Ummmm..... hello???

Hello there and happy belated Thanksgiving!
I know, it's been a bloomin month since my last post!
I just got soooo behind I didn't know what to update you on first!
So... in no great order here's what we've been up to...

*We went to a "Festival of Trees"
*We had our first CT guests! Meme and Papa broke in the guest room. :)*We hosted Thanksgiving for nine! At nine it was my smallest in years, we really missed our other family. Instead of being too sad we tried to concentrate on our blessings. Still missed you all though.
*Okay, this one's for Heather... and it's a biggie. Over the four day weekend Jeff made a home depot run and got the lumber to make these shelves. They go all the way around my "back" basement. Should go a long way to helping us organize down there (oy vey, it's terrible believe me). Should also help me to be able to FIND my Christmas stuff which is why there are no pictures of our new tree here. Inevitable delay I'm afraid.
* We got new furniture during the month. Finally replaced the slip covered set. It is chocolate brown leather. This is the chair, there is a sofa and love seat too. Looks kinda sorta grown up even doesn't it????!

*This tree was the last tree in our yard to lose leaves. It hung on in this brilliant red color for the longest time. Here is one of my attempts to get an "artsy" picture of it. Not so great. Really Spincerely rocks the best at artsy nature pictures!
*During November I did an activity with Max's boy scout troop that involved painting with mashed berries. Kristin and I often did it in our classrooms when we taught next door to each other (um, i miss those days). The boys LOVED squishing the blueberries and raspberries through the sieves using rocks. Just like "Little Gopher" would do.
This is the book the activity is based on. Little Gopher is the Native American on the front cover. If you have kiddies I highly recommend this book. If you want the "paint" recipe let me know. Oh, and after doing the scout troop I did it for his whole class too. Can you say "insane"?
*At the Festival of Trees mentioned above Rudy came and posed with the kids. Ethan was missing because he, like all of us, had "peri-flu". Never mind that he had flu shots, they all did. Just a strain of flu going around here. On this day his temp was 104 and he wound up needing an x-ray at the hospital to make sure he didn't have pneumonia. Fun. All of us were sick, starting with Abbie, then Max, then Me, then Ethan. Please note Jeff missed it. Lucky duck!
*Pumpkin picking and the corn maze. HUGE corn maze. Lost a kid in there. Really. Almost had to get the people that run the farm to come and help me search. Luckily the child popped out just as i was about to sound the alarm. It was not the littlest child. I'll just leave it at that.

*Halloween. Love this pose of Abbie as I truly believe you see the real her in it! Sassy little devil isn't she!!! ;)
*Favorite pic of "Count Maxula". Flying down the drive on his too small scooter! Perhaps Santa will remedy that.......
*Firefighter Ethan off to the rescue by way of John Deere!
*Rudy's butt! We went to the holiday parade and it was fantastic! Lasted over an hour and even had these huge balloons. Hard to photo though, hence the booty shot. It was such a gorgeous day for a parade! Santa and his Mrs. ended the parade and the kids were thrilled. Oh, and also they got more candy that day (hurled at them from the floats) then you would believe! Three full bags of it. Yippeee... more candy! (said dripping with sarcasm) (and a chuckle)
That's it for the pictures in this picture heavy post.

You're kindof sortof caught up with me now.

What's new with you?

I have an idea for Christmas... it has to do with a blog challenge where each day you would get an "assignment" for a different holiday picture to take and I would post mine. I would try to find a way to post yours too. Would anyone be interested? Then those of us who scrap would have a minibook all done at then end. If you are interested let me know - otherwise I won't bore you all with it!

Have a great week! I'll try to stay caught up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

J