Thanks to Sara at Going Jesus for finding and sharing the real news and worthwhile content on the web. I'll have to rate it PG 13 (for language and questionable links to other subjects): The KFS Sweater Project.

Not too much going on around here. We have been blissfully mellow. We did have a traditional Thanksgiving feast. It took many hours to prepare; not because of degree of difficulty or quantity of food, but because I move very slowly. Fortunately, most of it was prepared last week, and frozen. Max got his Ramen Noodles, and Geoff made clover leaf rolls. Holly, Rich and Nicholas came over after a restaurant buffet feast with Rich's family. And we played the traditional Pilgrim games, like "inflate and release the balloon."



Yesterday was equally low key. Max made a plead for buying a Christmas tree in 3 or 4 days, and much to his surprise his daddy suggested we get the tree that night... kid delight! No crowds, no rain, no problems, no pain. We found our ideal tree: Very tall, but not too wide. Geoff (6' 2") says it's average, and I (5' 5") say it's hugemongous. With guidance from their dad, Max and Alex did the decorating while I watched from the couch. I was very happy. Alex and Max were happy. Geoff was happy. William, watching Harry Potter 3, was happy too.



How would you define "early labor?" See, according to all the books I've read, I am in early labor. She really should be here by now. As a matter of fact even the doctor wants our next appointment to be at the hospital, because "she is so close." Naturally we have been in suspense since Monday. And Papaya? Well, she's just kicking back, enjoying the family mellowness. Everything is in readiness. We have a stroller, and a tree, a baby pack and diapers, the bags for me, her, and the guys are packed and in the Odyssey, and I am even very close to finishing the last quilt... so, any day now...

A little hot glue and a whole lotta sweet stuff!

Remember "Find Waldo"? This is "Find the Gingerbread House."

Anne, Dave, Adam and Jacob, Carol, Gene and Tamsyn, and Holly, Rich, Nicholas and friend Jack, came to the Tree House for a traditional night of gingerbread house assembly and decorating. We also ate pizza and lasagna, and watched Elf. It was the gathering we had been anticipating for months; fun, relaxed, creative and good.

I guess we are old pros by now. Every year I have pretended we were novices, but I think this is our 6th annual event, so we are definitely experienced. It was by the second year that we realized royal frosting is a slow and inefficient glue, and so we brought forth the hot glue. Special recognition to Adam: He stuck the giant gingerbread man on the house front with aforementioned royal frosting. We do not eat the creation. We have dye issues, and also creative hands are not always clean hands. Yes, some gumballs and a number of Kisses did find their ways to mouths, but mostly this is an aesthetic experience. It was Tamsyn's first ever gingerbread house, and alas, most recent accounts are that her dogs, Pippin and Jasper, ate one side of their ginger house. Tragic. When they do survive curious hands and pets, they fill the house with a spicy fragrance that is warm and homey.