the white house at the right time

"It felt like I was in a snow globe that someone just kept shaking." That pretty much summed up the first real snow storm of the season. We had over a foot of snow. And loved it! Minus the constant in and out of wet boots and accompanying puddles, soaked socks, and twenty pair of dripping gloves piled up by the back door. Snow means hats, boot, and gloves, and of course a snowman to guard the front yard. Cayden told me my snowman looked more like a pumpkin than a snowman. Madalyn said so too. We are still in fall mode, since pumpkins and fall wreath still adorn the front steps. Then they both said, "Mom, try making a turkey." So the kids and I got a little creative and made what we are sure must be one of the first snow turkey's ever!  Pretty proud of our significant contribution to world history ;) Gobble, gobble you might see this on google! We knew for sure people could tell it was a turkey when someone leaving church on Sunday stopped t...

Randy's cousin Bryan invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. We shared this holiday with them last year too! They also invited the Hertogh family over for their first Thanksgiving dinner. They are from the Netherlands like my dad. It was so fun to talk with them however, I wish my dad would have taught us more Dutch growing up! Table setting was beautiful! Makenzy making new friends. Ava. Twins??? Sally or Jane? I just don't have the eye to tell them apart! Makenzy. Appetizers! The pie goddess lives down the street from me. She also goes by the name of Christine. This year I implored her to help teach me the fine art of pie making. Homemade pies sing out Thanksgiving feat almost as loudly as the turkey. But of course more sweetly. However, the weather intervened. Snow. School cancelled for 2 days. All 8 kids home. And, by necessity, in the kitchen some of that time. Not the best recipe for trying to have girl time chatting and making pies. So it was postponed. ...

Thanksgiving company - Roos family (minus their twin girls who were off playing), White family, and Julie's parents, the stand in photographers. The meal was delicious, the ambiance wonderful, the company enjoyable, clean up committee a breeze, and conversation great. The kids had a great time playing and jelled very well. Thank you again Roos family. In the next few years, I expect to cook less and less. Why? Because my kids will doing most of it. I hope. I really hope. Already, they have perfected some pretty tasty bites. Pancakes, eggs, fudgies , shakes, and more recently egg nog . This is Makayla's signature drink so far. Madalyn helps, but Makayla is head chef on this one. Homemade Eggnog Recipe 6 fresh eggs 1 cup sugar, divided 2 cups cream (or substitute with 2 cups whole milk, also makes it a bit lower in fat) 2 cups whole milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/4 tablespoon freshly grated nutmeg (or just the nutmeg in the bottle) Separate egg yolks and whites. In larg...