Five Brown Kids

The Ricks arrived Tuesday night and along with the Cleverly's we hung out together for the rest of the week. I had so many favorite moments - here in pictures... Blythe loved walking the dog Didn't even make it to the couch, catching up with friends Ice cream because Duck Donuts was closed.  Don't worry - they all went back later Men's Movie Maddy working on her cake early so she would have time to play on Thanksgiving Turkey bowl with friends from church Courtney and the girls Matt chilling on the back deck Dinner prep - napkins Dinner prep - chocolate chip cookie dough pie and pumpkin pie Jumping while waiting for supper Tables are set More jumping Ping pong tournament going on throughout the day, Round 1 Dinner prep - rolls with Courtney Kids tables on the back deck Ginger bread house decorating after supper, gives the grown ups an hour of quiet More of the tournament, round 2 More ping pong, round 3 Black Friday biking, four miles out and four miles back Blythe atte...

I survived the Trumpocalypse.  I think it goes without saying that I was really cheering for Hillary.  I'd listened to some interviews and been to a few rallies and loved her long time service, her brilliant mind and her experience with foreign affairs.  I was also so, so excited for a first woman president.  I couldn't wait for my girls to think that was just status quo. Black presidents, woman presidents, whatever. Of course my distaste of Donald Trump was so deep on every level I could imagine.  There is nothing I like about him - least of all how he talked about immigrants, hispanics, muslims and black people. I woke up the morning after the election feeling like I'd been shot in the belly.  Taye came up and said he couldn't go to school, he felt his white friends all hated him.  And then he went back to bed.  I kept my head down and got my work of the day done - not talking to anyone.  Just still in shock and feeling so disliked by half ...

Scotia has whipped this up three times in the last month and it is so good!  Perfect dip for company.  1/2 cup olive oil 1/3 cup sugar (start with a little less and add the rest if needed) 1/3 cup white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 pound Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced 1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (11 ounce) can super sweet corn, drained  1 red onion, diced 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 1 cup chopped cilantro I n a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sugar, white wine vinegar, chili powder, and salt. Add tomatoes, black-eyed peas, beans, corn, red onion, and bell peppers. Stir to combine. Stir in cilantro. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or overnight to blend flavors. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

The girls have the sweetest little playroom all for themslves. It's done for now.  Here are a few before, middle and after photos.  Love this cozy little space for my girls to make train tracks, play barbies and babies and of course make crafts.

My parents came to visit during our October birthday week! We worked hard and played hard. I loved hiking along the river and watching Jaxon and Grandpa in an acorn war. I loved eating lunch out with my parents twice at my favorite places and shopping with my mom.  We watched Jaxon play football and Nana took Taye to a swim meet. Nana watched Scotia at dance class. We sang happy birthday and ate cake.  My parents soaked up lots of vitamin D. I loved laughing as we watched Blackish and the final debate and all the SNL debate spoofs.  And then we worked! Grandpa finished framing out the basement and we started insulating. We assembled a trampoline. Grandpa dug a hole for a basketball net and filled it with cement.   Grandpa built killer shelves in our basement storage room and hung up a leftover chandelier in there too for optimum storage room lighting.  Nana did lots of laundry and dishes - which means I didn't!  Tyron...

Scotia is 10!  To celebrate we met up with Emily and Isabelle and two friends and got manicures and ate crepes. So easy, no stress, no clean up! On Saturday we had ice cream cake after supper. Happiest of birthdays to a super fun girl!