Thanksgiving 2014

 This year we again spent Thanksgiving with our long-time friends, the Burns family!
It was a wonderful time of talking, laughing and...eating. :)

No need to tell us ''make yourself at home'' here! :) 

While Elodie listened to a conversation, 

I took the opportunity to take some pictures of her! 

She looked especially lovely and classy that day..

And the spell is broken!

The photographer has been seen! Our computer is packed with similar pictures, of each person in our family. We all share the same ''no way are you taking my picture right now!'' look!

Conversations

Time to dine! The Burns are smart: they eat Thanksgiving dinner at 4 pm. 

By the time dessert time rolls around, everyone is starving! :) 

Katia was too adorable that day. 

Okay, Sam. 

Great choice of shirt. 

Knowing you, though I wouldn't say you even knew the significance until I pointed it out to you just now. 

Anyway, 

great choice of shirt for Thanksgiving Day. 

Arguing over the dinner

...time to get dangerous!

As our chief wood-chopper at home, Alexandre is a pro at this! 

Look at that wood fly! 

Sam is quite mournfully jealous. 

Winner for the oddest picture of 2014, guys!

Uh-oh- Marjo's trying! I don't think I lost, which is a bonus. :) 

(Our goal was, with only 4 blows, to end up with our biggest piece of wood the smallest out of everyone's...make sense? It may take a while to comprehend.)

Elodie's hair was so beautiful! Jessie usually does it for her in the van on the way to the event...the longer the drive, the more elabourate the hairstyle! 

Time for dessert! 

That is a phrase everyone understands, and we gathered around the table of pies. :) 

Good old pumpkin pie with a walnut crust and praline

Apple-cranberry crostada

Pie cutting action

My plate: honey pumpkin pie with cranberry relish :) 

This year, the Burns' didn't have a massive pumpkin to toss out the window, and Nick wasn't even there (he got married between last Nov. and this!), so Peter obliged and pitched a wee pumpkin out the window. 

For those of you who didn't see last year's pumpkin toss:

November 2014: Concert at Powell Hall, Ice Skating, Baby Shower

Here are some more memories from November 2014!

I'm trying to make my posts more organized and less lengthy; I think you readers will find it easier to read posts you are interested in as well!

On the first of November, we girls attended a shower for a dear friend who was expecting her first! (as I write this, I say ''was'' because the baby was just born! Congratulations J & D!!!) I love anything baby...I'm just so excited my friends are getting married and having children! :) 

           
                                     Random home life: sort-through-the-socks-day!
Anyone who has 2 feet and more than 10 pairs of socks can sympathize. Multiply the pairs of feet by 11 and you have...a lot of socks. I don't know about your family, but ours boasts extremely independent and adventurous socks.
We watched Anne of Green Gables while doing this momentous and horrific task.
(we hadn't gone through the socks since summertime, when I brought them all outside and spent a lovely, sunny afternoon doing them.
 It was bad.)

In November, I entered a Chiquita banana recipe contest which required something made using caramel, walnuts and bananas...I created this caramel banana pie which was absolutely delightful! (see? I can make sweet desserts :) )

If you want the recipe, come back to my blog soon- I'll be doing a post with the recipe. 

It certainly deserves its own post. 

Oh! I didn't win the contest, btw.

And for those of you who are cruelly thinking ''no surprise! there's no way a pie like that could've made it through the USPS''....

I didn't send them my entry. 

The pie pictured was just my tester. I sent in the recipe. 

Skating season started up in November! Yay! It has been such a delight to meet with friends at our rink and skate for 2 hours every Saturday! (we used to go Sat. afternoon, but now we go for the evening session) 

With friend Sara and Haley

In November, we were pleased, delighted and excited to attend a Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra concert at Powell Hall! 

I love Powell Hall! So proud to be living in the same city as it. 

We older ones have memories of attending the children's concerts or the Top 99 concerts at Powell Hall in the past, but we hadn't been for years! It was so excited to be back, softly treading the red velvet carpets and excitedly finding seats!

The evening's music list is here

The musicians did an excellent job! 

I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the music surrounding me...you can listen to the music at home, but there is nothing like being surrounded by the strains of the entire orchestra playing in the same room! There is so much power and feeling...

My favourite piece of the night was this: 

It was Laura-Lise's first time as well! She looks a bit overwhelmed.

Getting ready for the performance!

Just for fun. There is so much detail!

These younger performers were amazing!

There's +Rachel Petzoldt ! :) (flute- far right, flute not visible)

 It was a delight to watch you perform!

Me, my siblings and friend Sara Burns with friend Haley.

In memorium: SNOW

   In response to the not-so-unusual phenomena of a snow-less December and January in Missouri this year, I decided to devote a post solely to the memory of SNOW.

How ingeneous: a ''Mama and baby'' snowlady!

(I'm at the point where I can almost truthfully say ''Snow? I do not believe in snow!" tragic.)

   In reality, I'm not too worried about the situation of snow and lack thereof...Missouri usually comes into its snowy glory in February! But I was organizing all our old files and came across such delightful memories I had to share some of them...

In February 2007, we went to Allenspark, Colorado. For free. 

(we accompanied our Dad on a business trip. Needless to say, his company didn't desire our presence, so we vacationed at a cabin! For free.)

This picture sums up the entire experience! :)

We brought along 2 puppies, not to mention a 6-month old baby. :) 

We all kind of fit into the ''baby'' category, come to think of it. 

And was there snow! Feet upon feet of it, surrounding our cabin! 

Let's see...I was nearly full-grown and it came up to my knees in most spots. I don't know how Elodie survived. ;)

The weather was always sunny and we barely had to wear sweaters. 

Nearby, there was a massive, absolutely colossal ---

and this time I mean it. 

Remember: I was almost full grown---

hill which was incredibly icy and which we spent 2 days climbing and sliding down, to the risk of our limbs and lives! I wish I had pictures. I have about 3 hours of filming of the slipping and sliding and danger, as well as personally conducted tours of the Colorado wilds surrounding our cabin...but they are unavailable for public viewing. :(

First: our camera is an oldie and doesn't connect to the computer. 

Secondly, it doesn't even function any more. 

Thirdly: you may find it hard to comprehend the wonder of it all. 

You had to be there. :)

Jump forward seven years...and we have our own colossal hill right near home! 

(you may take a moment to applaud my skills in frugality and fabric care by noticing how I am still wearing the very same sweater as in 2007. Stunning, isn't it?  ;) In case anyone is overwhelmed with jealousy, it's from LAVON, made in Russia and 100% polyester. Good luck. )

When it does snow, you can be sure we'll be whizzing down our favourite hill! :) 

Can't wait. 

2013

No, she never changed ;) 

2007

Enjoy the snow, friends! :) It's bound to come any day now. It can't help it, after seeing what a reception it will get! :)

Either way, enjoy the weather God has given us! There are benefits to every day, every season.