Mateja Decorates Christmas 2008

This year we got a tree!

It's one of my favorite things to do each year - tradition. We've only done it twice before this since we got married, but I hope it continues as one of our traditions. I guess it kind of reminds me of home.







Mateja is old enough to help decorate the tree this year. We didn't have one last year because of Ari. She was getting into everything. Mateja & I had lots of fun.







My big girl... :)

Traditional Pumpkin Pies from Scratch

Today was the day! We hacked into our pumpkin.

The girls were sooo excited to get the process started.

They couldn't use the knives of course, but were able to help scoop the seeds out and place the cut up pieces into the pans.

We'll be taking a pie to the annual Thanksgiving feast @ my Aunt's home. We'll also keep some here. There's so much pumpkin that we're going to make muffins tomorrow as well as a batch or two for Thanksgiving. I'm thinking about making some pumkin bread too and maybe some soup this week and then... we'll have to stick the rest into the freezer! I'm sure it'll come in handy this winter when I'm craving more pumpkin muffins & the girls can help bake. They love being in the kitchen!

Beach Time in October (must be California)

Family time @ the beach today. Also picked out our pumpkins. It actually was cold (to me). The beach in October isn't really MY scene, but the girls love it and so does Nathan.

We took the girls to a nearby "pumpkin patch" to each pick out a pumpkin of their own. We also picked up a beautiful pie pumpkin - wish I knew what it was acutally called. It'll serve as a center piece till closer to Thanksgiving. Then we'll bake pumpkin pies (and muffins and whatnot) from scratch. Something I do every year right around Thanksgiving. Who doesn't? Yummy!

Afternoon conversation

Today's after nap conversation between Teja & me went something like this:

Teja: Mom, I know how to swim. But I don't really like to go under the water.

Me: Oh really?

Tej: Yeah, Daddy taught me last summer. But I don't really like to go under the water yet. I don't really know how to do that.

Me: Oh honey, that's OK. You're going to learn this summer.

Tej: Yeah, but I don't like to do that. I get kinda scared when I get water in my eyes and then I can't see.

Me: But honey you're gonna learn this summer.

Tej: I am? But how?

Me: Well your daddy will teach you and-

Tej: Yeah, but I don't really like it. I'm kinda scared of going under the water.

Me: But honey you'll learn how to deal with that. You know why? Cuz you're four now. You're a big girl. And you'll learn how to-

Tej: But Mom, did you know that if you go under the water and you can't breathe you will die. Right? You have to breathe but if you're under the water you'll get dead when you sink.

Me: Well, you do need to breathe in order to live, yes. But when you go under the water you learn how to hold your breath. You don't stay down there for a long time. Just a little time.

Tej: Well, I think I'll learn how to go under water when I'm six. OK? Can I go watch Tom and Jerry?

~ and that pretty much settles it.