Thanksgiving

Another year - another Thanksgiving.   I like Thanksgiving as the whole day is based around a meal and one thing I really do enjoy is cooking.

 

This year, I really wanted to have the kids get involved in some of the baking so I decided that they would make some kid friendly desserts. So off to Pinterest I went.   (I love Pinterest.com - if you haven't ever been there, it's a wonderful place to search for ideas on nearly anything from travel, to cooking, to house decorating, and to school crafts and more). 

 

I decided we would make Rice Crispy Thanksgiving Turkeys.    They all got involved - I thought I would be lucky if my boys made even one as they are not big into crafts but they all loved making these.

 

 

 

The end result were these little turkeys!

If you ever want to make them - detailed instructions can be found here:    http://amysfinerthings.com/too-cute-turkey-treats

I suspect that her kids didn't make hers - as they look perfect!

We tried to have a healthy thanksgiving meal this year - Ben and I are watching what we are eating and we didn't want to over indulge like we often do.   I made my own cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potato salad and green beans.   I also had gravy but it's not featured in my photo as this was my plate and I don't like gravy!   I bought the bread rolls, as I'm not superwoman despite what my family sometimes thinks ;-)

 

For dessert, I made mini pumpkin pies and cheesecakes.   It was all very delicious.

 

During lunch, we talked about what we are thankful for.

 

We are thankful for our family and the opportunities that we have.   We are thankful that we are going to be able to visit our extended family in Australia next year too!   Isaac and Kai are thankful for computers.   Elizabeth is thankful for our cats.

10th Birthday

Today is Lizzy's 10th birthday.   My! Time has flown, although I'm sure she thinks it's taken a long time coming around.    I remember as a child that one year was a very long time, and that the school year would never end.   Now one year seems to flash past and the kids just get bigger all the time.

We had a quiet birthday this year.   Our day started off with a rule!   No waking Mum & Dad before 7.00am.   She had asked us how early she could wake us up, as presents were going to be the first event of the day.    At 7.01, I felt a tap on my shoulder and was offered a glass of water (Ben was given a coffee).    She was thrilled with her gifts.

This afternoon, we had cake for afternoon tea.   She didn't want to choose a cake this year.  Instead she wanted to be surprised.    So I decided that I would make her a piano cake.     

 

 

It was also a hit.

 

Tonight, we are heading out for dinner to celebrate 10 years.

No Treasurer

Elizabeth did not get the position of Student Council Treasurer.     Let's just say she was very upset.  

As a mum, it's hard to watch a child struggle over the disappointments in life.   Sometimes you wonder if you do and say the right things.   This was one of those moments.

Before the election, I let her know that I was proud of her for running for the position.   I was proud of the fact that she was willing to get up to speak in front of 100 plus kids.   And no matter whether she won or lost that I would be proud of her.

But when she came home, looking down cast and near tears - I knew what was coming.   I offered a hug but it was rejected.   All she wanted was to be alone in her room.   I was told quite bluntly to go away.  

I wrote her a letter, dropped into her room and retreated.    I hope that the message got through that it was OK to be sad but that I was still proud of her.   And that I would love to see her try again next year despite the disappointment this year.

I then turned into mean mummy.   Two hours later, when she was still upset and didn't want to go to swimming lesson, I told her she had no option.   We had paid for swimming lessons and unless she wanted to pay me the cost of the lesson she had to go.  

Life sometimes does not seem fair, especially when you are nine.  But we all have to get up and keep on going.

She was fine today.   The disappointment of yesterday has passed.