Thanksgiving Eve

A few days ago, I found out that I would be hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my home to a bunch of Don's classmates, their spouse if they had one, and kids if they had 'em.  Initially, I was mortified at the thought of entertaining during a major holiday, but that feeling soon gave way to an attitude of, well, denial. But deep down inside, I knew I had face it some time.

......

Up until today I've been making lists, running errands, rewriting lists, and dilly-dallying.

......

But! Today was THE day.  The day to do EVERYTHING on my "Kelly-Do" List!

I reupholstered chairs (6 of 'em)

There is no need to judge me on a count of the condition of these chairs. 

They came like this straight from Craigslist. Dirt. Cheap.

Reupholstered MORE...

(before)

 (afta')

Spruced up the ho-hum couch.

I stitched some slip covers for the pillows and used a blanket that my G-ma Darley made me --and voila! (have you ever gone crazy with color? I think I have)
Oh, so you noticed that lovely green door behind the couch?  Nice, right?  Yah, I did that today too.

I found this poor guy out in the barn.  I had to save him!

Just took some sanding...

and 2 coats of paint.

And it's like he was meant to be here.  

I can't believe I did everything on my list and lived to blog about it.  And, hey, blogging wasn't even on my list. This is just a bonus! ...or maybe  I'm stalling instead of baking a pecan pie.  Oh, well. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dad's 21 questions

1. What is something Daddy alwas says to you?
Miley:  I love you.
Isaac:  Eat your dinner.
Ava:  I love you.

2.  What makes Daddy happy?
Miley:  Cleaning up the dinner plates.
Isaac:  Hugging him.
Ava:  Eat food.

3.  What makes Daddy sad?
Miley:  Saying No.
Ike:  Not hugging him.
Ava:  Not going potty.

4.  How does Daddy make you laugh?
Miley:  He tickles us.
Isaac:  He tickles me.  That's the only thing he can do to make me laugh.
Ava:  Says funny words.

5.  What was Daddy like as a child?
Miley:  His dad.
Isaac:  Me!
Ava:  Um, a teacher.

6.  How old is Daddy?
Miley:  32!
Isaac:  55!  54.  Is he 54?
Ava:  21.

7.  How tall is Daddy?
Miley:  32 inches.
Isaac:  He's tall like mom.
Ava:  31.

8.  What is Daddy's favorite thing to do?
Miley:  Go to the Halloween store.
Isaac:  Play.
Ava:  Go to Chuck E. Cheese.

9.  What does Daddy do when you're not around?
Miley:  Study.
Isaac:  When he's gone getting drinks and studies, I play by myself in my room.
Ava:  Not to run around.

10.  If Daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Miley:  Don't write this down, Eating!
Isaac: Going to work.
Ava:  Going to Chuck E. Cheese.

11.  What is Daddy's favorite food?
Miley:  French toast.
Isaac:  Cheerios.  (pronounced Cheerioles)
Ava:  I think noodles.

12.  What is Daddy really good at?
Miley:  Helping me play computer games.
Isaac:  Running
Ava: School.

13.  What is Daddy not very good at?
Miley:  Telling time, because sometimes he says, "What time is it?"
Isaac:  Not very good at watching TV.
Ava:  Not to sit.

14.  What does Daddy do for his job?
Miley:  Take shots for other people.  (true.  Don sold his plasma for money)
Isaac:  Do chores.
Ava:  Get new cookies. 

15. What makes you proud of Daddy?
Miley:  Making hot fudge sundaes.
Isaac:  Giving me cookies.
Ava:  Go to WalMart.

16.    If Daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?
Miley:  Mr. Incredible 
Isaac:  Probably Spider Man.
Ava:   ....... (this is where Ava loses interest)

17.  What do you and Daddy do together?
Miley:  Snuggle.
Isaac:  Play on the rope swing.
Ava:

18.  How are you and Daddy the same?
Miley:  We both don't have glasses.
Isaac:  We both look at stuff at stores.
Ava:

19.  How are you and Daddy different?
Miley:  Different clothes.
Isaac:  I am a different guy because I was your baby.
Ava:

20.  How do you know Daddy loves you?
Miley:  He watches Wipe Out with me.
Isaac:  Um, he toots on me.
Ava:

21. Where is Daddy's favorite place to go?
Miley:  To bed.
Isaac:  To nap.
Ava:
 


It's interesting to hear what your kids think of you, and what they do or don't know. 

21 Questions

1.  What is something Mommy always says to you?
Miley: How was school?
Isaac:  Go to bed
Ava: play games

2. What makes Mommy happy?
Miley:  When I clean my room.
Isaac:  Going potty (hahahahahahahahahahaha!)
Ava:  Going potty (Isaac laughing--hahahahahahaha!)

3.  What makes Mommy sad?
Miley:   When I eat your food.
Isaac:  When Ava peeps her pants (hahahahahahahahaha!)
Ava:  That I broke your chair.  "You broke my chair?!"  Ava: No, I didn't...

4. How does Mommy make you laugh?
Miley:  When you dance.
Isaac:  Tickle
Ava:  Say funny words

5.  What was Mommy like as a child?
Miley: A sweet child
Isaac:  Sweet.
Ava:  A rattle.

6.  How old is Mommy?
Miley:  No, not 15.... 20!
Isaac:  15
Ava:  Thuwdy  (30)

7.  How tall is Mommy?
Miley:  38 inches
Isaac: 38 hairs
Ava:  16, 17 inches

8.  What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?
Miley:  Snuggle.
Isaac: Play with me.
Ava:  Snuggle again.  :)

9. What does Mommy do when you're not around?
Miley:  Watch TV in your room.
Isaac:  Play Barbies
Ava:  Sit down
   (all good answers)

10.  If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Miley:  For helping children.
Isaac:  For people liking you.
Ava:  For wunning.

11.  What is Mommy really good at?
Miley:  Running.
Isaac:  Eating.
Ava:  Drinking cups.

12.  What is Mommy not very good at?
Miley:  Seeing without your glasses.
Isaac: Not eating.
Ava:  Not wunning.

13.  What does Mommy do for her job?
Miley:  A nurse.
Isaac:  Mom.
Ava:  A doctor.

14.  What is Mommy's favorite food?
Miley:  Hot dog noodles.
Isaac:  Ravioli.
Ava:  Um, cheese.

15.  What makes you proud of Mommy?
Miley:  That you love us.
Isaac:  Helping.
Ava:  Um, I think wunning.

16.  If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Miley:  Sally (from Nightmare Before Christmas)
Isaac:  Mickey Mouse...   Um, a Super hero!
Ava:  No, Micky Mouse is a boy!  Minnie Mouse!  Nooooooooooo! Minnie Mouse!

17.  What do you and Mommy do together?
Miley:  Yep, snuggle.  And eat together.
Isaac:  Snuggle.
Ava:  Sleep.

18.  How are you and Mommy the same?
Miley:  We have eyes and teeth.  I don't really have teeth, though.
Isaac:  We aren't the same.
Ava:  Um, I don't know.

19.  How are you and Mommy different?
Miley:  Different color hair.
Isaac:  We are the same.
Ava:  Oh, I know! Different color hair!  I want mine pink, and yours gonna be purple.

20.  How do you know Mommy loves you?
Miley: You really miss me when I'm in California.
Isaac:  Wash cloth.   Mom: "What does that mean?"  Isaac:  I don't know. 
Ava:  Um, I think she gives us hugs.

21.  Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?
Miley:  Chuck E. Cheese's.
Isaac:  California. Wait, Cowabunga!  It's like a wonderland.  It's like a water slide.
Ava:  Cowabunga!  I think Cowabunga.  You should go there, on the purple slide.

Perry, OH

We made it to Ohio!  ...even though I feel like my tail end has not caught up with us yet. : /
Uncle Layne and Aunt Chandice were wonderful hosts to our family for a couple of weeks as we were preparing/cleaning/unpacking/organizing our new home.  It's so nice to have family nearby!


So....

...are you ready for pictures? 

Okay, I'll share a few.  As happy and proud as I am with my new home, I don't think I'm ready to give you The Full Monty.  Because, to be honest, it's a bit shocking.  :-0  
There is the greatest green carpet throughout the kitchen.  Yes, you heard me.  The kitchen!  I'll wait til I have the "after" pictures to give you the uncut version--is it a deal?



Here is Miley-Cakes in the front yard.   "Hi, Miley!"

Clothes line

 Backyard

Oh, look!  There is Don with a chainsaw!

Trimming the tree

That's one of the barns back there.

5 acres.  

I have yet to take the trek to those trees out there.  Our neighbor wants to use our land 

to plant corn or soy beans.  Glad to put it to good use ($$)  :)

As for the inside:

there were many peculiar items that we inherited with this house

This lamp, along with a 26" TV (not pictured) are currently being put to good use.

This giant picture frame will soon be painted.  I have yet to decide on the color... any suggestions?

Here's a neat feature.  Wagon wheel chandelier!  (not the only one in the house, btw)

This is cool.  It's one of those View Finders from 19-something-or-other.  It looks ancient.

A Robert Wood painting.  (I had to Google him)

I laughed when I saw this hilariously large cooktop.  I have to side-step to get to all the burners. :D

I collect refrigerator magnets, and there was a cute cow magnet with a heart on it's butt

left just for me!

Ike and Ava played on the woven rug as I cleaned the carpeted kitchen.

 

I can't wait to paint this door a funky color.

...just a taste of that awesome green carpet.

I am such a sentimental person.  Besides the green carpet, I am going to have a hard time getting rid of anything that was left for us.  ...But as cool as those wagon wheel lights are, they just might be the first to go.

So that's it.  Now don't hold your breath for the "after" pictures.  I've gotta unpack first, and that just might take me a month to do!  :P

If you want our new address, let me know!  We want Christmas cards from everyone!

Sewing and Such

Miley has been begging her grandma to teach her how to sew. She wants to sew dresses and quilts and costumes and --I don't know-- whatever else can be sewn. We thought the perfect thing to start her out with was a pillow case. I searched through Grandma Richards fabric box and picked out an old Santa Clause patterned fabric. This particular scrap of material was on the "throw away" list, so I thought it would be perfect for Miley's first attempt at sewing. Miley was so cute as she brainstormed on how to make her pillowcase suitable for a stylish, sassy pre-pre-pre-teen. With all of the grand ideas of lace and glitter, we settled on snowballs for trim.

Her lines were pretty close to perfect-- Aunt Jas would be proud! :)

The finished product was SO cute! (To my happy amazement)

 Miley is now taking orders for Christmas presents.  :)

Miley tested it out. Trying not to smile as she "sleeps."

Here's what the yay-hoos were doing as we sewed.

"She-Ra!!!!" (and He-Man preparing to invade Castle Grayskull)

"Jenny"

The Snodgress Family reunion is so cool.  I can't help but brag about it.  We do the same thing every year, but somehow, every year it gets better and better!  We started this tradition of Home Movie Night.  The first night of the reunion, we watch our home movies on a big projection screen.  Here is what the Richards Family submitted:

My sister, "Aunt B," shot the footage and worked her magic with the editing.  I thought she did a pretty darn good job.  :)

The kids and I miss Don so much.  Sometimes we'll watch this video just to see his cute face!  Don't ya'll agree that he is so handsome in those Dollar Store glasses?

What's your favorite part?

Mine is when Don is talking about sandwiches.  :)

Nava-Joe Lake

Look at me! I'm blogging again! :)
Since my hubs is in the long-lost land of Ohio, I figure I should post some pics of what we've been up to (and maybe, just maybe, he'll read this blog). I fully intend to advance my blogging when I move to OH, so my fam-damly won't miss us so much. ;D


Navajo Lake was beatiful, like always. Our family reunion was wonderful, like always.
I got to meet my nephew, Lincoln Jack, for the first time (and I fell in love)!


Speaking of falling in love...
all the kids fell in love with Uncle Danny, who really is just a big kid himself. ;)
Everywhere Danny went, he was accosted by little ones saying, "My turn!" or "Me next!"


Uncle Danny was awesome with the kids. He played games, went on adventures, made kids laugh...made kids cry. Well, only Isaac cried. But as soon as he realized that it was FuN to be tied to a tree, he was right back to laughing.

As much fun as it is being tied to a tree...

racing down a zip line is so much cooler!

Thanks Uncle Danny!

(oh, and thanks for teaching Ava how to rub dirt on her face... for some reason, I'm convinced it was you.)