Kumquats and such

We've been playing with colored rice for quite some time now, so I decided to step it up and incorporate the rice into a fun and simple art project. When Reagan was in Kindermusik, she loved all the shakers. We have a million empty toilet paper rolls lying around and we decided to get creative! Step 1: Gather supplies: wax paper (you can probably use Saran wrap too), empty toilet paper/paper towel tubes, painters tape, rice (or macaroni) Step 2: Place a square of wax paper over one end of the tube. Tape in place. Step 3: Have your child scoop a few large spoonfuls of rice into the open end of the tube. Step 4: Use another square of wax paper and tape it to the other end of the tube. Use one more piece of tape to ensure the other ends don't slip off (right around the middle) Final Product: Colorful rice shaker that's great for making music!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Jason, Reagan and I hopped in the car and headed to Centreville to watch the "Toilet Bowl" at Uncle Dave's house (game between UVA and VT...no one really cared this year, hence the nickname).  Around 4pm, Colleen, Keith and Max arrived at Uncle Dave's house to meet us!! It seems like it's been forever since we've seen them, and we truly appreciate them spending a night at our house on their way back to NC.  After the football fun was over, we packed up our cars and drove back to Alexandria, ordering pizza on the way home. We ate dinner and made sure the kiddos were fed, and then Keith and Jason took bath duty! Of course I had to get in there with my camera! (They are really going to be mad about this someday!)  Look at those pizza faces! Kissing in the tub This is what Max does when you say "smile!" Reagan's "cheese" face:) The next morning, we got up and let Max and Reagan...

As we enjoyed cocktails and appetizers, we had a great time chatting with one another. People were in and out of the kitchen, but because we cooked both birds outside, it was (for once) not the congregating place! Jason with PeePaw, and I think I surprised MeeMaw! Getting ready for its oil bath! And in he goes! Papa and PeePaw were hanging out on the porch, tending to this guy: Any bigger and it wouldn't have fit in our grill! Taking advantage of the gorgeous weather to hang out around the fryer. Reagan didn't even need shoes! Reagan and Daddy Reagan and Uncle Geoffrey sneak a peek at the turkey! Isn't it beautiful! Relish plate with some celery & cream cheese sticks (YUM!) Getting ready to sauté the Brussels sprouts Another good looking turkey is done! A table for 12 We started with the butternut squash soup topped with fried leeks and a dollop of sour cream And here's a pictur...

The day before Thanksgiving, Jason and I did a little bit of cooking in a desperate attempt to free up some kitchen space the following day. Jason prepped the turkey and I made a quinoa salad and butternut squash soup. Cleaning and drying the bird Creating a concoction to inject into the turkey Because deep frying it isn't enough, we injected it with a beer/butter "sauce" first I made the most simple butternut squash soup ever... And then I poured it into the blender, forgot to remove the plug on top (to release steam)! It exploded EVERYWHERE! I had to wash every kitchen utensil we own...and the walls! The temperature had been perfect on the day before Thanksgiving, and Thursday was boasting a high in the 60s, so we decided to keep the heat off in preparation for the crowd. Reagan wandered into our room around 5am with little ice cubes in place of her hands and feet! It was 53 degrees inside!!! No worries, we slept about another hour and then ...