Thanksgiving 2008

Me: When should we start the turkey (looking at the instructions on the turkey bag).
Dennis: How long does it take?
Me: Umm... it says 3-4 hours for a 13 pounder.
Dennis: We're going to cook in in a cooking bag. What does that say?
Me: Hmm... the cooking bag says 2-3 hours. Must cook faster in the bag.

So we put the turkey in the oven at 325 for 3 hours. It looked so nice and golden when we took it out! And so pink and oozing when we cut into it. ARGH!

After some discussion, we realized the error of our ways. The directions on the actual turkey were for a cooking temperature of 325. The directions on the cooking bag were for a temperature of 350. Oops.

Anyway, the rest of the dinner was great! As long as you don't count turkey as a vital component of Thanksgiving dinner. Cranberry sauce, pumpkin pies, dressing, potatoes, and two cute kids were enough for us.

A little burned on the edge, but they should taste fine. I hope.

The children were complete slackers and decided to take a nap while we prepared dinner. Nolan seemed full of vim and vigor, but then curled up on the rug in the kitchen and crashed. Matt did likewise, but had the sense to find the couch and curl up with a blanket.

Slackers, I tell you. Complete slackers.

We took the kids outside to play in the snow. Turns out that Nolan doesn't really care for the snow all that much.

Matt, however, LOVED being outside and wouldn't come inside until we dragged his frostbitten self back into the house.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Lefler house!

Representational Art

Matt surprised me a few weeks ago by making his first representational drawing. Instead of scribbles or concentric circles, he produced a circle with small circles underneath- a "car." And then he drew a circle with lines coming out of it- a rocket ship. The lines were fire.

Today he drew a "car," but later changed the description to "train." This is probably in regard to the many wheels the vehicle has! I was impressed with the inclusion of windows.

Nolan is also beginning his journey to the world of art, though sometimes he tries to eat the supplies. He also makes the funniest faces when he's annoyed at his brother for stealing a marker:

"Camping"

1 kid-sized craft table + 1 blanket = a tent!

Have to watch out for those "bears," though. They are known to inhabit these parts!

Hmm.. I think we need a bigger tent.

Time to call it a night

Lights out!

Halloween

One thing you learn after living in the frozen north is to bring the pumpkins indoors a few nights before carving. The only thing worse than a slimy, goopy, seedy pumpkin is a FROZEN slimy, goopy seedy pumpkin!

Matthew wasn't very helpful since he decided that slimy pumpkin guts aren't his thing, but Nolan was extremely into the whole process.

I think it appealed to him because he loves playing in the trash can...

Western New York was kind to us this year and provided clear (albeit chilly) weather for our trick-or-treating evening. Our children were the only trick-or-treaters on the entire street, so we did get a bit overloaded with candy. Full sized Snickers bars, Hershey's bars, and McDonald's gift certificates galore.

The only problem with the candy windfall is that Mommy and Daddy like to sneak a candy bar or two in the evening. Some of that candy is definitely going into work with Daddy tomorrow!