Kids home, Turkey prep, and type

The boys are home from school for the rest of the week, and I always love that. Time to just hang out and have fun.
Matthew and Alyssa were playing "house" this morning, but they didn't call it that. Alyssa was the mom, and Matthew was the teenager. Tyler didn't feel like playing this time, but often he's the dad.
From down the hall, I could hear Alyssa reprimanding, "Teenager, you have 2 choices...either you can go watch a show, or come play with me."

I just think it is funny that she addresses him as, "teenager" and he just calls her mom. She also tells me that we "have to go to the stoy to get moy food." Also that she is a goy not a boy.

I walk into the kitchen where Tyler asks if they can each have a cupcake, which interpreted is pumpkin bread in a cupcake paper (made 'em last night). Matthew lights up and says, "can I have a Kitkat instead?" I quickly say no and accept the cupcake plead.

I dance around singing Beyonce's new single, because I just saw her movin' and groovin' on the Today Show (I never get to watch it, but I had a lazy morning in bed because I can). "If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it....Put your hands up!" To which Tyler puts his hands to the floor and proclaims each Wednesday opposite day. I just wanna dance like Beyonce...I wanna grab my dancin' girlfriends and figure out those steps.....

The boys were excited to go to Alyssa's dance class and so was she. It was fun to complete the group since usually I go with just Alyssa and I like other people to see I actually have 2 other children, too. (It's like going to the store alone and chatting with someone about children when they ask if you have any...yes I actually have 3). She twirled and Matthew laid his head on my lap while I scratched his back and neck and they smiled at their little sister.

We were supposed to head home to treat my out of town friend Natalie to lunch with her little boys, but she called late last night to say she wasn't coming after all. I had even borrowed a Panini press for delectable sandwiches. So instead, we lunched at jason's deli--the boys just wanted ice cream cones, so I said..."hey, why not?" It's less $$$ I have to pay, and they were surely happy with 3 ice cream cones for lunch. I like to have memorable days off:)

We also hit up Target where the boys spent their money on Pokemon cards. Pains me, but hey, its their cash. I also got Wall-E which we plan to enjoy sometime in the next 5 days. We even ran into our friend Liz with cute baby Eva in the parking lot as we

We ran into HEB for just 3 items and at noon, it was pretty packed.

I got home to find a package on my front porch addressed to me! I saw who it was from and I knew what it was, and I was SO excited! Colette made me a cool fall craft (per my request) and I'm going to hang it for Turkey day. I got the idea here. She did a GREAT job! Yipeee! After a favor I did for her, she did this favor for me:)

Once inside, the boys wanted to earn back their binder of Pokemon cards, that have been in the "sad bag" for over a month. They have to do an extra job of service in order to earn toys that have been taken away for some reason or another. Fortunately for me, I needed a few jobs done before hosting people tomorrow, so Matthew cleaned the kids bathroom while Tyler mopped the kitchen. Hooray for kids!

I began the Thanksgiving preparations by pulling out the turkey and beginning the Brine. I found a recipe I'm excited about, and after pulling out the guts and transfering from one ice chest to another and washing my hands a few times in between, the turkey was resting and soaking for the day. I then made yummy cranberry sauce from the berries. I always thought you had to plop it out of the can, and I didn't like that slimy stuff. But last year, my sis in law had it fresh and I LOVED it! So, after checking out the Ocean Spray website, I found the basic version and made it.

Michael came home at 2pm and after a stint with the kids at the park, I worked a bit on the food calendar I'm helping make with a friend, and our family plopped down to watch Wall-E.
Matthew was nervous of bad guys and did ok until the scary music came on foreshadowing danger. We cuddled on the couch and celebrated Wall-E.

Then we had Panini's for dinner.
I took Alyssa with me to Liz's house to borrow a thermometer. Then we stopped to drop off something to Michelle K. and I'm SO glad I talked to her because she helped me to realize that I need to cook my 22lb. turkey for SIX hours, not the 3 hours I was intending, per the 12lb. turkey instructions. I hope I sleep okay tonight. Crossing my fingers that my first turkey turns out well.