Thanksgiving Pies

Look what the girls made today!

pumpkin pie

cherry pie

The finished products.

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Program

Today was Sydney's Thanksgiving program at school! She has been very excited about it and today was her big day. The kids all sang really, really well and they did dances with their songs that were super cute. Most of the kids had a small speaking part in the program, including Sydney. She got to hold up a picture she made and say what she is thankful for. She said "I am thankful for my family." So, so, so great!!! I'm so proud of her, she did a great job!

Here she is walking into the gym at the beginning of the program.

Here she is saying she is thankful for her family.

With her picture.

More singing.

Right after the program. So proud of herself!

With some of her fans.

Sydney and Mrs. Epstein

My day

This year, my family has agreed to let me have Thanksgiving at my house. I am quite excited about it, but I have never done it before, so I'm a little nervous too. I've been getting my Christmas decorations out all week, because I want my house to be very festive by Thanksgiving. I got everything out except for the tree, and today, Mike got that out (he's on vacation from work this week). We got it all set up and ready for the kids to decorate when they got home from school. Right before I left to pick them up, this is where I found Ellie.

I know. She's so cute!

The kids dug into the ornaments right away, and we now have a beautiful tree! I was a little sad though, because they are tall enough to reach the top of the tree now. When did they get so big? I don't even have to rearrange the ornaments to get some on the top half of the tree.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A Smurfday Party

We had Sydney's bday party last night. She had a blast!

Getting ready to open presents.

Chixos!

Her new poley, Snowflake.

Papa Smurf's lab. That's right, lab. Not house. Lab.

Here she is with her Smurfette cake! It was just as much of a pain this time as it was the last time. Here's a better shot of it:

I also made a very yummy spinach dip for the party last night. I loved it, and I think everyone else did too. Here is the recipe:

HOT ARTICHOKE SPINACH DIP

1/2 cup spinach (frozen)
1 cup artichoke hearts
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp crushed red peppers
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
dash pepper

Finely chop spinach and artichoke. Boil spinach and artichokes in 1 cup water on medium heat for 10 minutes. Drain well.

In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave the cream cheese for one minute or enough to soften. Add all ingredients together and serve.

May be kept in a slow cooker to keep warm. Recipe may be doubled.

I omitted the crushed red peppers and the dash pepper. So yummy!

A bouncin fun birthday party!

front row: Mila, Andrew, Austin, Zach, Sidney, Emma, Briana, Isabella

back row: Mikey, Carrine, Aubrey, Anabel, SYDNEY, Stella, Eleanor, Sloane, Kennedy

We had Sydney's birthday party at Bounce U today. It was a super fun time! I think all the kids went home happy and tired. And, most of the injuries were not life threatening.

Carrine, Sydney and Isabella on the big slide

Sydney and Isabella getting ready to go down the big slide again.

Kennedy, Carrine & Sydney taking a break

Briana got to have her friend, Emma come to the party too, and they had a blast together!

The birthday girl in the big chair getting ready to open presents!

Happy sixth birthday, Sydney!!