My good friend Amanda is having a holiday gift show at her house this week. If it's like her past shows, it will be fabulous. Here's the info:

Lucy Thanksgiving Message from Ryan on Vimeo.


Rex Thanksgiving Message from Ryan on Vimeo.


Molly Thanksgiving Message from Ryan on Vimeo.

Lucy: Dad, can I have some orange juice?

Dad: Wait a minute while I thaw a can.

(a few minutes later) Lucy: Dad, where's my orange juice? I'm like freakin' out here.

***

Rex: Mom, Molly just called me a bad word. I think she called me a 'scoundrel.'

***






Rex: Dad, what's wrong?

Dad: I'm just trying to send something to a guy on the other side of my case. You know how we're not supposed to be angry at other people? Sometimes, this guy really tempts me to be angry at him.

Rex: Really, why?

Dad: Because he's done some dishonest things and hasn't acted very well in this case.

Rex: Well, you know, some people just don't believe in Jesus, Dad.

****

Lucy (at bedtime): Dad, I need a story.

Dad: I already told you one.

Lucy: But I didn't hear it.

Dad: Yes you did. It was about five baby . . .

Lucy: rats!

Dad: Ha! You did hear it!

Lucy: No! I mean . . . five baby . . . cannonballs!

So, if you know Ryan and I very well you definitely know how different we are from one another. Let's just say most of our interests lie in very different places, but the one thing we love to do together is chat about anything and everything. Sometimes those chats turn into arguments because we can feel pretty differently about alot of topics, but we can actually argue (most of the time) keeping a pretty good feeling and tone. I really love that about our relationship, and wouldn't change any of it for the world. Sometimes we have a hard time at night peeling ourselves off the couch to go to bed because of one of our very in depth chats.

The other thing we have found in the last few years that we love to do together is cook. We don't get too much time to do it actually together, but many weekends you will find us both in the kitchen cooking. Now, I am not saying we are amazing at it, we aren't, but we both love food and trying new recipes. I am usually the finder of the recipes since I am weird and love to read cookbooks...seriously could spend hours with 10 cookbooks in front of me reading, marking, and ooohing and aaahing out loud. Sometimes you will actually catch me in my kitchen giving a cooking show to my children. That was one of my favorite things to do as a kid, and now i have a live audience! So yes, Ryan and I love to cook together...the only difference is Ryan does not like to bake, and I looove to bake. Although he did make this heavenly chocolate pie a few months ago.

Oh WOW!!



So anyway, the last two falls we have started a new tradition of making a different soup every weekend to have for the following week. Sometimes it doesn't make it to Monday, but most of the time it is so nice to have a yummy/cozy soup waiting in the fridge for lunch the next week. I love it! The hard part is getting our kids to not stick their tongues out of dislike with some of these soups. I guess it is exposure that matters right? I figure someday their taste buds will grow up and they will taste it somewhere else and say, "my mom and dad used to make this soup,and wow, I really like it now."

Here is a list of the soups we made this year:

French Onion
Baked Potato
Homemade Tomato
Chicken and Wild Rice
Pumpkin
PW Chicken and Rice (ryan's favorite)
Market Street Clam Chowder
White Bean Chili
Butternut Squash
Tortilla Soup
Sausage and Tortellini

Along with some yummy cornbread or applesauce muffins these are all a winner! Now tell me, what are your favorite soups?? I would love some new ideas!

Also, this little gift from Ryan last year has made my soup making days so much better...i can't tell you how much I love this pot:

Dear Pixar,

I love you.

Here's one more reason why (the opening montage is as good a reason as the rest of this eye-popping trailer)

We just finished the Fall soccer season. Rex joined a new team this year, with a new coach. This coach is a man who takes soccer very seriously. He worked very hard with his kids to teach them new skills, and it paid off in spades. There is no team in this age group that comes close to the passing and defense our kids learned. It was great fun to watch the Pirates this year.

Rex was his same driven, hyper-focused, unrelenting self. Last year he learned how to play offense effectively. This year he worked really hard on defense, often getting back to slide tackle an attempt that no one else on his team was anywhere close to. It was so fun to watch him take it personally to stop goals by the other team. There was one game we played where the other team had this big huge kid that kept making long runs to the goal. Rex took it upon himself to stick close to that guy, and ran him down every single time he would take off with the ball, usually getting there just in time to launch the ball far out of bounds. When that boy took a rest, Rex came out too. When that kid went in, Rex looked at me with panic in his eyes, and said "Dad, that big guy went in. I have to get back in to stop him." It was really so much fun to see him take these defensive duties seriously. The other highlight was when Rex's coach told me that Rex's floating kick from mid-field over the heads of the opposing team into the goal was the best play he's ever seen by someone this age.

We had a blast watching the Pirates this year. Looking forward to Spring ball.

Here's some video from the last game. The best parts of these first two are Rex's reactions after the goal and the near-miss:

An Attempt from Ryan on Vimeo.


An Assist from Ryan on Vimeo.



A Goal from Ryan on Vimeo.


And a few shots of our other rising soccer star:

Do you remember when Halloween was only one day long? Do you remember when your mom was frantically getting your costume together the night before Oct. 31st because you only needed to have it for just that one day? Well, no longer...we definitely get our moneys worth these days. It seems like Halloween goes on forever now. Kids get to wear their costumes now 49 times before the real deal. Don't get me wrong, it is always super fun and the kids love it, but I have to say I was kind of glad to finally get to the big day. From my moms very fabulous annual Halloween party, the Laird park Halloween carnival, to school fun and parades, and finally to the big night..... Here are some pictures of all of our Halloween events.





I have to say, I think Molly really liked being in her costume, never put up a fight, and seemed to get a bit of a kick out of herself being a flower. I am sure she was wondering why everyone was staring at her all the time, pinching her yummy cheeks, and saying how cute she is, and how much they want to eat her up.

Lucy the Cat all ready for her school party!


Brooks, Rex, and Will rocking out to the Monster Mash with good 'ole DJ Rob






The yummy cupcakes Lucy and I frantically helped make for the cake walk.


Jane and Lucy






I have to say our neighborhood feels like it is out of a movie on Halloween. I love walking up and down these tree lined streets , hearing all of the kids rustling in the leaves as they run from house to house. The houses are completely decked and it is just ideal.