Turkey Trot

As most of you know, Russ has been training for a half marathon in December. The Saturday before Thanksgiving Russ and Adam ran the Turkey Trot in Wichita - 10 miles.

Every year Russ and his friend, Adam pick a race to run - usually a 10K - somewhere in Kansas.

They even have a little trophy that the winner gets to take home for the year - oh to make it better they engrave the winner's name and year - No Kidding!

Just a couple pictures from their race this year - the winner was Russ. I have to say that Adam did a great job considering he didn't do much training this year.

I am so PROUD to say that the trophy is in our bedroom - yes, I am such a good wife.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have a lot to be thankful this year even though there has been difficult times. We want to thank especially our families who have continued to give us a lot of love and support.

Don't you just want to kiss that little face!

We went to Russ' mother's house for Thanksgiving in Garnett, KS. All the kids, grandkids and friends were there. We had a good time and great food as always. After it was all over I realized I took six pictures! How could that of happened.

This is how our Black Friday started out - watching the movie UP in bed. We stayed with Uncle Jay and Aunt Barb. Wednesday night we visited with them after spending some time with Sherrie. After London was put to bed and they finished preparing some Thanksgiving food, we snuck out to the hot tub. It felt so good. When we got back in house - I looked at the kitchen stove clock - I asked Barb if it was correct - 1:30 AM! Where did the time go. Thanks for letting us stay at your home. We had a great time.

I do have one video to show everyone. It seemed to be the highlight of the day. As soon as I get it from my FAVORITE brother-in-law, I will get it posted.

Thanksgiving Feast

London's Daycare always has a Thanksgiving Feast. Here are some kids in her class getting ready for the feast.

Russ had taken off on Wednesday, so he went and had lunch with her. How cute with their Indian headbands they made in class. They also made placemats with their name and pictures of Thanksgiving food and had decorations on the tables.

The infant class is usually the pilgrims - too cute

Outside Lights

Today we started putting up Christmas lights. I encouraged my husband to check the strands before he put them up to make sure they work. Working lights seems to be an issue this year. I have had several strands not working already.

Out of 3 children - this was our only helper this year - hmmm

While Russ was hanging up his lights, I was trying to finish mine, but I got roped into helping him. While I was standing down below holding the lights for him, GREAT thoughts kept entering my mind (mainly about next yrs lights or landscaping for the house). I tried to the share them with Russ but then realized no one was listening to me. Oh yes, I forgot, how could I, he was listening to his IPod. Antisocial I called him. So, I share my GREAT ideas and thoughts with London and our cat, Nixon.

Such a great little helper.

This is my outdoor responsibility, the greenery on the railing, wreaths on the windows and decorating the porch. Well, since I helped the antisocial husband, my wreaths are still on the porch and I have not decorated around the front door either. I actually still have this beautiful great big pumpkin - if anyone wants it - come and get it.

Our day ended with a beautiful sunset

We got the lights all done except the upper peak which is 40 feet up. He will finish this next week. We got already to turn to the lights on and tada - the icicle lights worked but half of them twinkle and the other half doesn't and the other lights didn't turn on. Hmmm after consulting with our neighbor Corey, it seemed to only be a fuse and once it was replaced - all was good. Until a couple lights here and there started to blink. Oops, some twinkle lights must of gotten mixed in when we replaced them. Okay, the lights are up but we need to make a few adjustments. Just wait till you see them.

Creative Time

I have been busy busy sewing this past week. No time to clean, post on the blog, read blogs, or feed my family. My first project is with Julie, she is doing a sew along and we are making scarfs. My neighbors Tina and Amy D are have also joined along. I finally decided on my 9 fat quarters I wanted to use. This is probably the most difficult part for me other than my ADD (Julie you aren't the only one who gets comfortable and then your mind wanders and oops - you cut it wrong). But I stayed focused this day.

They are cut and I have already sewn the first side together.

Below are several projects I am working on - I will post as I complete them. I have a lot to get done and with Thanksgiving next week and then heading to Memphis for Russ' half marathon run for St. Jude - ohh we will see what I can accomplish on time.

Potty 101

Potty 101: We bought a potty for London last week. She has had NO interest in it at ALL. We would just causally ask "do you want to go in the potty" - London's response "NO" and run off. She even quit coming into the bathroom with us because the potty was in there. So, we decided to just let it go - she isn't ready.

Potty 102: Today London wanted a piece of licorice - I told her to go ask daddy. Russ decided to us it as a potty "training tool". I said that was fine since he has done this 3 times and I have no idea how to go about this. I will just do what he thinks is best.

He told her that she could have a bite if she sat on the potty - after a little whining she finally would sit on the potty. Okay, we accomplished something here. She seemed to feel comfortable doing that. Next thing I knew - she had her PJ's off and was sitting on the potty trying to go. After trying and trying she never did go. We gave her some stickers for trying. She decided to decorate her potty with them. So, it seems her potty needed a little bling. I have a feeling that instead of them going on the chart they will be going on her potty.

Later on London told me she had to go potty and wanted me to come to the bathroom with her. So we hurried into the bathroom - I expected her to pull down her pants and take off the diaper and go but London had other ideas - she took off her shoes, then socks, her pants and wanted her shirt off and then finally the diaper came off. Well, as you can guess by then she had already gone in the diaper. But at least she sorta has the idea of what to do. Some how we are going to have to get it across to her that you don't need to take off ALL your clothes to go potty.

We will see how this progresses. I would love for her to be potty trained in 1 week but I am sure that won't happen since she doesn't seem to have much interest. But one can always hope.

Take Advantage

Friday was going to be our last day of nice weather - they were calling for possible snow or rain for the rest of weekend. We decided to take advantage of it. After I picked up London, we went and got Russ and spent some time at the zoo.

The animals were very sociable this evening. We hit our favorites - giraffes, elephants, tigers, lions and the penguins. I think London could watch the giraffes all day - I love the way her face lights up when she sees them and runs over to the fence. I asked if we should take the baby giraffe home and she said "YES". I think he would fit in our home since we have 10 ft ceilings.

Water for Christmas

Today is a day where bloggers everywhere are joining in a campaign to buy water for Christmas.

4500 mothers bury their children EVERY DAY due to contaminated water. The lack of access to clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations and it doesn't have to be. As we get ready to start searching for the perfect gifts . . . . lets pause for a moment.

Today. . . November 13 . . . . lets buy clean water

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years

Your money can change and possibly save someone's life

A REAL life

Let's do this together

One day

$10

Let water be the first gift you buy this Christmas

A village could be changed because you read a blog that encouraged you to give . . . and you did. Click - Water for Christmas to be directed o the secure donation site of the highly recognized, nonprofit chart: water. All donations are tax deductible. 100% of the profit goes directly to clean water solutions in West Africa. Jody just came back from Africa and got to see first hand the wells that are being built in communities. Click here to scroll through her recent blog posts and see first hand what your $10 can do for others.

Leaf Raking?? or Taking Breaks??

I don't know if there was more leaf raking or breaks this day.

We have plenty of leaves at our house. The other week Russ, Keyton and London raked them up. I wished I would have taken a picture of the bags lined up. I think they had 13 bags full and to think that two trees still haven't lost their leaves. In Newton you can't put them in your trash and since the street cleaner NEVER comes by our house - it doesn't work to put them in the street.

Ours were hauled off to a pumpkin patch for mulch. I can't wait till next fall to see what kind of beautiful pumpkins our leaves helped to nourish.

London helping Keyton smashed down the leaves.

The kids taking a break - hmm this seemed to be the scene every time I went out to check on them. You are probably wondering why I wasn't out there? I had laundry and other housework to do.

For Lisa S in OK

My co-worker told me I needed to get this on my blog so her daughter-in-law could see it. I told her to give me Lisa's email and I would send them to her. Well, somewhere between work and my house I lost that little sticky note.

Lisa, this is London's Christmas stocking I made for her. It is out of left over scraps from a Christmas blanket I made last year. The cuff is from an old chenille bedspread. Kathy thought you might like something like this for MacKenna. She was hoping you would see it before you come to Kansas this week.

To everyone else, I haven't done any posting this last week - I have been sewing. I will post later the different items I have made. (I can't post all of them since some of them are Christmas gifts.) This stocking has a matching quilt and pillow for London and I have enough of the angel material to make a skirt for Christmas. I have had a fun time taking left over scraps and making something fun out of them.