Turkey Trot .... can you believe the gas prices....

We ran in the Chaska Turkey Trot Saturday. Here is a photo of some of the runners in our group, I'm the one holding the camera.

Then Friday when I bought gas I was shocked at the price in a happy way - wow!

The Chase is On! a.k.a. Look out the cops are right behind you!

Slippery roads can be very dangerous, especially when the police are right behind you!

My co-worker sent this, it is GOOD funny!

Welcome to the Elf Workshop

Last night, for our Monday family activity we went to Macy's 8th floor display. This year the display was about Santa's elves. It started with the elves waking up and 10 to 12 other places at the North Pole. The picture was taken between the bakery (left) and the workshop (right). These are family and friends – not elves. The display is created using animated and stationary dolls. In the kitchen two elves drape the table cloth and another tries to catch a mouse. The trees in the forest sway as they sing. The mail comes to the North Pole via hot-air balloon, and elves try to teach reindeer to fly. It’s an amazing 20 min walk through a fairytale land. After, we took a photo with the jolly elf Santa. This is one of our yearly traditions. The display changes from year to year. It has been Harry Potter, Pinocchio, Frog & Toad’s Adventures, and many others. Mary said this year was her favorite. I think we all liked it.

Holy Ears Batman

Ashayl asked me to take her to get her ears pierced this week. We set aside time to do this on Saturday. She waited a year before she was ready. We have told all our girls they could have their ears pierced once they were 8 years old.

I was surprised to see a line at the store of girls getting their ears pierced. One girl had the single hole near the top of her ear, another was getting the traditional single hole (both ears) and started crying once she sat in the chair. She was a year older than Ashayl so I'm thinking oooh this might be hard for my tender Ashayl. I learned long ago it is only as bad as mom or dad make it seem so I kept the jovial face and wispered to Ashayl - she looks like she's afraid, I don't think it's that bad. Ashayl nodded.

Ashayl sat right down when it was her turn, a little nervous but no tears before or after. I held up the mirror right away so she could see everything that was happening up to the spike in the lobe.

She is so proud of herself and likes her earings a lot. She tells everyone to wash their hands (instructions from the person that did her ears) before touching her earrings.

It was special to me that she only wanted dad to go with her.

The World's Best Banana Bread

Mary and Ashayl made "The World's Best Banana Bread" you know it's a good one if it is on the dirtiest page in the cookbook (it's been prepared more than once).

Here's the recipe:

Mix:
1/2 c. oil
1 c. sugar

Add:
1 c. mashed bananas (or 1 c. zucchini, but then you have to change the name of the bread)
2 eggs
1/2 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Add:
1 & 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda

Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Makes one loaf


Mary and Ashayl made 5 loaves... I am so blessed!

1/2 Birthday and The US Capitol

Happy Half Birthday to Meshya... Meshya made her own 1/2 Birthday cake this year - since she is 1,300 miles away from the family!!! Way to go Meshya! You did a fantastic job baking and decorating your cake, I wish I could have had a piece - yum!








Taft is in Washington D.C. with his school class. He sent this photo for us to enjoy.