A. Maze. Ing.

Karen Bagley, bless her heart, is currently number ONE on my list of  'my most favorite people in the world ever'.  Not only did she watch all three of my kids for me while Richard was out of town so I could go grocery shopping, but tonight she brought by some hot chocolate as a Christmas gift.


And let me tell you.


Ahem:

I knew Land of Lakes made good hot chocolate, and to this day their mint has been my favorite.  But no more.  The cinnamon cocoa is delicious.  divine.  delectable. 

Do you remember that movie Chocolat with Johnny Depp?  The traveling Frenchwoman who scandalizes a provincial town by opening a chocolaterie and serving a mysterious hot cocoa, which changes the lives of anyone who drinks it-


Ladies, this is that hot chocolate.  If you get a visit from Karen, be prepared.

To believe or not to believe...

Sam, our little gospel humorist, went through a rather quick cycle of faith and disbelief in that backseat of the van today-

Sam: Mom, did you know?  Jesus lives in the sky and can see us.
Sarah, unruffled:  Mmm-hmmm.  that's right.
Sam: Oh!  Hey!  I can see Jesus in the sky!
Sarah, a little nonplussed:  Oh, wow Sam...
Sam: No, I just see his shadow.
Sam, a few seconds later:  No, I don't see anything.  I was just joking.  (laughs charmingly)

ThanksChristmas

Thanksgiving this year was fan-turkey-labulous.  My family drove in town and we had quite the spread- two turkeys (which was necessary, my brothers took a leg each.  Yes.  an entire leg.)  stuffing, sweet potato casserole and soufflé, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, potato salad, deviled eggs, strawberry pretzel salad.  Okay, so I did not intend on listing the entire menu, but oh how I love food.

Hannah and Sam think that Tim and Brian are just the coolest guys ever.  It was funny to watch Sam rough house with the big boys and Hannah try to boss them around (that's right, even though she's two decades younger she knows that they're really just someone's little brothers).  It was fun playing holiday host, it made me feel all grown up.

But Friday morning Thanksgiving is over!  And you know what that means- NOT shopping!  We stayed in and put up our Christmas tree, strung the lights, hung the ornaments, and drank egg nog.  It was a good family evening.

Josh liked the tree-
What's this?

Does it taste good?

Yech!