I've been sort of scared to blog again. The whole turkey blog thing was kind of overwhelming. Over 5000 readings and 50-some comments later, I'm now realizing what a tender (pardon the pun) issue turkey can be to people! In short answer to the comments as I don't have time to address each one:

1- there will be no turkey sequel. sorry. no books either. yes, i know how to capitalize.

2- no, it didn't turn out.

3. no, i don't want to visit the netherlands.

4- yes, i realize that there is more to thanksgiving than turkey. it's about shopping too. KIDDING!

5- i'm sorry someone somewhere killed that turkey. i assure you it doesn't have a soul though.

6- guess what! I miraculously escaped having to cook another beastly bird ... our friends in Eugene are including us in their family celebration.

7- thanks for all the "bag of parts recipes". you should know that parasites are very real things.

It's been a very boring week. Sometimes boring weeks are fun though since that means more QT with the wee one. This week I got some round-the-house projects done ... lights and art up, and painted the lower half of our bedroom walls. Lavender. Of course. Ordering Christmas presents, planning family devotions. And teaching Elaina the art of child labor. This weekend is a church women's retreat which I am greatly looking forward to ... it's down in Rockaway Beach for 3 days.

Being Hillsdale students, and overly analytical firstborns, and Christians trying to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we spent about ... 10 hours at least discussing and praying about the whole Halloween thing before we came to a place where we felt comfortable about our decision. Despite the fact that it's origins are in the church, and the original intent was good, we just kind of feel like it's come to a point that glorifies scary, frightening things. Since "fear of God, not of man" was a BIG lesson for both of us, we decided not to embrace the whole trick-or-treating thing. So ... in lieu of it, we decided to have a family theme party each year where the kids can invite friends over and have a little candy-laden, dress-up event. As our kids get older, we'll let them decide how/if they want to celebrate, encouraging them to examine their own convictions and thoughts on it. In the meantime though, we launched off our first year with an "Under the Sea" theme ... we had Fish sticks and Goldfish crackers for dinner, ate with special silverware (a swordfish knife, octopus fork, and whale spoon :), E dressed up in her octopus costume, and we bought about 20 goldfish and dumped them in the bathtub for E to splash around with. The latter event, despite her love of showers and baths, did NOT go over well. They were like nibbling her little legs and bum, and it really freaked her out. Let's just say, our intentions of not having a fear-filled holiday came around and bit us in the butt. lol... She was utterly terrified to say the least. So the fishies went back in the bowl for admiring from a distance. Oy veh!

Get me OUT of here!!!

Last week, I got so annoyed with her tight curls getting all tangled all the time ... especially in front. They were getting impossible to brush or style!

So this led to her first haircut :) She got to watch WonderPets, so she was totally in heaven while I snipped away at her curls :)

Snuggin on the couch:

Ready for her Daddy-Daughter Date :)

Her latest stunt: she's not allowed to touch the dishwasher. So she THREW her little pet piggy in there so she'd HAVE to touch it to rescue the pig back out.   I caught her in the act ... tossing him in there, then crawling in to go get him. I truly believe she would take a nap inside the dishwasher if I'd let her ... she's so enamoured with it. God bless her, and may that love continue for many many years. lol...

AJ and I went on a coffee date the other night, and being penniless for a sitter, the little imp had to tag along. In the old days, we would have snapped off a few pics of us smooching on our date. Now, it's our date night and all the photos are of a munchkin parading around town in her little french cloak. lol... pathetic are we. We actually made her sit at a different table, in her own seat and gave her some crayons and paper so we could have some romance :) Out of sight, out of mind! lol...

If this picture doesn't say "Dad! You're embarressing me!" I don't know what does! lol....

And finally ... we've been working on our Proverbs 31 skills lately. Well, one of us has. lol... Video of her newfound domestic skills to come. She's quite handy to have around I've discovered :)