Anni is back in school. I am back on ME mode for whatever that's worth. I haven't quite gotten my head wrapped around the fact that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas not far behind.

Where did the months go?

Sorry, no pictures. I've taken plenty...believe me...just not for this particular blog. Colter will end the first half of the school year in a better position than where he was this time last year. There's always room for improvement. Anni is back in school. Why I don't have a picture of that is beyond me. Maybe tomorrow. I'm going to be towing the munchkins around for their pediatrician appointments in Jackson.

Please...please...let the roads be good. My snow tires have not arrived yet and I've already had a little slip n' slide last Saturday.

So which came first?



The Turkey?

Cute guy, isn't he? Stripped down to the skinny and he's even better. Ron said deep fried Butterball...oh boy! Should be good!

A seafood feast though is incomparable. Too bad my mom has decided to hang up the apron for this Thanksgiving and celebrate in Vegas instead. Maybe Christmas?

A nice FB chat with Tanner today (or was it yesterday?). What a great kid! However, twice now, I've been given the memo about making myself present for the family gathering.






 Or the Tree?

Jud's having issues with his shoulder. I hope we can cut down our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend. Hate to break tradition and I don't feel like dealing with a fake tree. There's just nothing like the smell of fresh fir!

Yes, I've become anti-social over the years.  I've also increasingly become less tolerant of...well, can't get into that. My therapist will tell you that it's a protective mechanism. I prefer my little blue pills.

Hey, at least I'm honest.





Not to worry, I'll have a better attitude by tomorrow morning. If not, then I'll just have to keep my game face on until I work out my anxieties at the club.

Seriously though, the turkey or the tree?

For the record, it's a balmy, BEAUTIFUL, 60-degree day. September gave way to October and October into November. This weather is an anomaly but what a wonderful fall season we're having!

We took the kids to Jackson for the annual Town Square Trick or Treat. This is the way Halloween should be with hoards of people in costume. It was pretty busy downtown!


Anni scored with the candy and even got this very interesting eyewear from one of the stores to complete her outfit. Is that the gleeful wicked witch?


Colter dressed as .... himself! Okay, he bowed out this year and just stayed in the truck with his dad waiting for us. Pity because he could have scored on the goodies the way Anni did.


I dressed up, of course. I wore a kimono.  I certainly looked the part. Hey,why not. Japan is only a stone's throw away from the Philippines. It could happen.


Already, we're seeing the stores gearing up for the Christmas holidays and the Halloween stuff aren't even put away yet. I have a serious beef over the commercialism of our favorite events. I find that I no longer look forward to Christmas the way I used to. It's supposed to be the BIG event you couldn't wait to see again every year but it loses it's charm and meaning when it's screaming at met everywhere I go when it's only October. But that's a gripe for another day.




In the meantime, we're ENJOYING this weather. Jud when to Henry's lake yesterday for a little fishing and texted me these pictures from his Blackberry. Wish I had been there. The again, I don't have his can-do attitude for waking up at the butt-crack of dawn to go fishing.




 







Of course, the drawback is that I missed the view. I like this one the best with the water churning behind the boat leaving a wake. It's pretty cool! Pretty good shot for a camera phone.
 


 Oh, but now this is a good one too. I was heading over the pass on Thursday. You could almost dive into it and go for a swim. Very Shangri-La!

Compiling a Christmas wishlist is much like putting together your favorite things to do. Still, it's been fun putting this together while ignoring the temptation of actually going out and buying any of them immediately. We find that it's more enjoyable and rewarding when patience is practiced.

Jud and Pen (family gift)
- Cuisinart ICE-30BC 2qt Ice Cream Maker
- Secura Halogen Infrared Turbo Convection Oven, 2010 Deluxe Package 777MH
- 5 Second Rule Game by Patch Products 
- Gift Certificate to Olive Garden
- Baking Ingredients: Bulk Chocolate Chips, Quaker Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Yeast, Cinnamon, Pure Vanilla

Colter
-TBD (he's not quite ready...shocking...but I'm sure it will have something to do with airsoft gun stuff like pellets and sheets of bullseye targets,  a new controller for the Wii, and food is always a favorite so hope this gives you an idea while he's pondering)

Annika
-Nail Polish Set
-Nice Jeans, Boot Cut, Size 12
-Venettini Kids' Ciarra Pre/Grd School Black Patent Boot, Size 4 / 36.0M (found this at Shoes.com)
-Easy Bake Cookie/Cake Dough Packets
-LPS Petriplets Kitties (#93635)
-Monopoly Littlest Pet Shop Edition (#04381)

A Favorite Christmas Memory:

I think it was when Colter was in 1st Grade and he came home with a holiday ornament made of baked (flour) clay. He made a "HO-HO" ornament in class. The second "ho" on the ornament broke off and we lost it. But we still kept the other half of the ornament, only, it now just says, "HO" and I crack up every time I open that box to put up our ornaments every Christmas since.

Life is good!