Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving at our house again this year. My sister and her family and my dad were there. I (Joe) invited Wayne who came with dad. Wayne is a friend of the family that grew up with my dad who has been staying at dad's house for the past few months while he tries to get back on his feet.

Aimee found some good receipes for green beans and sweet patato casserole. We brined the turkey again this year with a recipe that we found on the Food Network' web site. It was really flavorful and juicy throughout the whole bird. I carved the bird using a technique I learned from watching Alton Brown on the Food Network. I separated the thigh and leg from the bird and then cut the whole breast off which I then sliced across the grain. This produces nice slices and is more tender to eat. My sister made some yummy dishes as well including mac 'n' cheese and the brown sugar glazed carrots that mom used to make.

I'm glad that my sister and her family came. They usually do but they could have decided to spend it with Ron's family. Ron's family usually eat later in the day but I wasn't sure since our plans didn't come together until the last minute. It would have been lonely with just us and Dad. We missed Aimee's family and hope next year they will be able to make it down.

Our Newest Venture: CHOCOLATE!

These are just some of the chocolate wonders I've made in the last few days. In order to have a successful business, you gotta get to know the product, so I have made Truffle Fudge Brownies with Mint Chocolate Ganache, Dark Chocolate Truffles with Raspberry Dusting Powder (pictured), Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Boutique chocolates (both pictured), and Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Mousse. I've also tasted the Sippable Chocolate (REALLY good & rich hot chocolate), as well as the Frosty White Chocolate Whipped Cream and Spiced Chai Hot Apple Cider. Joe, Jaron & I are in a Chocolate Heaven right now! AND...we've created a monster. Jaron is a certifiable Chocoholic. So much so, that when Joe got up this morning, every light in the house was on and Jaron had gotten the mint chocolate ganache out of the refrigerator, and he was sitting at the table eating it for breakfast. This was 6AM!! The boy can't even sleep, now that he's tasted the divineness that is DOVE Chocolate Discoveries. He is his father's son! You must know that Joe is and has been a chocoholic most of his life as well.

I'm in trouble. They are going to eat our profits...and believe me, there will be profits! This stuff is GOOD!!! Spread the word! :)

Our website is www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/aimee

Carving Pumpkins

Jaron was super excited to help scoop the insides out of the pumpkins we got at Huber's. This is the first time in many years that Joe & I picked pumpkins let alone carve them. Unfortunately, the small one rotted before we could get a good pic. We carved our names. I guess I need to pick up another pumpkin or two and recarve the boys names and take a picture of them!

Annual Fall Trip to Huber's

Today, Joe & I took the boys to Huber's, keeping a tradition Joe & I started in our dating days. We always go to Huber's in October. This, however, was the first time I believe we actually picked pumpkins there. No matter how many times we told Jaron where we were going, he'd continue to ask. So I decided to tell him "It's a Surprise!", to which he replied "A Sur-fries?! A Sur-fries for Jaron?! Good! That's good"! Jaron did think it was great fun, which we hoped he would. It was a beautiful day too! Ethan really enjoyed himself. It never ceases to amaze me how many people do double takes with him. If their expressions mirror his, then he must have been one smiley boy when I wasn't looking. Of course I captured several grins on camera to savor the memory.

Ethan Stands!

Ethan Crawls!

Spider In My Hair

Yeah...not so fun. This spider had been hanging around outside our kitchen window, with it's web attached to the roof of our sunroom, which is also just above the entrance to the crawl space. We first discovered it when Joe & his dad were installing a sump pump under the house, and Joe voiced concern about the spider possibly getting on him. Of course the spider stayed where it was and never did I ever see it move from its spot for several days. Imagine my surprise when I walked into my sunroom this morning and directly into this spiders' web. I backed up hastily, looked up and saw this HUGE spider mind you climbing out of my hair then stuffing quite violently the web into its' mouth. How in the world did he get inside?! Apparently the room isn't tied to the house properly...

So, I had the willy-nillies the rest of the day, needless to say. Jaron was very excited to have the opportunity to observe a spider this large so closely (thru the glass door). So I took the time to teach him about Spiders being God's creation and even though they can make us scared sometimes, God still loves them and he created them for a purpose.

I was hoping it would decide to go back outside since it wouldn't be able to eat anything inside, but it didn't. The next day she was still in there. When Joe got home that day, I was standing at the back door watching it, as it was getting ready to spin a new web, but when it climbed down to the doorknob and tried to attach a web-string to it, it did not attach and the spider fell 2 feet to the ground and apparently was knocked out, for it didn't move for several minutes. Joe took the opportunity to spray it, and it died.

So, Jaron also got a lesson in death. Quite a lot for a 3 year old to learn in 2 days! Somehow I don't think he understands yet, because he still asks if the spider is going to climb back up the wall. To which I reply, "No, Jaron. The spider is dead, which means it will never come back. It is gone forever." He just looked at me and said "He'll never come back? OK, Mommy" then he ran off to play.

A Lesson in the Birds and the...urm..I mean Grasshoppers?

Jaron and I were outside trimming the bushes in front of our house, and this is what I uncovered (literally). I feel badly for invading their privacy, but isn't this something that is only supposed to happen in the Spring? Jaron wasn't too inquisitive, so thankfully I have avoided that conversation at least a little while longer :).

The Winder (Windstorm) from Hurricane Ike

Here are some photos of roof damage we incurred. We were without electricity for FIVE days! Now, that's not much compared to some of my other friends whom were without for 10! Strangely enough, or fortunately, we found ways to enjoy the lack of power. We've never been more of a team than during the power outage. I actually miss it. The only negative thing was losing all of our cold/frozen food. I guess the savings in electricity should help replace it. We have an adjuster coming to look at the roof soon, and if we have an expensive enough claim, we can claim the food as well.

This happened on a Sunday, and as we were leaving church, Jaron & I watched a wall of dirt sweep across the parking lot. It really shocked me. Poor Ethan couldn't even catch his breath on our walk out to the car. I was pretty freaked out about that. The drive home was uneventful, until we arrived at the entrance of our subdivision. There was emergency vehicles and traffic directors, and all we could see was smoke rising behind them. There is a forest on that side of the road, so it was a little concerning. After getting home, our whole neighborhood it seems was excited about this windstorm, as everyone was outside just looking around in amazement while the wind whipped about ferociously. We stayed inside for the most part. But then one of our neighbors knocked on our door very excitedly. He wanted to tell us our shingles were flapping about, so we couldn't help ourselves, we went outside to see what he was so excited about. Apparently, the roof contractors didn't nail all of our shingles down. This house was built in 1999! The cutest memory though is from Jaron, our oldest. He's 3, and he's seen a particular Tigger & Pooh episode multiple times that talks about Thunder and Lightening. So, as we were walking outside, Jaron stood on the porch yelling "Mommy, it's Winder! It's just winder!" I have to admit, it took me a little while to figure out what he was saying. I guess he thought it made sense, if in a storm there is a loud noise, that is Thunder, then a storm with lots and lots of wind, must be called Winder!

The Rhea Family

Last Saturday, we took Ethan to get his photo taken for a First Year collage portrait to be completed on his first birthday. The photographer had us meet her at Yew Dell in Crestwood. We had never been there before, but now it won't be our last. It was gorgeous! I'll post more photos of the gardens another time, but for now, here are some photos we made on our own while we were there.

Jaron's 1st Wedding

Jaron was SO very handsome in a tuxedo. It was a bit large for him, but he never complained, not even once! The shoes were so tight and stiff, but it didn't bother him. I have to say, Jaron has hardly ever complained about anything. He's always been a 'go with the flow' kinda guy. What a blessing that is for mommy! ;)

Jaron was one of two ringbearers. The wedding was for Jaron's babysitter, Holly. The other ringbearer was Scotty. Holly's sister Jenna is Scotty's Nanny. Scotty and Jaron are really good buddies. They had a lot of fun running around the church before the wedding, and keeping each other company.

We love Holly. She and her new hubby, Daniel, love Jaron & Ethan both, and it is such a blessing to us when they offer to watch them so Joe & I can have some time just for us. Jaron just adores Miss Howwy, and if he were a bit older and understood what having a girlfriend means, I just know he'd consider her his girlfriend. :) He really loves her!

Thomas the Tank Engine

Jaron LOVES Thomas the Tank Engine, and he just so happened to be visiting Kentucky on Jaron's birthday, so Joe & I had to take him. His best friend Eli went too, so we got to hang out with the Jessee Family. Sara & John are two of our good friends from church.

Jaron Being a Great Big Brother

Jaron is learning to enjoy reading, and this is what I caught him doing today.

Bathtime in The Big Tub

Ethan can now sit up well enough to take a bath in the Big Tub. Jaron loves sharing bathtime with little brother, and Ethan loves trying to grab the water.

Summer Fun with Eli

One of Jaron's best friends is Eli Jessee. Eli's daddy, John, runs sound at our church. We got to spend a very HOT day at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom with Eli and his mommy, Sara. We had a lot of fun. These are some pics from the day.

Look Where We Found Jaron

Jaron sleepwalks and has night terrors sometimes, so this didn't surprise us too much. I wonder what he was dreaming about?