Thanksgiving Fun

It all started with my brother and a can of whipped cream. Before I knew it, Dana had the can. I grabbed the camera. That can made some great laughs and even better photos.

Black Friday Sale!

No we didn't hit any of the sales this morning, but I'm having a sale of my own. I'm trying to sell some of the knit baby caps I've been making. If you would like a baby cap to give as a gift this Christmas, shipping is free through Sunday. Prices on the caps are $15-$20 depending on the yarn. I will make your cap just for you! Email me with size and desired color and yarn style. I can send you some photos of the yarn I currently have, and will help with ideas. DTKMKihn@yahoo.com.

Have a great weekend!

2 Year Olds are Fun!

Mo is always good for a laugh around our house. Last night he was in rare form. He stomped around the house singing, "Dum Di Dum Di Dum HUH." He was pretending to be a gnome after watching the DVD of Kaia's performance in "Rumbledidskin."

Later he came out to the garage, he was delighted to see the dog in there and said, "Hey there Sampson. He a big dumb dog." Yes, he has learned Sampson's other name already.

He has also learned a number of words that I won't post for you to read. Those words that he shouldn't say, and yet we have to stifle the laugh at such a word coming out of his little mouth. One particularly funny incident was when Dana started to say a word, but caught himself. Mo without missing a beat said the word for him. Good thing he'll grow out of it, well his sister did anyway.

Who knows what clever new things he'll say this weekend? He'll have quite the audience at Thanksgiving, so we could be in for a treat.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I wish you safe travels, and enjoy your family.

You learn something new each day...

I found this quiz on Mrs. Mordecai's blog. I rushed through it the first time, and found that I should be an Orthodox Jew. I realized though that some questions confused me, so I decided to take it again.

I find the recommendation for Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic strange for me. I'm still wondering why those two came before mainline to conservative Christian, which is what I am. It was fun! If you'd like to take it, click here. Be sure to read their disclaimer, I find it hilarious.
1.
Eastern Orthodox (100%)
2.
Roman Catholic (100%)
3.
Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (99%)
4.
Seventh Day Adventist (94%)
5.
Orthodox Quaker (90%)
6.
Orthodox Judaism (74%)
7.
Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (69%)
8.
Islam (66%)
9.
Hinduism (62%)
10.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (62%)
11.
Sikhism (54%)
12.
Baha'i Faith (49%)
13.
Jehovah's Witness (47%)
14.
Liberal Quakers (47%)
15.
Reform Judaism (38%)
16.
Unitarian Universalism (35%)
17.
Jainism (33%)
18.
Mahayana Buddhism (25%)
19.
Theravada Buddhism (25%)
20.
Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (22%)
21.
Neo-Pagan (21%)
22.
New Thought (17%)
23.
Scientology (17%)
24.
Nontheist (16%)
25.
New Age (14%)
26.
Taoism (11%)
27.
Secular Humanism (10%)

Watch Out!

There are pirates everywhere!

Captain Morgan was hiding from the pirates in his ship.

Giving Thanks: Giving Back

Freely ye received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

My freshman year of college was spent at Pepperdine University. The above verse is Pepperdine's motto. Fitting that I now work to raise money to help those in need in my community. I don't understand why someone wouldn't want to give a little bit of their money to help others. Yet, I see it all the time. What may surprise you, is the people who are most likely to give. They don't have the high paying jobs. They often are laid off for several weeks during the year. I believe that those people best see the help that is taking place in our community. Maybe it's their neighbors, or their family or friends.

So remember this season, and always to help others. We have been given so much, and it is so easy to help. Whether it's donating a can of food, a few dollars, or a coat, you can help. Also take time to brighten someone's day through giving. One time a few years ago, I was sitting in the drive through at Starbucks. I got to the window, and learned that the person ahead of me had paid for my drink. That made my day!

Thank you all for the recipes, my mother-in-law gave me the Campbell's soup recipe she tore out of a magazine and saved. Sounds like it is what most of you use. The addition of cheese sounds yummy too.

Be sure to head over to Kelli's and see what other great ideas are out there for Thanksgiving.

Wanted: The best Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Thank you for all the kind words on my post yesterday. Dana came through his surgery, and his knee should be healed soon. He did get pretty sick from the anesthesia, but at least next time they can prevent it. He will be down for a few days, and then will be able start using his knee more. I'll be using my lunch breaks to fix his lunch, and will be picking up Kaia from child care each day, as he cannot drive until cleared by the doctor. We are going to be busy, but I'm so glad his pain will be alleviated.

This year for Thanksgiving my mom and I talked about having a Green Bean Casserole. I'm going to bring them. Only one problem: I've had them, and loved them, but I don't have a recipe. I know I can look online, but I want to make sure I use a good recipe. So please, if you have the best Green Bean Casserole, will you please share the recipe in my comments?

I will also be making deviled eggs (as I do for every family gathering) and I'm planning to make a Pear and Almond Cream Tart that I found in my November Everyday Food.

I'll be by to visit you all very soon! I cannot wait to see your menus, decorating ideas, and holiday plans.

Giving Thanks for Family

Oops, I had no idea how dirty my wall is, until I took this photo.

Kaia singing the Turkey Song.

I'm participating in Kelli's Giving Thanks week, and today, I am thankful for family.

Saturday night my mom came over and helped me pick up the disaster area we call home. I didn't feel good, had very little motivation, and just couldn't figure out where to start. In the short time she was here, we managed to clean the front room and dining room and vacuumed. All that's left is the TV room, and I can handle that.

Mo spent Sunday night with Dana's parents. This way, I can take Kaia to school and then Dana and I will head over to the hospital for his surgery.

I'm thankful our families can help us at this time. I'm also thankful for all the prayers and well wishes from all of you. I cannot believe my favorite holiday is just days away. It has been so hectic around here. I am excited to see all of the Giving Thanks posts, and get ready for this wonderful holiday.

Reward Update

I'm very sorry to report that Kaia has not earned High School Musical yet. Apparently some habits are hard to break. I am going to really try to work with her this weekend on staying in bed, because I don't think a crowded bed will be good for Dana's recovering knee.

Better news is that I am healing, although I had some scary, "I can't breathe" moments yesterday that required my inhaler. Mo seems completely over his cold, which is very good.

My house, well that is still a disaster. Thank you so much to all of you that would help if closer. My plan is to tackle it all tomorrow, and hopefully get a head start tonight. I don't like how dirty it is, so it will have to change.

Have a wonderful weekend all! I will definitely be in next week, participating in Kelli's Giving Thanks week.

Prayers and Praise

It's been a long week already, and it's only Wednesday! First is my praise: My friend Kris had her son last week! He is home and healthy.

At the Kihn's, I am sick with a monster cold. Mo seems to have a touch of it. Dana will be having surgery on his right knee on Monday the 17th. He will be down for a few days after surgery, and will have the entire week off of work. They anticipate taking care of his left knee some time in December.

On top of this the Kihn house is a disaster. I'm not sure how I fell so behind, but not feeling well isn't helping. So this weekend I HAVE to clean up so that Dana doesn't trip and fall on one of the 500 small toys, papers, pencils... you name it scattered throughout the house.

I promise to visit you all soon! I try to check in, but haven't had much time to comment.

When not to spell out words

I have learned a great lesson from Kaia just now. When you spell out certain words enough, your child can memorize those letters. Then when she's learning how to write in kindergarten, she can write out that word.

Want to know what she wrote?
S - E - X

We won't be spelling that out anymore.

Reward!

Photo of DVD from Amazon.com, and a link to purchase.

If you have read my blog for any period of time, you may have realized that Kaia still climbs into bed with us to sleep on a nightly basis. Well, she did anyway, until Tuesday night.

Tuesday night she slept all night in her bed with Cinnamon. Wednesday morning, I awoke amazed to find that only Dana and I were in bed. When Kaia did wake up, I told her how proud I was of her, and so did Dana. That's when I decided to tell her about my plan that I had been thinking up.

I told Kaia that if she sleeps in her own bed for 7 nights in a row, that we would buy her High School Musical. She was instantly excited. We went to High School Musical 3 for her cousin's birthday party, and she loves it now. I also followed up with this; after earning High School Musical, if you sleep in your own bed for 14 more nights, we will buy you High School Musical 2. She was taken aback by how many days that was, but she seemed up for the challenge.

This morning, the alarm went off, and I reset it for a bit longer. I climbed back into bed, a bed that contained Dana and our cat Callie. A few minutes later Kaia came down. She didn't climb into bed though, she asked me if she could cuddle for a little bit and not lose her movie. Of course I told her yes, that she could come and cuddle in the morning, the deal was to sleep in her own bed.

2 nights down, and 5 to go. I'm looking forward to her meeting the challenge, and earning her reward! (oh and there is the benefit of Dana and I both getting a good night sleep without a kicking, squirming 5 year old in between us.)

And on a frugal note: I have 2 coupons, each one good for one free previously viewed DVD at Blockbuster. Here's praying they have her movies!

A Peaceful Night... Almost

Today, was a busy day. At 2:20 we had Kaia's first ever school conference. She is doing well in almost every area, but still struggles with things like... using scissors. Seriously, my girl can read the word animal, but cannot use a pair of scissors. It all comes down to stubbornness really. I've tried to help her, so has Dana, but she refuses to hold them and cut correctly. Soon enough, I'm sure.

At 4:15 Dana went to the eye doctor. Today was surgery day. Laser surgery. Not the fancy kind though where you don't need glasses anymore. No, this was really painful, stop the bleeding in your eye laser surgery. On top of that, he had to have some dye injected to really show where the bleeding was. The dye causes queasiness, and he definitely felt it. If you wonder how this might feel, even after a valium and numbing drops, Dana describes it like this: "Imagine a lit cigarette being put out in the back of your eye. Then times that by 4." OUCH. Unfortunately, he has had this surgery before in his other eye, and it isn't uncommon for people with diabetes to have this bleeding.

It's fairly quiet here right now. Morgan stayed with Grammy and Papa. Dana is resting while I finish dinner (Hamburger Helper, leftover canned green beans, and a fresh tomato. Hey, we're classy here.) Kaia is a bit rambunctious. She was good at the doctor's office, but she used it all up there. Some of it may be due to hunger, and since dinner just finished cooking, she's definitely settled down. Now, I just need to help her finish decorating Tom the Turkey, because he's trying to hideout and avoid being Thanksgiving dinner. She wants to make him a cheerleader from High School Musical 3. I had better get to helping.

It's Over!

It's the day after election day, and as seems to be typical, nearly all the candidates I voted for didn't get elected. It didn't matter whether they were democrat, republican, or libertarian. Although locally, the people I voted to send to our State capital, all were elected.

I'm ok with it though. I truly believe in our system of checks and balances. There is a reason we have a President, Congress, and a Supreme Court, to protect the people.

I know that no matter who has been elected, God is still in charge, He says so in the Bible. I pray that our new (and re-elected) leaders will do what is best for the United States of America.

Halloween

Photo credits go to my Dad, Mother of the Year forgot to take photos!

Monkey boy Morgan. The costume just enhanced his monkey abilities. It was almost too small. He was supposed to wear it last year, but due to being hospitalized, he missed out.


Princess Kaia, minus my tiara that I could not find after tearing through 3 closets. Luckily she liked the 50 cent spider tiara from Target.

It's Here!

My favorite month of the year is here! I love November. It has falling leaves, the smell of woodsmoke, and my favorite holiday; Thanksgiving. I can't wait to share some of our plans and decorations with you.

For the record, that November is as orange as can be in my Jpeg file. Not sure how it turned blue on upload. I've tried twice. Maybe it's a problem with my transparent background from Adobe?