We visited the Trains at Northpark with our buddies Ethan and Blake. It was really fun! Joseph really enjoyed checking it all out. For the most part there was plenty to look at on his eye level, but it'll be a lot better when he gets taller.

Joseph didn't like his conductors hat, but I thought it was pretty cool.




In front of the boys here there is a little bitty saw mill with little bitty guys really sawing logs. Each display had little working scenes like this and the guys loved it.




We arrived just in time to have about 20 minutes of quiet and plenty of space, then it got really crowded. I hope to make it back again before they take it down!

And from the White House - with it's own little Santa and sleigh on top - Merry Christmas to all to all a good night!

Holy cow! Look out everyone! Clear the road! Something is wrong with this picture!


No Joseph, don't take that Daddy Taxi! Bail out, bail out!


The drive must've been pretty bad after all...


At'a boy...don't let Daddy hold you back...you gotta get outta there!


Ok, now don't forget to roll when you hit the ground! Duck and cover, my man! Whew! That was one crazy ride!

O Christmas Tree...

I got a late night text from mom a few weeks ago..."You wanna come over tomorrow and help decorate?" I was so excited! I could have of course just invited myself over, as usual, and made plans to decorate but I suppose sometimes it's just easier to not make plans so you can be lazy all week. I like lazy.

We arrived to a big pot of squash soup - one of my favorites - simmering on the stove and a roaring fire in the fireplace awaiting the chestnuts. Roasting chestnuts is a long standing tradition in our family. One year the chestnut tree suffered from a boll weevil infestation and our crop was ruined. It just wasn't the same without them. (Believe that at your own risk.)

My pumpkin helped and helped and helped hang the ornaments. All in exactly the same place. One spot and one spot only. It was pure Two Year Old greatness. Definitely my favorite place on the tree. Reminded us of all the little ones before Joseph that did the same thing. My nieces Lindsey and Jessie and nephew David would arrive at Grandma's after helping decorate and go to inspect their spot on the tree, and would know right away that someone had spread their ornaments out. So they would move them back. Kids do the darnedest things.

We will head over there for our Christmas celebration on Saturday so everyone can do their families and in laws on Friday. But since I don't have any in laws to celebrate Christmas with, we get the day off!

He was really more interested in the toys than the lights or ornaments. But what can you expect? Of course he was finally really in to it when it was time to leave.

Ha! Our little Joseph with a little Popeye smile. I yam what I yam. Merry Christmas, toot toot!

Josh's Autie Debbie sent me a link to her friend's blog and a post he had written. I read the post and wanted to share it with my readers. It's a short little ditty about Josh's Zayde ("grandfather" for you Gentile readers) and I thought it was pretty entertaining. I stayed for awhile at his blog site and found him quite funny. I like his writing style and his humor...his manner of BSing. And he uses lots of big words. I'm not really sure if I should be asking his permission to post this here, but I think I get rights by way of grandchild by marriage and since he is Joseph's namesake. Or is Joseph his namesake? Whatever. Plus, I loved Zayde and any chance to spread some Zayde love to you should be just fine, right?

The following is from: http://elisson1.blogspot.com/

Joe and Chelo S. were long-time residents of Chicagoland who moved to the northern suburbs of Atlanta to be with their daughter Debbie and son-in-law Sid. That’s how we met them... for Debbie and Sid were (and are) friends of ours.

We would see Joe and Chelo a few times a week, at Shabbat services and at dinner after Thursday evening Minyan... and at the occasional Big Event, like the storybook wedding of their grandson Adam in Malibu, on a cliff overlooking the Pacific.

A lovely couple, they were... and Joe had an interesting backstory, for he had had a long career in a line of work that most of us Penile-Americans would consider a Dream Job.

Joe, you see, worked for Playboy Magazine. He was the guy who prepared the printing plates... which meant that, months in advance, he saw every picture that appeared in that Venerable Periodical, as well as those that didn’t.

Joe know all the secrets. He knew that Miss March had a strawberry birthmark on the left cheek of her ass, and that Miss September had a tuft of pubic hair sticking out of the crotch of her bikini. All of these minor defects were, of course, artfully airbrushed away before the rest of us Lowly Mortals got to gaze raptly upon the finished product.

And he got to make the occasional visit over at the Mansion. Icing on the cake.

Alas, Joe is no longer with us, having suffered a stroke a few years back that sent him to a different sort of mansion... the kind that floats in the sky. But we all remember him fondly, and I think of him with just a tinge of envy whenever I walk past a newsstand.

Whewwww-weeee! I am just now recovering from hosting Thanksgiving! Finally decided to wash out the turkey roaster, but next year I won't wait quite this long. What an experience! Actually Josh and I hosted last year also, but this year I decided to make the turkey and dressing for the first time! Far in advance I was a dedicated Martha Stewart student, reading and taking notes online and during the tv marathon of her show the week before Thanksgiving. I should've known she would try to sabotage my dinner...I've always found her just a little bit shady. Read on...

I was doing good to make just one arrangement, unlike her table scape masterpieces she creates. No doubt staying up until ungodly hours to complete. I read once that she only sleeps 2-4 hours a night because she has so much to do. And certainly magical meds to help with that - both to stay up and to sleep when she must. I'm sure of it. I really did want to make the hand-glittered pine cone/acorn/berry place cards with the homemade place mats from sisal grown in my yard and interwoven hand-dyed ribbon that matched my wall paint perfectly....but I didn't. In an effort to make everyone comfortable with the caliber of my efforts, I threw on my old reliable vinyl tablecloth and made one perfectly beautiful and simple flower arrangement. It was perfect.

I stared down this turkey in my refrigerator for a week, preparing my mind (and body for that matter) for the experience ahead, whittling away at any strength it had to win this battle of cleaning and dressing, mentally fighting this deceased frozen bird, of course emerging victorious, becoming master of the oven and seeing myself showered with praise of the wonderfully moist and perfectly herbed turkey. (In the mean time we decided we needed more turkey so now I was going to cook an additional 8 pounder.)

Thanksgiving morning came and I moved the brick(s) into my sink, it wasn't time just yet...so it sat while I prepared. Just a little while longer while I gather my things...yeah, that's it...I wasn't the least bit nervous. Wasn't sure exactly what I was doing, but it was going to be good darn it.

Then the phone calls to mom started. Was it supposed to be wings up or wings down in the roaster? Did I have to use the rack in the roaster? Why didn't she use cheesecloth when Martha insisted I do? Can I really cook two turkeys at the same time? Double checking what time it needed to go in, then checking to make sure she agreed with the other tips Martha had given me.

Now it was time, and it kinda became do or die. I was getting frustrated at my approach of attack and found myself doubting Ol' Stewart's recipes. I finally sighed, ran out to cut a bunch of fresh herbs, and found myself shoving oregano, rosemary, onions, apple slices and butter under the skin of the turkey. I threw out the rack and put a bunch of veggies on the bottom of the pan...I knew we weren't going to eat them, but I felt like it was necessary for some culinary reason or another. I only ran into minimal issues once it was go-time. Only small things like when they wouldn't both fit in the oven, and once I shoved (and I do mean shoved) them in, I couldn't get the one on the top rack back out. It expanded when it heated up and rammed itself into the broiler. You know, small issues like that. But boy did it smell good!

The cornbread dressing came out superb!! But of course it did since mom got here and finished making it for me. You know, I was a little overwhelmed flitting in and out of the kitchen to visit with family and eat crudites. And besides, I couldn't really help because I had to take notes so I'll know for sure what to do next time. Funnily enough, when mom gives out her cornbread dressing recipe it just a list of ingredients...cornbread, turkey juice from the pan, eggs, green onions, celery, poultry seasoning....no measurements or exact instructions...just a sweet smile and a wink then she sends you on your way calling out to "do what tastes best". So, apparently I didn't make enough cornbread so our secret ingredient this year was some of a bag of Stouffers Stovetop from the pantry. It was only slightly upsetting as I glared at the bag in my hands and found myself suggesting to the Queen of Dressing and All Things Right and Good that we mix some in with what cornbread we had. I do think this was one of the best batches of dressing yet, though.

With the flowers done, I pulled out my bone china and made that the best looking vinyl tablecloth ever.

My turkey didn't have quiet the perfectly browned look that was on Martha's website, but as far as I was concerned...they were out of the oven in one piece so it was a success in my book.

They did, by the way, turn out super duper moist and perfectly herbed. They were delicious. So delicious that we must save the second turkey that I slaved over for all posterity. (Yes, we didn't need it after all...didn't even give it a second look, really, until a few days later.)

Papa with Joseph

At least when I was cooking, I didn't have a mother and and mother in law looking over my shoulder. Poor Josh. He made one mention of "should I start here or here...?" and they swarmed him like flies on poop. Or something. And there I was with the camera. Ha.

But I had to document this since it was his first carving. Mom brought her electric knife so Josh got to take the easy way out. At least the turkey took the attention of my botched creamed spinach. We always have spinach artichoke casserole, mom's recipe of course, but this year I really had a hankering for creamed spinach like Boston Market's. It was nasty and still got eaten. God love this family.

My baby had a turkey birthday this year so we got to sing Happy Birthday after dinner. He loved every minute of it - look at him grinning at the camera - and applauded just as loudly as everyone else when he blew out the candle. It's exciting stuff, man!

It ended up awesome with that super warm and special feeling that only comes when you have a house full of family hanging out. The sound of the Cowboys and an occasional group cheer in the background. The smell of delicious food. The sound of kids running back and forth and pulling out all the toys I tried to stash away to make the house look decent. I know you know that perfect holiday feeling I speak of. That's why we do it year after year regardless of our bird "issues" and insecurities. Regardless of lack of storage for the million and one block set and endless trucks and cars. Regardless of the folding chairs, vinyl tablecloth and poor choice of "rose" wine (what the heck was wrong that stuff, anyway..?). There might even be some irritability and really hungry "where's the food?" moments, but looking back you wouldn't trade it for really anything in the world. At least I wouldn't. Am I hosting again next year? I'm certainly in the running. Would I cook another turkey? I hear Boston Market makes a mean rotisserie turkey.

We had a Bobe visitor this year for Thanksgiving! Edie moved back to Dallas about a month ago...so only one Bobe came in from Georgia. It was really nice spending time with the grandmas and I know both Josh and Joseph really loved it.

Thankfully, Bobe was able to join us this year for Joseph's birthday! Her helping with dishes after Thanksgiving was something to be thankful for as well!! ;)

One...Two...Three...Haaa, Haaa, Haaa!

Actually kinda glad cake class is over. I understand and appreciate why they want a cake brought to every class, but frankly, I am just as happy using parchment paper to make flowers and borders. I did that the last class. I was the only one without a cake and perfectly comfortable with that! I got all the practice I needed and didn't have to take home a cake to mess up my girlish figure. Our instructor says she takes her practice cakes to the Firehouse for the firemen to eat and that's a great idea.

So I went with the Count from Sesame Street for my character cake. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I thought my hand would cramp up and my stars would be un-uniform, but I think he turned out great. I was a little frustrated with my instructor though. She tends to take over when you ask a question, and instead of letting you do it and learn it yourself...and I blame her for the ugly parts of this cake. She would go too fast and wasn't very careful - I suppose she had the "here's the general idea" approach to teaching, which wasn't helpful to the students. She globbed on icing for the eyes and didn't follow the actual cake impression...it was horrifying to someone who is really trying to make her cake look good and didn't even get the chance to try. Anyway, I would love to take another cake class but at a different place. I didn't feel like she did a good job teaching us flowers, which was the last class, although I know a lot of it is just practice.

So Count came home with me and I surprised Josh since it's his favorite Sesame Street character! Count was probably my least favorite tasting. He was spice cake with tons of black (translate=bitter) icing...yuck!! But he was darn cute, and isn't that what really counts?!

We Have New Windows!

After much deliberation in the Blachly household, we decided to go for it! Especially with the tax credit, saving energy and getting an updated look, we couldn't go wrong.

It was an exciting day! Joseph was really into the guys working and sawing all over the house (except when it was nap time...) and kept him entertained all day. Luckily the weather was nicely brisk and not too hot or too cold, since we had gaping holes in our house.

Here is the first one all complete. It was a pretty big difference to see the stark white and took me a while to get used to it. From the inside it's a world of difference and makes the house look so much nicer.

The guest room was the first one and took the longest, but then they got rolling, smashing glass and sledge hammering our brick all over the place. Ha. Not really, they were very efficient and very clean - only minimal broken glass.

Little Joey's gaping hole. I love love love our new windows!!

The little helper checking it all out. It passed inspection.

The kitchen was the hardest and they saved it for last. And we had them remove the horribly sorry counter outside the window. It was fairly handy to have around, but it needed to be repaired, so until we can replace it - if we choose to - it looks much cleaner and nice.

Check out that sweet GOLD aluminum frame. Can't beat the 70's. But now we've joined this decade with our new windows and with the triple panes, hope to hear much less of our neighbors too. Take that late night party go-ers next door!

Well, I guess we had our last day of nice weather. "Nice" being not 24 degrees outside! It's so cold today!!

Joseph's been doing ok not being able to run around outside as much so far, but he does get a little antsy at times. I've got to sharpen my mommy-inside-activities-skills and keep him busy.

I couldn't believe it when I looked over and he was trying to climb up the fence! Wasn't he just a little baby a minute ago? Didn't he just depend on us to feed him, clothe him, hold him?!

He sure got a kick out of this new trick! I guess I did too. Good ol' chain-link fence!

That's about as high as he got, but that's pretty good! I was comfortable with that but much higher and I might have had to step in and blow the mommy referee whistle!

And my crazy cherry tomato plant...that didn't put out all summer...and nothing on the one from last year for that matter...decided to put on some tomatoes in late fall! Good grief! I went ahead and pulled these but only one turned red. I ate it with much gusto! (It wasn't that good...)

And I finally figured out how these walnuts were getting themselves in the fence. I asked Josh if he had been doing it, then much to my better judgment thought they were falling from the tree, bouncing on the ground and impaling themselves in the fence. I never actually saw the culprit until Joseph told me he stuck that walnut in the fence! That makes much more sense. ;)

Farewell long days outside...until next spring my friend. Our tools will lay awaiting repair on the slide, patio furniture and bbq grill until then.