Rachel Ray Lies!

I never ever watch cooking shows, but just happened to stumble across Rachel Rays show with the title - Thanksgiving Dinner in 60 minutes. This intrigued me so I proceeded to watch the show. Everything she made looked so yummy and I couldn't believe you could do it in 60 minutes! I decided this was going to be my Thanksgiving dinner that I would prepare. She lied!! O.K. well maybe SHE can prepare the meal in 60 minutes because she is a professional, but for us amateurs it is just not that easy!

Let me just say that when I first decided to prepare this meal I thought it was just going to be Clinton and me. I sent out several invitations but didn't hear back from anyone, so I just thought everyone made other plans. Well on Wednesday I found out that I was making dinner for 6. This would be o.k. I had bought an extra turkey breast and had it in the freezer just in case I needed to make more. I immediately got out the breast and let it begin to thaw. I started to get a little nervous because I had never prepared anything that was on my menu - Herb stuffed turkey breast, autumn potatoes, apple cider green beans, and apple stuffing muffins. I first started to panic when I began to fix the turkey. I told the butcher at the grocery store what I planned on making and he told me I should get a butterball turkey breast. When I opened up the turkey I realized that it was the wrong kind of breast! I needed one that was intact so I could gently raise the skin to insert the herb mixture. What I had bought was some ghetto turkey breast that had been sliced open and held together with string. I was not a happy camper. I undid the string on one of the breast to see what would happen and the entire thing fell apart! Anyway, I improvised and it turned out fair. The entire meal was a bitch to make. Nothing turned out like I thought but it was at least edible. I was never so glad when the meal was finally finished 3 hours later! 60 minute - I don't think so!

The dinner went o.k. I usually love cooking for a small group and getting out my grandmothers crystal and china. Mr. A on his first Thanksgiving. He slept the entire time we had company and no one even got to see him.

my grandmothers crystal and china

We were happy to have Kalisto there

Big James and little James. I wanted to get a picture of the 2 babies but Aidan was sleeping the entire time.

millionaire in training!

Trip to Gatlinburg

While I was at my moms house we took a girls trip to Gatlinburg, which is in the Smokey Mountains. We used to go there every year when I was a kid and I have many fond memories of spending time with my mom and dad. We met my Aunt Sue and Cousin Sabrina there and had a great time!The leaves were absolutely breathtaking! We also got a bonus because the town was already decorated for Christmas! It was really cold there ( by So Cal standards) and I had to buy a heavy coat. Our favorite thing to do when we all get together is to SHOP and we did plenty of it! Aidan was a very good boy but reached his limit when we spent a day of shopping and then went to the Black Bear Jamboree dinner theater. It is best NOT to take a 3 month old to a loud dinner Christmas performance after he has been drug throughout many shopping malls throughout the day. My mom took him outside to the lobby and let him stretch out on a bench and he was fine. For Christmas my entire family (about 12 or 13 of us) are renting a cabin in Pigeon Forge which is just outside of Gatlinburg. I absolutely can not wait! This time Clinton gets to join in on the fun! I hope Aidan gets to have a white Christmas for his first Christmas! My handsome boy and his Nana

Sporting my new coat

My cousin Sabrina, Aunt Sue, Aidan, and me

For some reason my mom HATES getting her picture taken. She kept hiding behind my cousin so she could not be seen. However, my cousin and I devised a plan and this was the result.

Tree in the village. My favorite trees are the orange and red ones.

The tram that goes up the mountain where they have some outdoor activities like ice skating and skiing. I actually have not been on that tram since I was 10 years old.

Photo taken from the balcony of our hotel room. There is a stream that runs outside the property. Usually we sleep with the window cracked so we can hear the stream at night but didn't this time because we didn't want to make Aidan sick.

Another view from our hotel room.

Happy National Adoption Day!

2 posts in one day! Amazing isn't it? But I wanted to make sure that I recognized National Adoption Day. Adoption has so completely changed and enriched our lives. It is such an amazing thing! I truly believe in my heart that no matter if you have bio children, adopt domestically or internationally you always end up the children you are meant to have. God always has a master plan. I feel such a deep bond and connection with Aidan that it makes me tear up just thinking about it. I just can't imagine what our lives would be like without him! He is truly a blessing , gift from God, and an answer to our prayers! I just can't say enough about what an amazing way adoption is to build a family! If any of you out there are reading this blog and are even considering adoption as a way to build a family, I would say GO FOR IT! If you are truly committed to bringing home a child, the circumstances will work themselves out. Sometimes you just have to make the leap and trust that everything will work out. There are so many children out there all over the world that just need a loving home. I myself can not wait to go for baby #2! I just have to be quiet, wait and listen for the right time.

We are Marshall!

While I was at my mothers house Cara, Sheri, and Sheri's 3 year old daughter Lauren came to visit us. What a treat! We were roommates in college and have stayed close. It is not as easy as it used to be to visit with them. I am so thankful they made the 3 hour journey to see us! We had a great time going to an arts and crafts festival, visiting Jonesborough, and going to eat at Cheddars. They bought Aidan all kinds of cool Marshall paraphernalia. Cara also bought t shirts for us all to wear so we could get some good pictures. We soon realized that getting a good picture with a 3 month old and a 3 year old was easier said then done! Gone are the days of party shots! It appears we have actually grown up!

This picture cracks me up. My mom was taking the pictures and told Lauren to say cheese. Every time she would say cheese she would jump in the air.

In this picture you can see Sheri holding Lauren so she doesn't jump up and say cheeeese.

Aidan is sporting his new Chuck Taylor Converse tennis shoes. You can see in this picture how big Mr.A is getting. I think he might be a quarterback when he grows up!

Lauren and Aidan

We are finally home

We have arrived home safe and sound. Annabelle was very glad to see me as she went on a few adventures of her own while I was away ( but more about that in a future post!). Aidan was an angel on the plane ride home. We got lucky and had an empty seat beside of us the entire flight home. I could definitely tell a difference in Aidan on the plane ride home compared to the plane ride to Tennessee 3 1/2 weeks ago. He was much more alert and into checking out his surroundings ( especially with his hands) and required a bit of entertaining. As usual he only cried when he was hungry and fussed a bit when he wanted to go to sleep. I got many compliments from strangers and the flight attendants when we landed about "what a good baby". That's just mister A.K. for you! We are both settling into a schedule and adjusting to the time difference. Aidan was ready to start his day at 4:30 yesterday morning! With a little bit of formula and some rocking I was finally able to get him back to sleep.

It was good to get home to some warm weather. Although I love fall and it is my favorite time of year, I realized just how more difficult it is to take a baby out in cool weather compared to warm weather. I feel for mothers who live in places where they get a lot of snow. You would have to allow for an extra half of an hour just to bundle up the baby!

There was no apparent damage from the fires that were around our area. I just had to clean our bedroom really well because there was a lot of dirt from the windows being open for a short amount of time ( thank you Helen for closing them or I am sure it would have been a lot worse!) My car was also covered in ash, so I took it to the car wash yesterday.

I am glad to get back to my computer so I can post some pictures. Rather than posting them all right now I will make several posts over the next couple of days. Mr. Aidan Kai looking cute in his overalls sitting on my moms loveseat.



These next pictures were taken in Jonesborough Tennesse. It is such a cute little town! It reminds me of Maybury on the Andy Griffith show. It is like time has stood still! It is about 15 minutes away from where my mom lives. We went there for lunch one day.

This picture was taken in front of the courthouse in Jonesborough. The entire town was decked out for fall. I would have taken Aidans picture in the middle of the arrangement but he was asleep and it was just to cold to unbundle him.

My little pumpkin. His Nana bought this cute vibrating chair for him to sit in. He loved it!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! I still haven't figured out how to post pictures on my mom's computer. We are still visiting in Tennessee and are having a good time. The leaves are so beautiful! I haven't seen them in 5 1/2 years since moving to California! We are also enjoying the cool weather. My mom has bought Aidan several pairs of blanket sleepers and some really cute hats. We are having so much fun playing with Mr.A. While we have been here Aidan has gotten to meet his Aunt Becky, Uncle Frank, and Uncle David. Of course he charms everyone he meets!

I am so thankful that were not in California for the fires. I think they are just about out now. We only knew 1 person who was evacuated and her house ended up being fine. I am also glad that Aidan is not there to breathe in all the smokey air. The air quality is really poor right now.

My best friends from college are coming to visit this weekend and I am so excited I can't stand it! I can't wait to post all the cute pictures I have taken.

We have arrived

Aidan and I made it safely to Tennessee. He was a very good boy on the plane. He slept 90% Of the time and spent the rest of the time smiling and charming everyone around him. He cried only for a few minutes when he was hungry. We have been relaxing the past couple of days and spending some time with Nana.

The fires in California came very close to our house. When Helen was walking Annabelle the day before last she could see the flames. Very scary, but the fire has now moved in the opposite direction of where we live. I hate to see what our area is going to look like when I get home.

Annabelle enjoyed spending time with her Grandma but she flew back to Australia yesterday.

I haven't fiigured out yet how to post pictures on my moms computer. I have taken a couple of cute ones so hopefully I figure it out soon.