Ten for Tuesday

Well my blog told me I was out of space and Ben took me on a technological journey that I would rather forget, in order for me to post pictures.  But, alas I have prevailed and am bringing you a few snapshots from November.  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures from my Black Friday break from reality in which I busted out a twelve hour middle-of-the-night shopping spree which will forever go down in the annals of Hsieh lore.  Or from our trip to Safeway in which Ian dumped a carton of TWO dozen eggs all over our cart full of Thanksgiving groceries, breaking every single one, while we were standing in a crowded line full of people buying their last minute turkeys.  Yes, things have been crazy around these parts.  I knew our family was going in the wrong direction when I was excited to find out I had strep throat just so I could stay in bed for two days to rest.  Sigh....this adventure has many layers but I am determined to charter a new course (come one week from now after my last paper is due) for advent.  It's not going to be easy but this Mama's got a few tricks up her sleeve.  And back to the lineup.

Ms. A showing off her love of stripes.  This girl has mad coordinating skills which I am trying to embrace.

Little man is my chocolate Lover.  Don't you want to kiss those lips?

Fancy Nancy

We know how to start our mornings right with Pandora's Christmas

New Thanksgiving traditions....hot chocolate

and a lazy morning hike

this is why I don't answer the phone while I'm cooking

Some days we are best friends

Cutting down the Christmas tree

Making friends with orange bellied salamanders....aaaaannnnd then accidentally killing them by drowning them in the river.  We will miss you Sally.

Happy Tuesday!

Halloween Happenings

I wish I could say that I was the mom who, come Halloween night, said to her kiddos, "Go to the dress-up box and let's get creative!"  Hopefully there will come a time when that will be the case but for now we are on full Halloween watch for about 364 days leading up to the big night.  My kids L-O-V-E Halloween.  They talk about what they are going to wear at least once a week for the whole year.  I don't know if it's the candy or the chance to go full out incognito but whatever it is they are in it hook line and sinker.  This year Ava went power ranger on us and Ian decided to support his love for Jake and The Pirates.  It was pretty cute if I do say so myself.

"Punkin Patakes"

 "Yummy!"

 Ian and Willa cuteness

 The Gang

 Our first stop of the night.  Ian wasn't too sure about the scary mask but the kit kat convinced him otherwise.

 He insisted on carrying his "tandy bag" with his hook the entire night.  Which meant the two of us went to one house for every five of the others.  

 Oh, I love this little man.

 "Rangers together!  Samurai's forever!"

Happy Halloween!

stirring desperation into a double shot mocha

Well we are currently on day five of our annual reactive airway disease conference and mama's about two sleep deprived nights away from throwing in the towel.  Our keynote speaker has demonstrated mad skills in uncontrollable coughing fits, germ distribution, and how to maintain a fever for an entire week.  She's become such an expert that all the blood vessels in her cheeks burst, causing her to fake a case of the chicken pox.  I'm pretty sure we hit rock bottom this morning as they were both sitting six inches from the tv watching their third hour of the Disney Channel and eating Lucky Charms from the box.  

The icing on this mucus filled cake is that Ben leaves for his guys weekend to southern california for a full four days.  I had a dream that all of his college friends were giving me a pedicure and asking me if I wanted them to book me a massage at the spa in Palm Springs.  Is that weird?  

But in honor of this month of thanksgiving, I would like to say that I am thankful for my parents, who always allow me to show up on their doorstep with a tear stained face and a giant suitcase.