thankful

Yesterday, I made the best pie crust of my life! (Recipe here.) It must be the chilling of the water and the dough that makes it roll out beautifully - no tearing! And delightfully flaky. I forgot to take a picture of the finished pumpkin pie.

While I was thus engaged, Eva decided to make a "thankful list," and then she went ahead and made blank ones for all of our family members, to be filled out after Thanksgiving dinner. I can't find it right now, but I know that it included family, Jack the dog, feet, and knees.

I sent Max to Target to look for chocolate stars so we could make our chocolate turkeys (I ran out of time on Wednesday), but they were closed. Drat! (But great for their employees.)

We went to Grandma & Grandpa's house for dinner (at noon). It's a bit strange, and also delightful, to not have a lot of cooking to do for Thanksgiving. We all ate too much - except for Lucas and Eva, who ate only cornbread muffins, fruit, and broccoli. Huh.

After dinner, Eva called us all in to watch her movie: Animal Life, The Life Cycle. It included this badger, who is apparently a fruitatarian.

And these squirrels in the Egg Forest. The movie dragged on rather long, and ended with all audience members sprawled on the floor and the couch. They may have been carrying on whispered conversations as well.

Then we all went to the Muppet movie! I have such nostalgia for the Muppets. I watched that show every week and had a Kermit the Frog puppet that I adored. I started to get a little misty during The Rainbow Connection! It felt very holidayish to go to a movie and it was one that all ages could enjoy (even though my kids didn't even know the Muppets).

After the movie, we had pumpkin pie and peanut butter chocolate torte (Marc's birthday dessert). Yes, it was his birthday on Thanksgiving this year. (Not his favorite, but we celebrated on Wednesday.)

The birthday hamster, who sings the Beatles' birthday song. A Winegar birthday tradition. Strangely, I didn't get any photos of the birthday bear and hat.

Bob and Mim had prepared soup and sandwiches for dinner! But none of us could eat another bite.

But there's always room for See's.

Here's what I wrote on my thankful for list:

indoor plumbing
a warm house
family
DVR
chocolate
peanut butter
conditioner
books
Amazon
dishwasher
iPod
socks
yarn
fabric
Pinterest
cameras
temple
soft sheets
tea
KitchenAid
nail polish
hugs
teachers
ice water
stretchy pants
homemade cookies

Eva laughed at many of the items on my list, but then she had to admit that they are all pretty great. So much to be thankful for.

birthday report

Last week at PT, a couple of the guys asked me what I was going to do for my birthday. Their suggestions: get a tattoo or go skydiving. Um, no and no. Apparently they don't know me very well. As Denise says, I am a low-level recreator.

I had a very relaxing birthday celebration that just kept going and going!

On Saturday, I went out to lunch and to a movie with Jill.

On Sunday, Marc stayed home with a sick Eva. I took the boys to church, then came home, blogged, and took a delightful nap.

Marc invited his family over and cooked my favorite dinner (lemon chicken, broccoli with blue cheese, and rice). Michelle brought her amazing spinach/strawberry salad and Grandpa Bob brought lots of beautiful fruit (Grandma Mim was sick and had to stay home).

Bob and Mim gave me the sweetest, most clever gift! Four numbered envelopes, one for each decade of my life. Each one had an age-appropriate card, a very nice hand-written message, and some cash. I'm going to have to remember that one.

Michelle gave me this book I have been wanting to read for what seems like forever, and 3 pieces of luscious wool felt. (I didn't even know it came in houndstooth and plaid!!)

I forgot to take a picture, but Emily gave me Adele's new album, which I secretly had been pining for – yes!

Marc also made my traditional German chocolate birthday cake. YUM.

He put Eva to bed and slept on the trundle bed in her room to make sure that I got to sleep through the night.

On Monday, I slept in until I woke up naturally, oh rare joy! Then I stayed in bed and read, one of my favorite things in life. I got up and got ready, even though I had no plans to leave the house. A day of not having to drive the kids anywhere, woohoo!

I opened Jessie's packages after I got up. She made me 9 cd's! So exciting. She made me tiny, fridge magnet-size mantras modeled after the canvas ones in her kitchen. I love them. She bought me 2 eyeshadows, nail polish, and eyeliner from Ulta (on my wish list), and sent two cute fabrics! A motherlode, for sure.

Jill stopped by with balloons and a drink from Sonic.

Patsy sent me this beautiful cookbook from Williams-Sonoma. It is chock full of photographs of Paris, and I loved flipping through and identifying some of my favorite haunts.

Marc hadn't shaved for several days, and as a joke, he created this mustache and goatee. Every time I looked at him, it cracked me up, because I have never seen him any way other than clean-shaven or a bit scruffy all over.

He took the kids out shopping, so I was treated to some time at home, alone (why is that such a delight?). I watched an episode of Pillars of the Earth while working on a wedding gift that is 4 months overdue (!).

I then went down to my studio to do some cleaning/organizing, while listening to some of my new cd's. It's hard to find the time to spend in there, so it felt amazing to have a couple of hours uninterrupted.

And, and, Marc took the boys to get haircuts. That is a gift!

Lucas wandered downstairs eventually and seemed anxious for me to come and see the gifts they had prepared:


Max bought me an iTunes gift card. I always think it is so sweet when kids spend some of their limited funds on someone else.

Marc got me all of these items from my Amazon wish list (the universal wish list is a brilliant idea).

The boys got me ankle weights, also from my wish list. (Gotta keep up my knee exercises, you know.)

Eva picked out this scarf for me and contributed her last $5 from her Christmas money. Apparently, Marc suggested several possible gifts, but she rejected them all until she saw this.

Marc also got me this Bosu ball, a late addition to my wish list, when I was looking around at PT trying to figure out how to replicate things at home. Everyone loves it.

My mom sent me a necklace, a pair of earrings, a Cutco vegetable peeler,

a cute glass butter dish, and some lengths of fancy silk ribbon.

My mom and dad also sent me a check to apply towards my pricey knee braces. Marc said I should use it for something fun, but I hurried and paid it towards our balance yesterday before I could change my mind.

We were going to all go out to dinner, but Eva was still too sick, so we just got Mexican take-out instead. I watched Chuck with the boys and then House with Marc. Definitely my kind of day.

Tulips from Marc – I love spring!

Amy M. sent me this darling necklace! (It's silver, not gold, that was just a weird reflection.) I love the sentiment and the camera charm.

Last night we had our book club birthday celebration for Collette and me. It felt strange not to bring a dinner contribution when I knew they would be short-handed, but also nice to be a little bit spoiled.

Collette brought me this darling bag with HOPE coasters inside. Perfect!

Check out this card/gift certificate holder that Amy made. Seriously. The girls gave me a g.c. to Amazon, which kind of makes you feel like you have a world of possibilities in your hand. (Because you do.)

Today I got this gift from Kacey – a little tin of covered buttons. That is genius.

And a card from my grandpa with cash inside!

I have been so spoiled the last few days. It was actually hard to return to normal life, packing lunches, driving kids, going to the doctor, doing laundry and grocery shopping. Can you get used to a life of luxury that quickly?

And in case you were wondering, I think I'm over the anxiety about turning 40. It feels a lot like 39, and 38, and 37...

Charlotte's wedding!

Last weekend, I was able to go to Denver for Charlotte's wedding. It was a most enjoyable, happy, emotional time.

Shortly after my plane got in, we went to the temple to go with Charlotte as she took out her endowment. It has been a long time since I had attended a session like that, and I was a bit taken aback by how meaningful it was to me. The crying had started not two hours after my plane landed! Being in the temple with loved ones is a wonderful experience.

The adorable gift basket that Denise left for me in my room!

Denise, whipping her hand around in the sign meaning, "Wedding week! Don't ask me to do anything else."

On Thursday night, we had a dinner catered by Senor Burrito, a local Mexican restaurant loved by us all. Good call.

As we drove to the temple on Friday morning, it started to rain. As the wedding photographer, I was in distress. Fortunately, it stopped before we went outside for photos!

There was an empty chair next to my grandpa in the sealing room. He later told me that he knew Grandma was there sitting beside him. More tears.

Bouquets for the bridesmaids. My mom did all the flowers – she has such a way. For the life of me, I can't figure out how she has such a magic touch with so many things.

The happy couple emerges!

Charlotte with her immediate family. (Denise made all of the dresses except for the bridal gown. She is a wonder.)

Charlotte with her sisters Sarah and Emily and best friend Rachelle, who stepped into the Sneelock role during wedding week.

Charlotte with her two new darling sisters-in-law, Estee and Nicole.

Denise and Mom, examples of sisters who love and support each other in everything they do. (Denise also made Mom's skirt!)

Check out Charlotte's fabulous shoes!

I just love how happy Charlotte looks.

It was a real challenge to get photos without cars, houses, stop signs, etc. in the background, but we got a few.



After the temple festivities, we all went back to Denise's house for lunch.

provisions for the crowd

And after lunch, it was time to decorate the reception hall! It took a lot of man-hours – good thing there were so many on hand to help!

Mom made about 20 different centerpieces. I've never seen floral arrangements that I like better than hers.

my darling parents

Charlotte and Josh had their own table. Charlotte tucked a napkin in her dress, because, "There's no way I'm getting barbecue on this!"

Possibly the most beautiful wedding cake ever. Definitely wins my vote for best cake topper!

Sign in area with the cutest book that Jessie made. Seriously, a guest book with photos and the story of their courtship in their words – brilliant. A guest book that they will actually want to look at again and again!

Cutting and feeding each other the first piece of cake.

Miranda and Nate with Z-cakes. I love that girl! (Miranda, as well.)

When Charlotte and Josh left, I felt stunned for those left behind. As the oldest child, I was never really in that situation. John, Sarah, Emily, and her parents are feeling the loss keenly. Of course, they are incredibly happy for her, but also realizing that she's not their little girl anymore. She'll never live at home again. At that moment, as well as in the temple, I found myself wondering how it would be to be the mother of the bride or groom. I'm so not ready for that!

Funny side note: when Charlotte was modeling her going away dress for Emily, John asked what that was for. Emily whispered to him that it was Charlotte's "sex dress," to his mortification. Hilarious.

Just a few of the hundreds of tea lights providing ambience.

another of Mom's vignettes (incidentally, she brought all of the glassware and candles with her on the plane!)

As things started to wind down, Denise and Mark took a few turns around the dance floor. Here, she models the twirl factor of her stunning dress. Impressive!

Mom's princess shoes. I'm sure Eva will be painfully jealous.

Mark danced with Sarah as well, which I found adorable.

Josh's cute family came back later to help take all the decorations down, so nice. I think Charlotte scored big-time with her in-laws!

On Saturday, we washed all of the glassware for shipping back to Pennsylvania and my dad packed it up (a nasty job).

I had really wanted to visit my grandma's grave, and my dad suggested we take Charlotte's bouquet to place there. We all wondered why we hadn't thought of it!

Charlotte's flowers on her namesake's grave. It was really the perfect way to end wedding week.

Since the newlyweds had already departed for their honeymoon cruise, we opened their presents for them. Did you know that Bed, Bath & Beyond will take the gifts you received from their store, re-stock them, and assemble the whole lot at the store nearest your home? Brilliant.

Mom's fingers sustained some damage from all the floral work. They were cut up, swollen, and pulsing with pain. I hope that neosporin did the trick, because she was going right back home to set up all of the Christmas decorations in her store!

It was so fun to be a part of the celebrations. I'm so happy for Charlotte & Josh, and wish them every happiness in their new life together!