a challenge for us...Josh was pretty sick this weekend and he was worried about getting Riley and I sick. On Saturday during the day, I spent a lot of time outside with Riley in the thankfully decent fall weather trying to keep her away from Daddy's germs. But after Saturday night when I was up with both Josh (for freaky reasons I won't go into here) and Riley (because she wanted to snuggle at 4 in the morning?) I didn't sleep much. I was exhausted and I am extremely thankful that my parents were able to take Riley for the day so I could get a nap and we could keep her as germ-free as possible. I'm also more thankful now that Riley and I had our H1N1 shots because we don't really know what Josh had, but it was flu-like and pretty scary stuff:( Now I just need to get Riley her second dose as soon as possible so she's fully protected and we don't have to worry about her being exposed. Argh, what a lousy flu season already!

Play Time with Cousins

Our monthly play date with the cousins was last week. Here are just a few of the fun pics from our cousin gathering. Thanks, Mom and Dad for hosting!

What a Difference 3 Years Makes

This is a milestone picture we've been taking of Riley since she was born. I can't find pics farther back than the 5 month one, but I think that has to do with the fact that we've used three different photo programs since she was born. Another marker in our history, I guess:)

Eco-Shopping

More on a "Green" Note:

When we think of reducing our "carbon footprint," we think about driving less and improving the efficiency of our home. Just as important, however, is being intentional about what we buy.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that nearly 50% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are tied to our consumption of goods, materials, and food.

Luckily, there are many ways to reduce the impact of our stuff. In many cases, you will also save money and support the local economy!

It's easy to go eco-shopping. Just ask yourself these questions before making a purchase:

• Does the gift recipient need or want this?
• Can I buy this used?
• Can I get this with recycled content?
• Can this be recycled?
• Can I give a coupon to borrow or rent this instead?
• If I spend a little more money today on a high-quality or energy-efficient option, could I (or my gift-recipient) save money in the long run?

If there are alternatives, these questions will help you consider them. Just start with small steps -- a 10% reduction in new purchases in the average 2-person Minnesota household will save 1,102 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents.


Living Green 365 Newsletter

Ballerinas

Last week we had a Halloween Party with Emme and Izze. The kids painted egg carton bats, Shannon and I made pumpkin seeds...more for me than anything...the kids didn't like them and Shannon had never tried them before. Riley also discovered a tutu that she twirled and twirled...It was a pretty impressive little skirt! Emme and Izze were also ballerinas for Halloween:) And for those asking "When is Riley going to start dance classes..." One thing at a time please. We start ice skating lessons in a few weeks! Hockey skates and tutus don't mix:)

TIGF

I'm thankful that our clinic called last Friday and said they had the H1N1 vaccine available for both Riley and me. Riley got the flu-mist stuff (no mercury) and I got hte shot (no mercury) and I did it all by myself (no parental supervision). If you know me, you know I don't do doctors by myself so that's a big deal! I normally make my poor parents join me on trips to the doc. I'm just not comfortable by myself...I know that's weird for a 32-year-old, but I'm ok with being a chicken:)

Catch of the Day

Last week we went to lunch with my friend Cheri before she heads back to Hawaii with her new hubby - he is stationed there for now, wish I could go visit, but my timing is bad! Pregnant and an 8 hour flight don't mix! We went to Red Lobster and Riley got to watch the lobsters in the tank while we waited for our seat. She loves to watch them...she was kinda bummed they weren't moving much though. The last time I think they were walking around the tank more. We'll miss you Cheri! See you in December...Should have taken pics of the grown-ups too, but I'm a dork and I didn't!

Winterize Your Windows

Haven't posted anything "Green" in a while...got this info in my e-mail today, thought it would be helpful to some:

There are lots of ways to improve the efficiency of your windows during the winter. Here are tips from the U.S. Department of Energy:

• If you have older windows (single pane), use storm windows and remember to shut them! Storm windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by 25% to 50%.
• Use the shrink-wrap type plastic film kits on the interior to stop air infiltration around leaky windows. They are inexpensive, effective, easy to install, and easy to remove in the spring.
• Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.
• Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to let in the winter sun.
• Weatherstrip or caulk older windows to seal air leaks.

Living Green 365 Newsletter

Random Fall

I have been really lucky this Fall because the neighbor kids are into jumping in the leaves. They had to cut down some of their trees this year, so they don't have enough leaves to make a good jumping pile in their yard. Thankfully our one maple tree in the front provides plenty of ground cover for that! The "lucky" part is the kids have done most of my raking so I haven't had to do too much. Now, if we can get them to move on to the back yard!

Grown Up Halloween

We were invited to a Halloween party Friday night at some friends...let's just say it was an "interesting" evening:) I felt old...guess it doesn't help when you're pregnant and everyone else is drinking. Oh well...it was great to see our friends in the grown-up world!