Thanksgiving

We are incredibly blessed to live so close to our families, and we really enjoy the times when we can get together.  This year, however, Jordan decided that he wanted our immediate family (i.e. just the four of us) to celebrate the holiday.  So we loaded up the car, headed down to Spokane and found a hotel with an indoor pool.  Thanksgiving morning found us all splashing around the heated pool, the kids giddy with excitement. 
 
 
Later that evening, we had a bountiful dinner at the Davenport, a posh hotel downtown.  Jordan relished one of his favorite dishes (baked brie en croute), Annabel was vibrant in her party dress and Thane was thrilled to eat the contents of the huge cheese platter to his heart's content.  I, of course, loved knowing that all of my peeps were having so much fun. 

Don't be envious and think that I got out of cooking a Thanksgiving dinner entirely.  Jordan absolutely HAD to have leftovers, and I was happy to oblige by cooking up a full meal when we got home.  Gratefully, Jordan's folks were eager to help us eat our feast, and a good time was had by all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rustic Retreat

If you tried to reach us last week and we didn't return your call, it's because we were gone - long gone.  We have been blessed with the use of a cozy cabin owned by friends of our family.  The cabin sits in the middle of their remote property about 30 miles from our home.  Unlike our house, this place is surrounded by huge old trees.  I had almost forgotten the heavenly sound of the wind blowing in the leaves, and I relished every moment of it during our stay.

There is a tiny, spring-fed pond in front of the cabin, and it was an incredibly serene sight upon which to gaze:

The cabin was a peaceful, relaxing oasis.  We all loved it, for various reasons.  The kids loved the different ecosystem there, and they spent hours exploring nature (or, like Thane in the photo below, plotting their next snow ball strike).

 Jordan, of course, took a few days to chill out. 
 
Thankfully, by the end of the week he was much more relaxed as he took advantage of the best seats in the house to catch up on his ever-growing reading pile. 

 

One day, we took some time to drive out to civilization to check our phone messages.  We sure were glad we did when we learned that Jordan's grandparents would be making an unexpected visit to town.  After a great lunch, we drove Grandpa Frank and Grandma Bobi out to the cabin.  The kids had a blast visiting with Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandma's dog.

 

It was a wonderful week, and I don't think any of us were ready to get back to reality. 

Butchering

We got snow last night and the temperature is currently hovering around 28.  It sure does feel like winter has officially arrived, despite what the calendar says!  I shouldn't be so surprised, however, as we are finishing up our fall chores.  I canned pumpkin with Jordan's mom yesterday (43 pints in all), and I'm planning on cooking up a triple batch of cranberry rum sauce tomorrow.

As much space as all of the canning equipment takes in my kitchen, that's nothing compared to the mess we make butchering our animals.  This year, we had to carve meat from two pigs, two lambs, two geese, and numerous chickens.  During this season of slaughter, my kitchen looks like a war zone!  Meat and by-products cover every square inch of space, and let's just say that it's a good thing that nobody stops by the house for an unexpected visit.  I'm sure they would be horrified at the site!

Despite the mess, we are grateful for lots of delicious meat.  Knowing that our meat comes from happy, healthy animals is great, but that farm fresh taste is even better.  Come by for a visit - we'd be happy to share!  Just look at those hams...

Halloween Happiness

I don't know about you, but Harvest/Halloween festivities seemed much less chaotic when I was a kid.  Not that we're complaining, mind you.  We were just busy.  It all started Friday evening, when the kids dressed in their costumes for the annual Halloween Kiddie Parade in town.  Thane, as you can see, tried his best to be a big, fierce bear.  Admit it - you're afraid, aren't you?

Annabel, who dressed up as Astrid from "How to Train Your Dragon," was slightly more convincing in her role.  Her Dad thinks that her costume was great.  That is, after all, how he wants boys to remember her - as a warrior who can whip their butts if they even think about getting out of line in the future! 

Saturday, we drove along the Columbia River to help some friends clear brush and work on their cabin.  Later that night, we relaxed around a wonderfully warm bonfire and roasted orange, pumpkin-shaped marshmallows.  

Thane thought that the marshmallows were a huge hit, and he took advantage of the thick darkness to sneak as many as he could.  What a mess...

Sunday found us at the Lentz' house, where we really enjoyed a hayride on Pappa's tractor.

 Gunnar's very wise reaction to Pappa's driving:

 

Mamma didn't seem to fare much better in the food department.  She accidentally dropped a plate of muffins on the ground.  The muffins were covered in dirt and had worms - UGH! 

She even made a Frankenstein-shaped cheese ball.  He was super cute - and he tasted good, too.

 

Despite these frightening events, we spent a great evening hanging around the campfire with Jordan's family:  Annabel with Mamma, and Thane with his beloved baby cousin Bailey.

Last, but not least, the kids donned their costumes one last time for some official trick-or-treating on Monday evening.  We got to visit some friends and neighbors, and ended up at my parent's place. There we got to hang out with more family.  Undoubtedly, the cutest pair in the bunch was Lucas and Cody who were, of course, two peas in a pod!