thinking of thanksgiving...

Today begins my 5 day weekend. ah... I'm just doing some last pre-Thanksgiving errands today and enjoying myself. I have already been out scouting the shops, getting ready to buy some things on black Friday, which is my birthday this year, too :) I have never been shopping on Black Friday, and for pretty good reason, I'm sure. But we're not going to go early, and no one is allowed to push me. I've heard some pretty awful stories about that notorious shopping day, so I'm going to be careful, and Ron will shield me and the kid if need be. I feel silly even saying that, because people should behave themselves... ah, but I always want to give people more credit than some of them deserve perhaps. 

Please share your own Black Friday stories if you've ever gone shopping that day, I'd be curious to hear your impressions. 

We're also having Thanksgiving here at our home this year. Natalie and Pierre are coming down from Dallas (yay!!) and a girl from my work might be joining us, too. Ron asked several bachelors at his job, but they are heading home for the holiday. It's good when people can go see family. I am used to being away from Wisconsin for holidays, but having Nat and Pierre here will be family to me. Then I get to go home and see everyone for Christmas, so I couldn't ask for more! 

This year Ron has decided he will be in charge of the turkey. Neither one of us has ever roasted a turkey before, but I know that Ron will take care of the bird quite well. He can be very fastidious when he wants to be. I have some basic instructions I found online, but we do welcome any advice for the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. (or at least edible, if it comes to that). ah, but we'll have fun! oh, also welcoming any gravy tips :) 

Homestead Fest is this weekend, and if anyone has been hanging around me... this year... they might know that I have been looking forward to Homestead Fest since we discovered it last year. I love watching bees make honey and some guy make a chair from scratch and learning how to make cheese... and they have the best food, all made from scratch! it's so fun, and gives a good look at the simple life. It's also the time when their kids display and sell their artwork and crafts (all top quality) that they've worked on throughout the year. Having been homeschooled and appreciating that part of my past, I always get excited for the kids, knowing that this weekend is so big for them! We recently went up to their shops that are open throughout the year because I wanted to scout out a rocking chair (I'm looking for a good wooden traditional one), and I knew they'd have something. I figured it would be a little pricey, but after rocking a minute in the perfect chair, I looked at the price tag. $4000!! wow, I have good taste. will keep looking... This year we're going to take some friends from church who have two little kids, so it will be even more fun!

I have been baking lately, and feeling quite domestic. I am going to wait another week or so before starting Christmas cookies, but that will be fun. I tried some date pinwheels the other day and they turned out really well. This year I have to avoid eating the batter, though... That will save me plenty of calories, I'm sure! 

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Day and is able to spend it with family. I am thankful for many things this year. Jesus. My Ron, my new baby growing bigger every day. My family far away, and glad Natalie is close by. I will be thinking especially of my family at home this year, though. I know that this year will be particularly hard not having Doug around. Know that I love you all, and beyond that I don't really have words. I have some tears and plenty of good memories. God bless.  

decisions and musings

Well, I'm trying to decide if I will be continuing with ceramics next semester. Today is my last day at ceramics class to make new and possibly useless pots and trinkets. I have so enjoyed it, though, and feel like I just started to scratch the surface of my creativity and would like more time to learn and do more. However, since I'll be having a kid in April, I'm not sure if it would be entirely worth it. I think it might, though. What I would love someday is a wheel and a kiln at home. Ceramics is one of those artistic endeavors that requires a lot of effort and input and money just to get set up, and I know that after this class it won't happen at home for a while! So that's what I'm thinking about this morning.  

Also, I will report that the house is very very clean right now, as we have finished our bedroom painting project and we feel like we're staying in a new place :) My motto now is "maintenance"... How hard does that become when you start having kids? tehe. 

I am also feeling the baby kicking a lot more, it even kind of woke me up as I was drifting off to sleep last night :) It feels like a little secret message, and makes me happy to be his mom :)  

big news!

Well, overseas family... we thought you should know that we're having a BOY!

The ultrasound was so fun to watch and he was so cute and tiny, though sooo much bigger than when we first saw him, of course. He has little fingers and toes now!! We watched him try to suck his thumb once but he kept missing (must be mama's lack of coordination coming through). Ah, but we won't fault him he has plenty of time to learn! 

I had the day off work and got some extra ceramics time in and Ron got off early to join me for the ultrasound, then we took a nice fall walk and went out to dinner together :) It was such a nice Monday :)

ron's mug

This was my first project in my ceramics class. We all had to make a mug. Mine ended up very large and too heavy to really hold comfortably with the handle! I'm in good company, however, because Ron thinks the mug represents all that is man. He loves to drink his hot chocolate out of it and has made me feel better by appreciating the big clunky thing I brought home from school :) 

baby bump

getting bigger every day... trying to get a nice picture with the trees in the background, but we also through in our redneck random boards laying against our fence... I'll be bigger yet come Christmas and am looking forward to family talking to my belly :)