Wordless Wednesday

30 Things Update

Less than 2 months to go....

1. Learn to use my new sewing machine and make something special for both kids - This is a work in progress...I'm really enjoying learning my new sewing machine  (I'm crossing this off, even though I still have to finish Gavin's cape.  Both kids are getting mommy-made capes for Christmas!
2. Crochet Riley a hat
3. Complete C25K - Couch 2 5K   Complete!  (Though I hurt my shin in the process and can't run now...but I'm the ice and stretches will eventually help)
4. Plant an herb garden (or at least one herb!) - I attempted one the Jackie bought for me, but it never did take off.  Now, I've planted just cilantro in a mason jar...we'll see if it grows.  {Yeah, it didn't.  I suck at growing things!}
5. Create a collage in Photoshop Elements
6. Make from scratch - a pie, a cake, and brownies
7. Have a Mommy-Son date
8. Cook a turkey
9. Collect letters to spell PATE for our kitchen - Have the A and the E!
10. Get a facial
11. Take the kids to the beach - Trip scheduled for September 30!
12. Write a letter to myself to open when I'm 40 {cute idea...but I'm scared I'll forget to open it when I'm 40...still going to try!} - In the process of completing this.
13. Figure out how to make a DVD of my Flip videos
14. Go to a drive-in movie
15. Send at least two 'snail mail' letters/cards each month {thanks for the inspiration, Lauren!} Complete for Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July....slacked in Aug and Sept. 
16.  Pay for a stranger's meal in the drive-thru lane
17. Give up pop for a whole month {16 days down...}
18. Go on a family picnic
19. Create a survival kit- Not to the extent I wanted, but I do feel better about having some supplies in the closet for when we're hunkered down during a tornado warning
20. Attend a baseball game - Daddy and Gavin did this, but we haven't done one as a family yet
21. Organize all our photos - huge task!
22. Read a 'classic' book - I have a feeling I'll fail this one; I'm just not a classics lover!  I tried twice and gave up.  I'll attempt it again.
23. Publish another blog book - Done!  And I love it!  If any bloggers want a link to the website, I'd love you to use my referral link.                                                                                     
    
24.  Play in the rain with Gavin {and Riley if she's old enough when this occurs} I'm counting the 'sprinkle' we played in...we didn't have much rain this summer!
25. Start Skyping with friends- This is an easy one!  I just need friends that Skype! :)
26. Go 'camping' in the backyard
27. Repurpose something...anything
28. Send someone flowers
29. Learn to make bows for Riley
30. Watch our wedding DVD with Gavin

Go Buckeyes!

This past weekend, we were really excited to watch the big Ohio State/Michigan game.  It's not often that we get the Buckeye games televised here, so of course we were thrilled that this important game was on.  We all got decked out in our scarlet and grey and were looking forward to an afternoon of chili and snacks.  Unfortunately, neither child was feeling well, so when I set up the tripod to get a family photo, we didn't get the best smiles, but it's stil a cute shot!  I love using the self-timer to get all four of us in the photo!

{And yay! Buckeyes....great game, great win!}

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Man....what a crazy week!  Jarrod was off work for a long weekend, which was so nice.  But, when he's off, I'm not on the computer much, so that played into big gap of posts that so many of you have brought to my attention.  Nope, I'm not giving up on my blog.  Riley gave all of us a cold, so we spent the four day weekend wiping snotty noses and napping.  But, we also were trying to take advantage of the shopping deals going on and I was frantically trying to get holiday gifts and cards made on Shutterfly.  Enough excuses...

So, Thanksgiving was definitely different this year.  We made the most of it, but it wasn't the same.  I did, however, accomplish two of my 30 Things!  I made my first ever turkey, and made an apple pie (though Jarrod says that doesn't count because I chickened out and ended up not making the crust from scratch!)  The pie was ok...not great, but that didn't stop me from eating half of it!  The turkey turned out pretty good.  It definitely wasn't as hard as I was thinking it would be.  Nor did it make as much as I was expecting!  We made a 9lb turkey and didn't have nearly as many leftovers as I was expecting.  If I had to make a turkey again, I'd probably just do a turkey breast.  But, it did turn out pretty!

To make it all feel like Thanksgiving, we made the traditional dishes.  Grandma's cole slaw and Mom's pea salad were non-negotiables.  It's not the holidays without them.  Jarrod knows that I love to play Rummy when we're back in Ohio, so we spent Wednesday night preparing the apple pie and then played Rummy, and he kicked my butt!  Grandma would've been pretty disappointed in me!  Haha...I didn't even get 200 points.  Sorry, Libby!  I know you taught me better.

Thursday morning we went out for a family walk because the weather was pretty nice.  Then it was time to watch the parade and prepare dinner.  After nap, it was dinner time!  And the kids ate well!

It wouldn't be a holiday in the Pate house if I didn't get a family photo!  So, we set up the camera and used the self timer to get a few shots.  Our heads are nearly cut off, but surprisingly everyone is smiling and I'm really happy with how it turned out!  

Thank goodness for Skype!  It was so nice to see our families on the computer after eating our Thanksgiving dinner.  I think the hardest part for me was not being there to go shopping with my mom and aunt.  But...there's always next year!