Thanksgiving Feast...

Happy Thanksgiving! We had a great and relaxing thanksgiving day...lots of good food to eat, lots of visiting, laughter and memories...
Lots of food on the buffet at my parents house...look at that heaping bowl full of potatoes!

There were 2 tables set up this year...one for the little kids and one for the big people. Both tables were set with lovely china and crystal dishes...

Elsie enjoying her Thanksgiving meal with her fancy turkey big I made for her a few days ago...her favorite food lately has been ketchup as you can tell by her mouth!

I made Elsie and I special gluten and diary-free food and brought with for dinner. My mom even left the stuffing out of the turkey so we could eat turkey and not be concerned about cross-contamination!

After dinner we had lots of visiting...the kids all enjoyed trying to feel little Oliver kick...

whipped Topping

Ya just can't have pie on Thanksgiving with out the whipped topping...Looks like Elsie would agree...
The kids...and Grandma...would spray a bit in her hand (or right into her mouth!) and she would smile excitedly and eat it up!

I know whipped topping is not healthy and filled with sugar...but who could resist a smile like that and the laughter of enjoyment!

Due to Elsie's dairy allergies we gave her dairy free whipped topping...the only bad things is that is made of soy...which we are also avoiding because it not healthy at all! I guess once a year will have to be okay.

Dinner...

For dinner a few nights ago we had spaghetti...it was the first time Elsie had spaghetti and she loved it!
a little rice from the chicken bourbon from the night before...

Yum, Yum, Yum...

" I am not a glutton...I am an explorer of food..."~ Emma Bombeck

Crafting at Grandma and Grandpa's...

Last weekend my parents watched Elsie so Jon and I could go out for dinner...they were busy doing craft projects! They were teaching Elsie to use water colours...
Then they made paper turkeys to hang on the wall...

Hand-print feathers for the turkey...

The little turkey...how cute! I think we need to go out more often to give Grandma and Grandpa the opportunity to do more craft projects with Elsie!

Turkey Bingo!

Our quirky family tradition is going up town to play turkey bingo every year a few days before Thanksgiving! We have done this every year since I can remember...Last year was the first and only year that anyone from our family has won a turkey!
Marissa...waiting for a Bingo!

The win of the night...a fire extinguisher! Look at how happy they look!

No Turkey...but lots of good memories...

Corners of my Cottage...

The decorative cutting bored...hand painted by a friend for a wedding gift...
The little glass turkey on the stove...I love all the deep fall colours on the little turkey...

another Tutu for the girl...

Last night I made this adorable little tutu for Elsie...I think it turned out very cute! It is so full and fluffy! Best of all it was super easy to make! It look just a short time to finish it!

A Great Find...

When I have spare time while in town I love to browse through the children's consignment stores to see what I can find. Yesterday I found this children's wooden lap harp! These are such a fun toy for kids! It was a very good deal for such a quality item...and I even had a coupon! I put the harp away in the closet for when Elsie is older. Toys like this are so timeless...

Reading...

Yesterday Elsie, Lisa and myself went to the Library...I now have a lovely pile of books waiting for me to look through...
I also found a favorite magazine in town..."Mothering". This is the best parenting magazine...I do get "Parenting" but I throw them away in disgust every month! Mothering is a truly good book with advice and opinions you don't find in any main-stream magazines. My mom subscribed to this magazine years ago and I read through all she had while I was on bed rest with Elsie...I was so happy to find this magazine in town again yesterday! Looks like I have lots of good reading to busy for awhile!

Corners of my Cottage...

Rod iron hooks in the entry...

A peek inside Elsie armoire...a few clothes and a fancy little basket for socks...

Water Fun

Yesterday was Emma's 6th Birthday...after cake and gifts we all went to the water park for a few hours to celebrate. Everyone had so much fun! Elsie did not want to get out of the water!
The water park had a shallow end for children which was perfect for Elsie! She loved playing with the water fountain in the pool with her aunties...

Even Grandpa helped Elsie swim...

Elsie and Mommy...enjoying the water...

What a crowd! And to think that is not everyone! The guys all got a bit wild with the water slides! Everyone was exhausted by the time we left!

Our little family...

Elsie and Daddy...she was walking in water up to her shoulders! She is going to a handful around the pool next summer...she is fearless!

The little swimmer girl...

Sewing Project

This afternoon I sewed Elsie this sweet little skirt! This is the first piece of clothing that I have finished for Elsie! It looks so cute on her...now I need to find a matching shirt and some leg warmers or leggings to match...
Being that Jon is gone for the weekend I managed to sew and keep Elsie entertained...she really does cooperate quite well. The picture below is how the dining room always looks when I am busy sewing or cooking...Lincoln logs, wooden shapes, window clings, potatoes,pieces of ribbon...I never know what I am going to find her playing with!

Dinner...

Every night we eat dinner together in the dining room...now that Jon is not working such long hours he is able to join us every night for dinner also. We always have at least one candle lit on the table for a lovely table center-piece. If we forget to light the candle Elsie will remind us be trying to blow! Meal times all together around a table is such an important thing to children...great bonding and memories. I have so many great memories from all our family meal times ans I am hoping for the same for Elsie...
Elsie has her little booster seat hooked up to the table...and even a little turkey place mat in an attempt to catch the food when she dumps her plate!

I guess that sometimes dinner is so good it must be licked off the plate! than smeared in the hair...

She looks so Innocent...with all those scalloped potatoes smeared across her face! Every night after dinner it is straight into the bath!

Bath Time...

For Elsie's Birthday we got her some bubble bath...Lastnight after dinner I gave her her first bubble bath! She enjoyed it very much!

Bacause of Elsie's very sensitive skin and the gluten and dairy allergies we only use California Baby soap and shampoo...and even found some bubble bath! I love the gentle smell!

A Happy Birthday Party

Last Saturday we had a little Birthday Party for Elsie's 1st Birthday. All but one Auntie and Uncle and one Grandpa came to celebrate the special day~ a full house!
We had a light lunch of ham and turkey sandwiches, chips and a veggie platter...we even used the punch bowl for apple cider with orange slices...very yummy...

Opening all the gifts...at first Elsie was not too sure about ripping the paper...but by the end she was starting to understand and enjoy herself...

At one point she would not quit smiling at everyone...she was wrinkling up her little nose so silly-like! I think she knew she was the center of attention!

She got lots of fun little gifts... some clothes, pajamas, soft blocks, a little red trike, puzzle, care bear, mittens...and a few other things...she is one lucky little girl!

Cupcake Time! We made lovely (and very gooey) frosting for the cupcakes...complete with big dot sprinkles.

Blowing out the candle...she tried so hard to blow it out...but in the end mommy had to help and blow it out for her! She loves candles!

Elsie wasted no time in easing the cupcake! She had never had so much sugar before...and it will be quite some time before she does again!

Elsie had a very nice Birthday Celebration...she one very loved little girl for sure...