My sister once called me Amelia Bedilia in the kitchen-

Today I tried to make cute cookies for the annual Relief Society Christmas cookie exchange.

In my mind's eye they were going to be so cute!

And then the perky kisses melted into something salacious.

Justin requested that I tell people they're called Zebra Nips ...with a straight face.

I'm practicing.

November 2014

Brace Yourself - We've got a whole lot of Thanksgiving Celebration going on here -

With a camping trip to Galveston for the Holiday.   We spent half the time at the beach, and the rest of the time camping, eating, bicycling, WWII boat/submarine touring, NASA space museuming, ferry riding to watch the dolphins, and San Jacinto Battlegrounding - then back to the beach.  We missed the rest of the family, but kept them updated with travel tips along the way.

Travel Tip #1 - Do not make a large pot of beans for supper the night before departure.

 Travel Tip #2 - Do NOT send Dad to the grocery store for 3 items right before leaving.  He will spend more than half the vaca money before we ever pull out of the drive - on the bright side?  We will snack, and we will snack WELL.

 Travel Tip #3 -  When you need a flashlight, send Dad to the grocery store!  He will come home with over 20.   One for everybody.  Actually one for each hand.  And one for the neighbor, the dog, and even one for the neighbor's dog.

Travel Tip #4 -  Actually more of an observation - How does one not notice (after playing on the rest stop gym) that one is no longer wearing footwear until they have reconvened in the vehicle and traveled 50 miles down the road??

Travel Tip #5 - Do not, I repeat, DO NOT let Paladin pack the tent poles.  ....he's having a bit of a rough Thanksgiving Day (you know, shoeless and all...)

Travel Tip #6 -  Never let me choose the books on tape again.  I mean it this time.

Travel Tip #7 - All beaches are not created equal.  But we're here.  We've whittled a tent pole, and we have a flashlight for each hand.  :)  

Travel Tip #8 -  I take it all back about this poor beach.  I judged a book by it's cover.  It may be butt ugly, but it's got WARM water - I'll take the Gulf over the Pacific any day!

Travel Tip #9 -  We miss you all.  Remember that we love you all so, so much.  We hope you've had a GREAT Thanksgiving!
Love Mom and Dad

Post Travel Tip #1 - Keep better track of the sleeping bag that Hy had an accident in - it will save you 10 extra loads when you get home.

Don't let the celebration fool you -

She really is -

 16 Glorious Big Ones!!
(Real candles- because it's an IMPORTANT one.)

 I'm not sure she can get any greater with age.

Love her to pieces.

Slices of one day's (today's) conversations with Hy -

Convo #1 

Me: "Hy, you're sure cute!"

Hy: "Is it because I have freckles across my nose?"

Me: "Nope, it's just because you're you - although the freckles are a bonus."

Hy: "Is it because I'm the last child born and you're too old to lay anymore?" 

Convo #2

Me: "Hydn a chicken can NOT flap it's own wing off!"

Hy: "Well, Mom, since you're not a scientist you just don't KNOW, do you!"

Me: "Yes, I DO know, even if I'm not a scientist!"

Hy: "Mom, you know what you know, and I know what I know.  But you don't know what I know -and I saw it!"

Convo #3

Me: "Today's lunch is make your own sandwich day."

Hy after first bite: "Eww... bologna and strawberry jam is gross!  Can I make a new one?"

Me: "Alright, go ahead.  Feed that one to the dog."

Hy after first bite of second sandwich: "Eww... bologna and peanut butter is gross too!" 

Me: "Eat it."

Convo #4

Hy: "Mom, when you drive the backhoe will it roll backward when you stop if you don't keep your foot on the brake?"

Me: "No.  Not if it's in the right gear."

Hy: "So, it won't roll away even if you were kind of on a small hill and you didn't keep your foot on the brake??"

Me: "NO, Hydn, it won't roll backwards - it will stay right there the whole time!"

Hy: "....then you don't need me to feed horses with you because you can open the gates yourself!"

Convo #5

Maddie: "Hy, can I have some of your chocolate?"

Hy: "Get your own, this is MY life!"