Happy Thanksgiving!

I am sitting here waiting for Burt to get off work so we can head home to South Dakota to spend Thanksgiving with my Mom. I am not looking foward to the 12 hour trip, but I am looking foward to the turkey:)

As I sit here I am thinking of what the day has meant to me throughout my life. There are many memories of Thanksgivings spent at my Aunt Terri's house in New Jersey. We would drive from NYC almost every Thanksgiving. She would cook a huge spread every year. It was the second time of the year when we saw her family, the other time being Christmas when they would come to the city. Thanksgiving always meant watching the Macy's parade, turkey, my Grandmother's green bean casserole, apple cider, and pie! It was always the same every year. One year was different, and it was probably my favorite. One year we didn't have a vehicle, so we were going to spend the day in NYC. My Dad was feeling really guilty. He knew he couldn't put on an elaborate spread, that was definately out of the realm of possibilities. So, he took us to The Old Forge restaurant. The food was soooo good, and I remember our server was super nice. After eating our turkey, we went to the matinee performance of Fiddler on the Roof, one of my all time favorite musicals. I remember the day being so calm and peaceful. It was funny that my father felt so guilty, when he was building one of my best memories. I tried to keep that in mind the year that I was so broke, when Ashton was about 4. I only had a little tiny table, no room to put a huge meal on it. Ashton, Burt, and I decided to have a Thanksgiving picnic. We laid a blanket on the floor and laid the spread out on it! It is one of Ashton's best Turkey Day memories, and mine. So, I guess even if you don't spend the day at a huge family affair, it still can be a day of celebration.

Warm wishes to all of you. I hope everyone gets their fill. Here is another T~day tradition: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Remember how disappointed you would be when you realized you missed a holiday special on TV? In this day of youtube, DVRs, and DVDs my kids just don't get that! lol

Happy Thanksgiving! Especially you, Daddy!


A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Peter Pan 1924

I wish this would come to the KC area. I guess seeing little snippets will have to suffice for now.

Santa's Wonderland

Burt and I took the kids to the Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop in Independence. The Bass Pro Shop just opened up this past spring at Independence. I believe that it is the National Headquarters for Bass Pro. It really is quite a store. The place is just huge, and it has anything the outdoorsman could possibly want or need.

The store has two levels, with a variety of trophy animal displays. Brendan liked this pic because it looked like the deer was munching on his hair.

There are several things you can do at Bass Pro. There is a shooting gallery, and a rock climbing wall.

The kids love the glass elevator. They love to go up and down and wave to us through the glass. There are waterfalls, and even a water wheel. They also have an indoor aquarium with giant catfish. This guy was about 4ft long and a hundred pounds.

After looking at the fish, there is an amazing seafood restaurant on the lower level. The kids got mini pizza. I got some amazing fish with homemade chips, and Burt got a delicious buffalo burger.

When the weather is warm you can eat out on the patio, which overlooks the lake and Waterfall Park. The park is named because there is a waterfall. The kids LOVE Waterfall Park, but it was too cold to play there today. Instead they played at the checkers tables on the upper level, which are located by the Fudge Shop. Yum! I love all the old fashioned candies they sell there. After exploring the store, the kids went to the Santa Village they had set up there at the store. It was really cute, and the Santa was great! Brendan and McKenna both froze and forgot what they wanted to ask Santa for Christmas. lol It reminded me of the scene in A Christmas Story, when Ralphie freezes in front of Santa a blurted out that he wanted a football. They even had Red Riders for sale! Brendan told Santa he wanted a clubhouse, even though he has been begging us for a Batcave toy. lol Afterwards we asked him why he asked for the clubhouse. He said he panicked, and wanted to go back! lol I reassured him that he could write Santa and let him know that he changed his mind. The kids got to see Santa, eat cookies, see a cool toy train display, and play a variety of games. It was a cool way to start off the Holiday Season. A season that I am sure will be full of all sorts of fun times! Enjoy this little video I made of the day.

School Skate Party Nov. 08

We went to McKenna's school skate party. The kids really enjoy the skating rink. The disco lights, music, and old fashioned skates always brings back a flood of childhood memories for me. I used to love to go to the skating rink when I was a kid. I could skate forever. lol I used to roller skate all around NYC with my sneaker skates and rainbow suspenders.lol Rainbow suspenders ah~la Mork from Ork. Nanu nanu. lol McKenna loves to skate too, and they made the night more fun with the Wackiest Hairdo Contest. We had fun fixing her hair up, but she didn't win. There were some pretty wild do's there, or should we say don't's. lol

We will be heading back to the Rez for Thanksgiving. I can't believe it is here already. Preety soon my gandson will be having his 1st birthday. Man where does the time go? Seems like yesterday I was the roller girl of the mean streets of New York. lol

Mary's Birthday (1951)

So sweet. Love the garden fairies.

Trick or Treaters

The Halloween Witch

Gathered Up Her Tricky Team

In Search Of Their Candy Booty

The Night Was Perfect For Autumn Fun

Perfect For Taking Advantage of Leaf Piles

They Encountered Spookies

And Sweeties

And Ghastly Treaties

They Taught The Youngest How To Collect His Loot

Now He Knows Just What To Do