Weight Schmeight

 Before I begin:

My apologies for addressing this ugly subject, but I had to use these great cow pictures.

Onward:

If you know that by the end of the holiday season you are going to feel a bit wide through the middle like this old gal...

Check out this chick's blog to help you mind your intake.

Roni's Weigh

and her food blog...

Green Lite Bites

She's inspirational and REAL!!

Keep the Chex Mix and Divinity binging to a minimum so that we can maintain our svelte bikini beach bodies.

My goal from November 1 to January 1 is to not be consumed by social eating extravaganzas.  I can do this!  I CAN weigh the same on January 1 as I did on November 1. 

Who's with me?

Let's start exercising BEFORE Jan. 1st.  That way we don't look quite so cliche at the gym in Jan.

Or we could make cookie dough and watch Christmas Vacation while eating every last wonderful spoonful.

What's it gonna be?

I'm still on the fence-

Becky

Turkey Tree

I'm always looking for an excuse to decorate a "Christmas" tree.  During a recent mind numbing blog hopping hour or two I came across Sugar Pie Farmhouse.  She goes to incredible lengths for her fall decor.  Her "Save Your Fork" tree inspired me to do the same.

My tree is the top of a full size white tree that I bought "real cheap, Clark" from a floral shop.  It had been stored in the sun over the summer and turned the perfect ivory color...well, perfect for me...not so perfect for the shop owner.

We used the Cricut to cut out the tags and hung them with twine.  We pasted a few copies of old Thanksgiving postcards on to some of the tags.

The best part is the old tarnished silverware.  The forks and knives are tied on with scraps of muslin.

Lucky number 7.

Gotta love a turkey.  God giggled when he made these guys.

Found the box in the barn.  Sprayed it with a bleach and water combo.  Rinsed it with water and watched the yuk wash away.  No scrubbing needed.

I was inspired by Beyond the Screen Door when I made the table runner.  It's burlap with a fu-fu ruffle on both ends.

Sidebar:  Shortly after I took these photos the tree crashed to the ground.  I was mad.  It laid there for 2 days.  Then I said to myself, "Aunt Ruthie wouldn't leave her tree on the floor." 

I put on my big girl boots and reassembled the darn thing. 

Enjoying Fall-

Becky

Happy Thanksgiving!

Good Thanksgiving morning to all!

I'd like to take this opportunity to share my "Thankful 30 List".

1. A loving husband that actually knows me better than I do.  He takes care of us - simply put.

2. 5 HEALTHY kids

3. 5 SMART kids that put up with me ( and M ) always trying to teach them something.

4. Parents that gave me the education, courage, and wings to make it all the way out here to the prairie.  (Thanks for the never ending support, Mom & Dad)

5. My father-in-law... a wonderful man.

6. My sister... need I say more?  When M & I started having babies, I said that we would keep going until everyone had a brother and everyone had a sister.  A sister is a precious gift.  My sister is the only one I know who can be goofier than me.

7. My little brother - we dressed him up as a girl when he was little and I think he liked it.

8. My BFF Janet - she's the friend that I may not talk to for 3 months but I know she's there when I need her.  Her thankful list looks much like mine.

9. Sitting around the kitchen table eating pizza and having drinks and LAUGHS with my in-laws.  (I had a blast last night, guys)

10. Having cousins and in-laws that live so close and are SO, SO good to my kids. 

11. Farm life - trying at times but the best place to raise our children.  Everyday is take your kid to work day.

12. Being a mom.  It's a lot of work but when you think of how important your mom was to you, it makes the job not seem like such a job.

13. My other job - I complain about it but I love it... and I get to work with Scooter.  (See, I told you I'd get you in there) 

14. Fresh smelling laundry - this is HUGE.  Most everything we own has cow #$%@ on it somewhere.

15. The kids' Christmas lists - too funny.

16. Just-after-a-bath smelling babies

17. The kids watching TV with the "outside" cats on their laps.  Lucky cats.

18. Clean sheets

19. My vacuum cleaner

20. Board Games

21. Sewing - thanks for teaching me how to sew, Mom

22. Building - thanks for teaching me how to build, Dad

23. Brownies

24. FOOD in general.  I. LOVE. TO. EAT.

25. Family hugs - ask #4 what that is. As if you couldn't imagine.

26. The smell of a roast in the oven after church on Sunday.

27. DOGS - gotta love a dog.

28. HORSES - riding is one of my happy places.  Unless, I'm riding the 5 year old mare.  Then the experience isn't so relaxing.  She likes to go.

29. Reading

30. Watching the kids play (not fight) with each other and stick up for one another.  We must be doing something right?!

I could go on but I don't want to get silly or sappy and make people throw up a little in their mouths so I'll stop.  This was a good exercise for me.  When every one's done eating and taking the much needed naps this afternoon, take a moment to make a Thankful List.  It's kinda fun.

Turkey Blessings -

B