NaBloPoMo #30 - WW - Pudding... just like Grandma's

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

NaBloPoMo #29 - Orange Cranberry Sauce

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Is November done yet?

No, it's ok, but I can tell I'm WAY not used to churning out a post every day. Still, I'm glad for the kick-in-the... uh, kick-start & I do plan to blog more often than the, oh, pretty much never that I'd fallen into.

Today, rather than blathering over here, I posted a recipe over at Recipeeps that Gramma Yori made at Thanksgiving for Orange Cranberry Sauce and shared with me. It's yummy... and reminds me that I need to also someday post the recipe for an uncooked cranberry orange relish my mom makes sometimes! So, if you're looking for a pretty, tasty side, here you go!

NaBloPoMo #28 - Really?! Really?!

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Who doesn't need a little more humor in their lives?  I saw this SNL skit via Cool Mom Picks & figured it was worth sharing!  C'mon, it's got Seth Meyers and our beloved Kermit the Frog discussing the whole "Congress says pizza is a vegetable" issue.  Awesome.

NaBloPoMo #27 - Not Quite Right

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Long day driving home. Kids were good excellent for most of the trip. You know it's a good start to your 6 hour drive when the 4 year old falls asleep within the first 15 minutes.  Pumpkin was more than happy to just quietly read.  A little reading & some holiday card writing for me & life was good.

It's good the girls were not in need of much parental redirection, because I have no voice.  I can muster a brief, hoarse, barely-hearable, achy whisper, but mostly had to rely on facial expression, pointing & pantomime.  Mr. Kluges vacillates between enjoying being able to monopolize the conversation if he so desires and wishing I could do more voice-on parenting.  :)

I'm thinking I won't be doing my usual Sunday night run, as very much exertion leads to painful coughing. I got Tangled from the library, so I think curling up with that and a mug of magic medicine is just what the doctor ordered. 

But before I go, I want to share my favorite car trip moment from today.  We were talking about the Christmas story, and when Mr. Kluges mentioned the wise men, Pumpkin interrupted him. 

"Oh, I know about them.  They brought Frankenstein, mirth, and gold!"

NaBloPoMo #26 - Family Focus

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

First of all, Happy Birthday to my youngest brother! It was wonderful seeing him & his wife & their two kids & my other brother all at my parents' house today. Much fun & visiting & amazing foods & Pumpkin's first real Monopoly game. Which she got tired of after like an hour, but still. Good math practice?

I am very definitely losing my voice, which was great when I was teaching, cuz I HAD to take a sick day, even though I felt fine. :)  But, no voice meant managing a classroom of children wasn't especially possible, so sick day it was.  As it is, my wonderful, loving  husband has fixed me two mugs of Magic Medicine this evening - honey & lemon & hot water (or hot lemonade with optional more honey) plus brandy.  Fixes what ails ya, I tell ya what!

So,  Happy Thanksgiving Weekend to you all, & Happy November-is-almost-done to me.  Now, maybe my 
amazing husband will mix me up another Magic Medicine, 'cuz I cannot speak.

NaBloPoMo #25 - Questions

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

All this traveling for Thanksgiving has given me a few questions:

• How much turkey can one eat before explosion?
• How many vegetables can one's children NOT eat before they get scurvy?
• When will one's children start enjoying foods that are all mixed up?
• How many times in a single two hour drive can two children ask, "Are we there yet?"
• How many Christmas cards can I get written in the car?
• Why did they start the hour-long Peanuts special on the half-hour?
• Will we leave anything behind at either grandparents' homes?
• What are the chances of Penguin sleeping in a bit tomorrow?
• When am I going to have to get up to be ready for early church on Sunday?
• Since Grandma & Grandpa are the nursery volunteers on Sunday, will the girls spend any time in church with us, or just go play in the nursery?
• Will the pumpkin wine I picked up for tomorrow's dinner be any good, or just a novelty?
• Exercising on a holiday weekend totally burns like 10x the calories as a regular workout, because you're being extra virtuous, right?
• How overtired will we all be by the time we get back to MN on Sunday night, considering the different beds & being off-schedule?
• Is it too early to give the girls their bath & put 'em to bed yet? :)

NaBloPoMo #24 - Thankful

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Today on Thanksgiving I want to take a brief moment to just say how grateful I am for the many, many blessings in my life. For my (mostly wonderful) husband and (also mostly wonderful) children. For my family & friends. For my health. For the comfortable life I lead.

I am grateful.

Also, now I think it's time to eat. 

Again. 

Yay, Thanksgiving!

NaBloPoMo #23 - On the Road Again...

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

...I'm not packed to get on the road again...

Now, I may not be completely packed to hit the road for our Thanksgiving weekend trip back to MN, but I AM probably 80% done with the shopping for our extended families! I wanted to get as much done as possible so I can BRING it instead of SHIP it. So that will make for a more relaxing December.  So, big giant wrap-fest last night, last few things picked up while Penguin was at 4K this morning, some "help" wrapping & ALL those are ready to load into the car!

Also, thanks to Shutterfly, who must be way geared up for the holiday card rush, I ordered our cards on Sunday evening & they arrived yesterday afternoon! Not a rush-postage-option, either. So, they rock, and, since I'd been gradually working on getting things together for the two overseas packages we mail to friends every year, I was able to pull those together yesterday & they got mailed today! Before Thanksgiving!

Ok, I'd go pat myself on the back for all the Xmas stuff I've gotten done already... except I still need both hands to finish the packing/prep for our trip...

... and since we want to pick up Pumpkin from school at its 3:35 release & head straight outta town, I'd better get back to it!

NaBloPoMo #22 - Thanks, TNGreatAunt!

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Shiny golden, with ruffles, AND jewels on the ruffles?! How could we go wrong? 

(Also, they're flats & have Mary Jane straps, so they can run in them, which is one of my criteria!)

Thanks, TNGreatAunt!

NaBloPoMo #21 - Happy Birthday, Dad!

(c) 2011 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Just wanted to take a minute to send birthday wishes to my dad, Grandpa Pharaoh! He's officially old now, but still knows how to act like a kid!  In fact, my kids were telling Pumpkin's teacher today how silly Grandpa Pharaoh puts their socks on his ears if they leave them lying around! 

Dad, we're looking forward to seeing you this weekend...

...but we'll understand if the chocolate cake's all gone by then! :)

Much love from us all!