Gobble Gobble

Turkey day was a success! We celebrated at Nana's house in Leucadia this year. It was the 1st time that we have ever had Thanksgiving there, and it was so nice. Nana passed a few months ago and we all know that she would have loved to have been there (not to see the mess, just to enjoy the company!). I actually didn't stuff myself this year, probably because I was too busy making sure the kids eat to eat myself....
We had smoked turkey, bourbon sweet potatoes, corn pudding, broccoli gorgonzola casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and of course a jello salad (in memory of Nana), apple cranberry currant pie, ginger pear crisp, pumpkin pie....anyone hungry?

Desert Weekend

We packed the family up and headed North East to Yucca Valley to visit the McBride's this past weekend. It was a quick trip, but a nice visit. Mason loved riding his bike on the dirt roads...definitely more of a remote atmosphere than he is used too! It sure is a different world out there. While taking a walk we found these HUGE footprints on the dirt road. Was it Big Foot? or do they really have Aliens out there? We lucked out with the weather, it was beautiful! While we were there we celebrated Miller's birthday & Big Papa's birthday.






On our way home we stopped by The Vanderhorst's house in Riverside (aka the "new" family). The kids had a blast playing together, and I won't lie... the adults did too:) Tim roasted pork, made the best Bacon Jalapeno Poppers, and we put back a few beers (& tequila shots..thanks Aimee!). We always have so much fun with them:) THANKS GUYS!

Happy 1st Birthday Miller

Wow- how time flies! Miller is one years old today. I feel like this year went by so fast. I find it hard to belive my baby is one. Miller sure has changed a lot in the past year (duh..), but really in the past few weeks! He has come into his personality. He has always been a very "easy" baby...content with a few toys, some snacks, a bottle, or just someone paying DIRECT attention to him. Lately, he has learned to scream when he wants something and cry when someone takes something away. He LOVES his brother, balls, balloons, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, watermelon, music, pulling himself up on anything, & bathtime. He HATES to sleep in, have you feed him, baby food, & grabby kids! He is such a joy for us and we can't wait to see how he really comes into his personality this year (or can I??). Here are a few pictures.. THEN and NOW. Happy Birthday Mill-dog.






We had a small family birthday party at our house last night. Grandma made a Train Cake! She spent hours and hours on this thing and we can't say THANK YOU enough!! What an amazing cake. Grandma "Bama" will do anything for her little Miller:) Thank you MOM!! you continue to out-do yourself!

"Change" is upon us...

November has been a month of "change." We have heard it on the radio, seen it on tv, and read it in the papers. I feel like we have undergone a lot of change this past week too. Not only do we have a new President now (yea Obama!), but we (the McBride family) has also had a change in our daily lives. With the change in time, we now get up at 5:30am, we now eat dinner at 5pm and try to get the kids in bed by 6:30-7pm. Long gone are the days of riding bikes, going to the pool, or playing with the neighbors until 8pm! We have had a change in wardrobe..one day we are wearing rain gear, the next we are at the beach in trunks & bathing suits. We have had a change in our daycare bill:) Miller started going with Mason 2 days a week to Shuckleberries, which both boys love, but our bank account doesn't! We are also about to have a "change" in neighbors...which is the worst of the changes this month. Our great neighbors, friends, cocktail hour & poker buddies are packing up and moving... yes, it may only be 2 miles away but they won't be right across the street anymore. I told Mason the other day that his friend Scotty will be moving next week, and he looks up at me with these sad eyes and says, "Mom, that is sooo sad." ahhhhhh... Wilke's, we will be crashing your new cul-de-sac, so tell all your neighbors that you come with baggage!

One more big change is about to happen too... Miller is turning 1 next week! Where has the time gone?

We hope all of our friends & family are enjoying the change of the seasons (well not really in So.Cal), the change of our President, and whatever other changes are going on out there. I have always remembered my parents telling me... "change may not always be easy, but it is usually always for the best."