Thanks Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, for this reason I feel like I have to stick up for America’s forgotten holiday. Sometimes I wish there were more Thanksgiving movies or Thanksgiving songs ( I’m thinking Giblets Roasting on an Open Fire) that I could enjoy during this time of the season, unfortunately all I have right now is Garfield’s Thanksgiving and a pumpkin pie candle, which would be fine if I wasn’t assaulted by Jolly Saint Nick every day after Halloween. I just wish Christmas would wait until the 4th Friday in November to steal the show….. Isn’t that month enough?? I guess my thinking is that if I wait to celebrate Christmas I feel that I am keeping it special, if I celebrate Christmas for 2 months of the year it somehow lessens it. I guess I could buy a bb gun and start shooting those stupid blow-up Christmas monstrosities (seriously I HATE those) to vent my frustration but I think blogging is the more peaceful approach. Anyway I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

DUPED!

I suffer from chronic chapped lips, for this reason I keep 3 cap sticks in circulation at all times, 1 at work, 1 in the car, and 1 in my bedroom. Recently the bedroom one ran out and I asked Jess if she had one that I could replace it with. She pulled out this green can of what I thought was Vaseline called Bag Balm. I being grateful for the reprise from chapped lips gladly accepted this to be “high end” Vaseline. 3 days go by and I keep using this amazing product, my lips feel great as kissable as ever. Then, I notice the picture on the side of the can…….what in the world could that be……? So I pick up the can and start the read what Bag Balm really is.

BAG BALM Since 1899, BAG BALM has been the farmer's friend helping keep dairy cows from becoming chapped from the harsh Vermont environment. It's like having another hand on the farm or a helper around the house. BAG BALM works hard all year round 0 and works well. There's nothing like the original, and that's what you get when you buy this familiar green can.For chapped conditions and superficial abrasions. After each milking, apply thoroughly and allow coating to remain on surface. This protective ointment helps to keep superficial tissue moist and soft. In case of deep puncture wounds seek medical help. Discontinue use if rash or irritation occurs. Keep this, and all medications, away from children.Massage thoroughly and allow ointment to remain for full softening effect. BAG BALM contains lanolin and stays on to provide moisturizing and softening. For pets, apply BAG BALM liberally to the affected area. For use on cows, thoroughly wash treated teats and udder with separate towels before each milking. To avoid contamination after each milking, bathe the udder with plenty of hot water, strip milk out and dry skin. Apply BAG BALM freely and massage gently with this proven ointment twice daily. This product contains no alcohol.

WHAT THE CRAP!!

Suffice it to say that I had no idea that Jess shopped at Pets Mart for some of our human products…

Halloween

While Scott refuses to recognize Halloween as a "real" holiday (that's a whole other post...), we did celebrate this weekend. We kicked the holiday off with sugar; appropriate, no?

These are the caramel apples we made with my family. In an attempt to imitate some of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's apples, we definitely stepped it up a notch this year! I think the vote for the "favorite" was pretty evenly split between the walnut white chocolate, the oreo, and the "apple pie" caramel apple--caramel, white chocolate, and cinnamon sugar. Sooo good!

And the eagerly anticipated first Halloween costume...

Ellie was a pig! Or more appropriately, H1N1. Never wanted to catch swine flu until now, did ya?

Dad caught it...

and so did Mom! I'm telling you, this little piggy is highly contagious.

Jason and Tiffany and the kids came down from Idaho for the weekend! Here are the Daddys. Don't you love the pirates?

And the girls were lovely hula dancers. Here they are in action!

And here's proud Bestemor with her Utah and Idaho grandkids.

While we couldn't quite justify getting Ellie to steal candy for us just yet, Caitlyn and Aubrey were very generous with their spoils. :) But next year, get ready to earn your keep Ellie! ;)

Drawing the Line

I grew up as a bit of a tom-boy. I preferred jeans to dresses and would gladly play in the backyard instead of make crafts or dress up, although I did all of those things. Up until Jr. High, I sported my favorite hair do -- the page boy. And once, in high school, I met my date at the door wearing the exact same outfit, down to the guy's sandals (which I'd borrowed from my little brother), the blue Ralph Lauren t-shirt, and the knee-length denim shorts. Yeah.

Since then, I've learned to embrace my feminine side a bit more, much to my mother's pleasure. I got my ears pierced, I wear mascara and occasionally even lip gloss and blush, I don't mind dresses, my hair is usually long and girly, and I think my wardrobe finally leans more towards "woman" than "unisex."

Luckily, this transition means I don't really mind dressing up my baby girl. She owns a ridiculous amount of pink and several articles of clothing with ruffles. And while I'll admit to buying her boy pajama's (see previous post), I'm not opposed to putting flowers and bows in her hair. I think I've come a long way, but today, I draw the line:

I found this little gem while browsing children's clothing on Etsy. I will not put my daughter in a flower that is literally bigger than her head! That's just cruel.