Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I really meant to post last night, but the couch got the best of me! Yesterday, Scott and I hosted our very first Thanksgiving with my family. 10 years...that is how long it has been that I have gotten away with not cooking turkey dinner for a crowd. Saying that I needed to take a turn would be putting it lightly. In past years, we have either gone to Breckenridge and bought turkey dinner or my wonderful sister-in-law cooks at her house. She makes a terrific Thanksgiving feast and we have all been taking advantage of her goodness. This year it was my turn. I was really excited and totally nervous. What if the turkey made everyone sick (if it did, they haven't fessed up yet), what if the dressing tasted gross? how would I get all the food to the table and keep it warm? BTW, I haven't mention yet that I don't like to touch meat. When I am cooking for my family, I either slide the meat off the styrofoam tray right into the pan or make something veggie. Well....thank God for husbands, especially mine. He touched the turkey. That doesn't sound good, let me restate. He cleaned, stuffed, and prepared the turkey for cooking. He rocks. He also mashes potatoes. Anyway, it all went as planned. The turkey was cooked and the stuffing tasted okay. Everyone pitched in and my first Thanksgiving was a hit. Thanks to everyone for saying it tasted good! BTW, my food processor may never be the same. One word, giblets. I digress.

Paige and my niece crafting. Thanks to Stacie for bringing crafts to keep the kids busy. They had a blast!

Grandma helping out in the kitchen! She is the original Thanksgiving hostess.

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Today, Scott had the day off so we all piled into his truck and headed up to Rampart Range Rd. Last night we had a little snowfall, so the tree and ground were covered with a dusting. It was a beautiful morning to head into the mountains! We drove all the (very bumpy) way to Woodland Park with a couple stops to stretch our legs. Here are some pics of the kids playing on the rocks.

This is a picture of the steam coming off the road as we headed out of town. You can't tell but the sun was peeking out and warming everything up. Paige's hand print in the snow. That was the only picture that she wanted taken (as you can see from the above shot).

Sorry my kids look a bit disheveled. Bless their hearts..when they woke to snow they all threw on clothes and brushed teeth and headed downstairs ready to make a snowman. Not quite that much snow :) I absolutely did not forget to brush their hair. Hey- it was our day off!

Tonight, I have been working on Mason's care package. We had a lot of fun finding things to include. It all had to fit in a shoebox, so that we a fun challenge. We added a warm sweatsuit, camouflage socks (picked my Sam), a camera, hat, blocks, fruit snacks, a ball, two cars and a photo book that included our family pictures.

We have so much to be thankful for this season. Only God knows what life will bring and we are thrilled and excited to see all that He has planned for us! Please continue to keep Mason in your prayers as we wait to travel to bring him home.

Enjoy the weekend,

Jennifer

He's Baaaaack!

Every year , right around Thanksgiving, he arrives....

My mountain man.

Sometime after racing season is done, Scott quits shaving his face or cutting his hair. He keeps his face and head close to shaved most of the year so it is always a surprise when I wake up one morning and he looks like this. Still handsome! Don't worry. If you prefer clean cut Scott, he'll be back sometime after New Year's. That is when he will start training for the big race- Leadville 100. Yes, he will be running 100 miles on mountain trails.

A Family of Six

Sam, Alice and Paige are so excited to let everyone know that they are going to have a new brother!

Mason Joseph Sheng Wescott

Born: June 30, 2007

Currently residing in Henan Province, Xinxiang City Social Welfare Institute

Isn't he cute!!!!

We are hoping to travel in March (at the earliest). Please keep Mason in your prayers until we bring him home.

Much love,
Scott, Jennifer, Samuel, Alice and Paige

kicking butt, blue belts and silliness

This morning I decided that instead of donating money to the YMCA I should actually use the facilities that I am paying for. After prying Paige off my leg (we have some separation issues) and leaving her in the nursery, I geared myself up and got on the treadmill. I ran 2 miles and thought that I might die. Why is it that I could run a half-marathon in October and can't run more than two miles one month later? Shouldn't running be like riding a bike, once you've mastered it, you can do it forever. Well, I guess it sort of is. I am sure my heiny would be screaming at me if I got on my bike too! No chance of that, I am too sore! Hopefully by next week Paige will be comfortable with the childwatch again and my rearend will be comfortable with running more than a couple miles.

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Sam did it. He really did it. He earned his blue belt in karate. We are sooooo proud of him. He loves his class and has worked so hard. Way to go!


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Alice: Hey Mommy, this is what I look like when I am thinking!

I couldn't resist posting her "thinking" picture.

Tea for Two

Paige and I had a wonderful tea party this morning. She has a great imagination and we are always amazed at the smart and adorable things she thinks up. She made apple tea, oatmeal tea, peppermint candy tea, pickled tea and spicy tea (Maria, her imaginary friend, did not like that one!)

I am truly enjoying our alone time together during the day. She has always been our angel baby.

The Tooth Fairy Has Arrived

Alice 6 months old

My baby has lost her first tooth. She wiggled and jiggled it until it couldn't take it any longer. I do love those toothless grins! I miss the days when she was just getting those pearly whites. Many moons ago, I made tooth fairy pillows for my nieces and nephews but never made them for my own kids. Sam enjoys the thrill of placing his tooth under his pillow (much to the tooth fairy's dismay) and finding a monetary reward in its place. Alice decided that she would like to use my tooth fairy pillow that my mom made me oh so long ago. We hung it on her door and placed the tooth safely inside and by morning the fairy had come and gone and left a dollar in place of the tooth.

Life is really great around here. Everyone is feeling better and I am praying that the sickies are gone for a while. I am slowly taking down my Halloween decorations and getting ready for the next holiday. When your kids go to school, the holidays pretty much get lumped into one big holiday from Halloween to New Year's.

I am starting to think about my kids Christmas picture. The jammies have worked really well so far because I don't have to worry about pretty dresses getting wrinkled and shirts coming untucked. There are no socks or shoes to worry about matching. I am not sure what the likelihood is of getting three kids into their jammies for a picture again next year...but I think that I will continue until the resistance gets too strong :)

We are trying to decide if we are brave enough (or just plain stupid) to drive to MI the week after Christmas. Still to be decided....

I am hoping to give my blog a little makeover. Does anyone know of a free service that works? Did you notice I said free.

Sorry if this post is all over the place. That pretty much sums up my life :)

I hope that you all are having a great week!

Jennifer and fam

A Case of the Sickies

Back to school=sickness at home
My friend Brandie made that comment a couple weeks ago and it is so true. Two weeks ago, Paige came down with a very croupy cough that lasted a couple long days. Alice somehow picked up that germ on Tuesday. She woke up early Tuesday morning with a very similar barky cough and a fever. I kept her home for two days just to make sure that she wasn't contagious and then sent her back to school today. Very early this morning, Sam woke up vomiting and stayed home from school. We definitely have a case of the sickies. Let's all pray that Mommy or Daddy stay healthy!!! Yeah right! What are the chances of that?

Jennifer

A Great Day to Hike