Becky's great friend, Ida, is getting married on December 27 to my great friend's son, Andrew. Becky is Maid of Honor and cake baker! (cake baker for this shower and the wedding-you had better get busy Becky)
Ida, Becky and the bridal shower cake.
Becky, Ida and Katherine. Kathryn is the groom's brother and a beautiful bridesmaid.
Let's get to the good stuff-opening presents...
Many prayers and blessings for a wonderful future, Ida!
It has been a tradition to draw names on Thanksgiving and then exchange our gifts on Christmas Eve. (Mom keeps a very secret master list of these names-so there can be no funny business.) 
It is also nice to do "secret" special things for your special person during the season of Advent.
Review: When Mama throws her curly-headed little girl a handful of kisses, "Most land right, but one kiss misses. / Mama says she'll throw another, / It sails off toward Baby Brother." This begins a peregrination that takes that wayward kiss through the neighborhood, into the woods and back (via "a runner's hair" - Papa, the reader sees) to the little girl it was meant for, spreading affection wherever it lands. Yolen's meter never falters, providing a rollicking counterpoint to Baxter's drolly energetic cartoon vignettes, the winged-lipped kiss tying all visually together. Sweet - but not saccharine - good-hearted fun. (Picture book. 3-6) (Kirkus Reviews)
As happens around this house when everyone least expects it, I came up with some silly ideas as I read this book aloud.
First I got out the lipstick and firmly smacked a lovely lipstick kiss on everyone's cheek-(except Mark, who at 8, is to0 manly for this silliness.)
Everyone then took turns putting the lipstick on and then kissed our new poster, which is now proudly displayed for all to enjoy.
We even got Daddy to add to the fun-at the total dismay of the 8 year old boy, who now seems to doubt his father's masculinity.
A few of these....
and a couple of these....
and you come up with these cute little yummy treats.
We also used some chocolate frosting to stick everything together.
Skill and careful aim is helpful when sticking "acorn hats" to the "acorn nuts". Also notice that it is hard work, Gracie seems to have some chocolate residue on her face.
We also used some Fluff and made little s'more Nilla wafer treats-chocolate frosting was used for this too.
My Dad is finally in his own room and out of ICU. It has been a struggle, but with everyone's prayers things are beginning to look brighter. We had another "little" scare last evening, but we are now taking things in "baby steps".
There has been a lot of real life happening around here this past week. The littlest among us have spent way to much time watching Thomas the Tank Engine on video and driving trains around in a circle. Above, you can see Kimberly being a human tunnel for the train track.
I have fallen in love the Kumon preschooler workbooks. This sticker and paste book has been a real hit this week.
Both kids are getting very good at peeling the stickers and putting them onto their papers where they want them.
The only problem is that they LOVE these activities and between the two of them, they can finish a book at one sitting....and at $6.00 a book....this isn't going to work.
I came up with this simple activity to use with stickers and they enjoyed it. I just wrote the first letter of their names on paper and they stuck star stickers to it, following the letter. 
I have had this Melissa and Doug pattern block set in the closet for several years. I got it for the older kids. It has previously been too hard for my tots, but this week Kimberly could manage it. It has no frame, so it is hard for a 2 1/2 year old, but she was satisfied with her results. Luke (3 1/2) didn't have the patience to stick with this activity.
Our nursey rhyme of the week is Hey Diddle Diddle. If you missed Kimberly's rendition, you can see it here. (I couldn't wait for my Tot-School post to put in on the blog.)
Print out the cows and use a brad fastener to attach the cow to the moon. I am also planning on making the mobile that is on this site, but we just haven't gotten to it yet.
Luke's cow doesn't always go over the moon,
sometimes it goes under the moon.
Thanksgiving is coming, so I got out our Fisher Price Thanksgiving playset and the Mayflower playset.
This has definitely been Kim and Luke's favorite Thanksgiving book. They have enjoyed listening to it over, and over, and over again.
The Mayflower has also made an appearance on our world map. I made this from the Toymaker site. It is not for little kids to make. It was a challenge for my 8 year old, but it helps keep the story of the pilgrims alive for us all.
Thanksgiving also means handprint turkeys.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!
Ask me in January....or February....or March.....or most of April, 
I guess it is time to put the pool away.
