10 on Tuesday....

I know I know, it's in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, but in California it's still only 9:30 right?!

1. Pancakes from scratch for breakfast today. And I had a wee little helper stirring the batter. Gotta love those lazy mornings in our jammies until 11am.


2. Maya has quite the imagination. She loves playing with her "guys". Guys are any kind of little people. We played Weeble treehouse and Little people this morning.


3. Rachel took photos when my family was here for Thanksgiving. There is a little peek here!


4. I've got a little over half of my Christmas cards done and three projects after that to finish. Can I ask for an 8th day of the week please! (that no one else knows about- just for me)


5. I have been DVR-ing Oprah. I just think it is a good show for a mom to watch. I have been catching up this week as I make my cards. I love Will Smith- he is just halarious and so very real. I also can't wait to see Dream Girls. Beyonce's got some pipes! The soundtrack should be fabulous!


6. I've been doing some catalog Christmas shopping. It's so easy! Loving avoiding the crowded stores. I even love to shop. Just not into it these days.


7. My 2 year old is becoming very independent and is testing the boundries. Any advice on what to do when she totally makes herself limp as all get out and won't get dressed, brush teeth, leave grammy's....the list goes on.....help!


8. We're getting our tree this weekend. I love the whole experience of driving out to the tree farm, cutting it down and coming home for hot chocolate and decorating!!


9. Made a lasagna for dinner tonight. It always tastes so good to have something that's not turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing a few days after Thanksgiving. The secret ingredient in my lasagna - italian sausage instead of ground beef. I will never go back...


10. It's really time to turn in. I leave you with some Thanksgiving memories at the Marquette household.

New baby Malia. My brother's youngest.


Nana and Maya- so happy to see eachother!

Aunt Tina(christine) and Maya enjoying some quality time with the ipod. This picture is truly two different generations bonding with modern technology. Maya will probably never remember what a cd is...

Our Thanksgiving table, complete with my Jenni Bowlin kit center piece!

Some one on one time for Ben and Maya. The three of us are a lot alike. If you are familar with Meyers-Briggs, Ben and I both are big I's. I think Maya will also have some of that in her. Anyway- would you believe they are looking at a scrapbook. tee hee hee- that's my girl!

62 Degrees.....

Today is November 27th. We brought lunch to the park and played. I have never been to the park in November. The average temp for November where we live is 39 degrees. Today it is 62. Unbelievable! Anyway- a great way to run out some winter toddler energy!

10 on Tuesday...

thankful edition (following suit)...

1. I am thankful for my sweet family coming out to our house this year for Thanksgiving.
2. I am thankful for Mr. Turkey who is in the fridge right now thawing like a good little turkey and promises to cook well and be tasty on Thursday afternoon.
3. I am thankful for grammies who can watch babies when we're in a jam.
4. I am thankful for incredibly talented dance teachers that touch the lives of hundreds of students every day.
5. I am thankful for my sweet family that puts up with my crazy nightime schedule.
6. I am thankful for crafting and scrapping, and the blessings it adds to my life.
7. I am thankful for such a polite little toddler that remembers her pleases and thankyous and is so concerned about others. She is just crackin us up lately. Her new thing, "oh dat is so cute."
8. I am thankful for my home, food, warmth, health and all the blessings God has bestowed on us.
9. I am thankful for much needed holiday breaks from work and that we get to be home together, the three of us.
10. What are you thankful for?

Missed Tuesday so....

13 on Thursday

1. Why are people scared of the number 13? It can't really be that bad, right. Just add the 1 and 3 together, which makes 4 -an even number- and wha-lah! Ok- it must be late cuz this is how my brain is workin right now folks.
2. Tried to make a pumpkin roll today, but realized I was out of powdered sugar. Made a mental note- must never be out of powdered sugar.
3. I looked at the laundryoverflowingdirtybathroomworkdeskamessfulldishwasherandbagofstufftoreturntotarget and promptly left my house for some bagels and coffee with a friend.
4. Today I got my hair done. Ok- so the story is I have made three appointments for this since September. The first one I cancelled due to Maya being sick, the second- me being sick, and the third-just plain tired from the big dance studio move(which I need to post pictures, but it's really not done yet so just hang on). So I called yesterday and actually got an appointment with MY STYLIST for today! Yes! Cut, color and highlights here I come! So does all that make up for the cost of the hairdo? I think so! PS- thank you Rachel for being a saving grace and watching my daughter for a bit. I know- this number 4 is so long, but don't you just love getting your hair washed by someone else? AND.......today(well this month) was a special free deep conditioning treatment! SCORE!
5. I am so proud of Emmitt Smith. I know, Mario was the better dancer and I am a dancer and should want Mario to win because of the impeccable technique he displays. But I am a sucker for presentation and growth of a dancer from start to finish (well, there's never a finish), but you know what I mean. He sparkles on that dance floor! Yay for him!
6. Only number 6- holy cow, I've written a book already, ummmm.....Maya tries to tie shoes by herself. "Mommy- Maya do it!" So she takes one shoestring in each hand and moves her little arms back and forth. It is halarious and I have to turn my head so she doesn't see me cracking up because her face is as serious as can be.
7. I am in love with scrapbooking all over again today. Picked up a couple new magazines and can't wait to try some new things! Yay to Marie- fun seeing her name mentioned twice in the Nov/Dec issue of SS!
8. My little sister is visiting her boyfriend's family this weekend for the first time. ooooooooh- I just feel so nervous for her. She is a junior in college and is simply a fabulous tennis player/thinker/kind hearted/future seeking/trendy dressin incredible gal!
9. Go Bucks this weekend!
10. Somebody needs to stop the crazy parents of a 2 year old from buying the whole toy section of Amazon.com! I have yet to hit checkout on my whale of a Christmas cart. I just click save cart everytime. I have a feeling this year- it's really going to be SO MUCH FUN!
11. Almost there- So who knows some songs that have to do with Around the World? Our 2006-07 dance recital theme is Around the world in (blank #) songs...so we are looking for music that has names of any place in the world, good ethnic music, music that has some history, singers from other countries...you name it. Want to help us pick out some? What do you know?
12. I better hurry as it's 11:59 and almost not Thursday anymore.
13. Have a great weekend and hope to get some pictures up soon!

Thanksgiving is coming....

Had some scraptime during naptime today. Made this...

Super fast and super easy. Thought I better get some of last year's Thanksgiving pictures scrapped before this year's came. Tee hee hee- a bit behind, I know.

Names

Blog lifted this from Amber. I thought it was funny!

A Rose by any other name...
1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current street name) ~ Jordan Sequoia
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav icecream flavor,favorite cookie) ~ Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chip
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) ~ M Mar
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) ~ Brown Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) ~ Ann New Haven
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Marmi
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") ~ The Blue Pina Colada
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) ~ Ed Michael
9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume, favorite candy) ~ Hmmm- I have to work on this one. Don't really wear perfume.
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name ) ~ Marie Edward

I tag Marie, Rachel and Becky

Tuesday 10!

1. I voted today or as Maya said, "Mommy bote". I wish I would've brought a cheat sheet with me. I'm not the world's best voter. If I lived in Oregon, I would have voted for Ali's Chris.
2. I can't seem to shake this cough. With Ben working with highschoolers and me with preschoolers, the mix of germs and kids that don't wash their hands well is taking a toll on us.
3. I made apple crisp on Sunday. I am trying to bake something yummy every Sunday night before our work week to get us through those long days. I like the apple crisp with the oats best! Yum!
4. Today I found four different bags or as Maya would say, "purses" full of junk. So, she and I cleaned out all the mix matched toys today and put them in their proper places. You know, teapots with the dress up jewelry, baby doll clothes with the puzzle pieces. We may have to secretly dump some stuff before the holiday season begins.
5. Rain Rain go away, don't come back another day.
6. I am so ready for the holidays and the breaks from work that they offer. I want to sit and craft for hours on end! We went to Archivers the other day and Maya found a roll of Winnie the Pooh scotch tape! She had a blast taping shapes to her paper, while mommy worked on her Christmas cards.
7. I bought Pull Ups for big girls who want to use the potty. She's doing well at #2- about 6 straight days. She just doesn't care to #1 on the potty. Or at least won't tell us when she has to go. As for the pull ups- she really could care less now, even though she asked for them.
8. Circle of Friends at Gymboree starts Thursday, 30% off! But- the following week is gymbucks earning. Why oh why do they do this to us. Especially when the new line is so stinkin cute! You can't do both at the same time.
9. So anyone want to email me those stuffing recipes?
10. Naptime is a glorius thing when it happens!

Cooks in the kitchen

Today we made chocolate chip banana muffins. The recipe is from my sweet friend Amy. She is the mother of one of Ben's best friends, Joe. Joe is married to my college friend Irene. (Yup- Ben and I hooked them up) Irene and I used to bake Christmas cookies with Amy while all the guys watched football. She taught us a lot in the kitchen. Why don't we do it anymore? Kids came along and now we watch them, while the guys watch football. Can I just say that these muffins are AMAZING! And...I had a little helper. It was her first time "helping" in the kitchen. Just had to mark the occasion!
Can't wait for cut-outs!

And some more...

A Halloween Tradition(edited)

Every year on Halloween we have all the cousins over for trick or treat. It has become a wonderful tradition. Chili is cooking in the crockpot, everyone brings a side or dessert to share, ping pong in the basement for the Daddies, chaos as we get all the kiddos bundled for trick or treating, flashes galore as cameras snap simultanously. Chaotic- yes, Fun- you bet! I am trying to post some pictures of our mulititude of costumes this year. Here goes...