Papa's Birthday Party

Bug threw a birthday party for Papa last week. She made her own party hats and wrapped up Papa's sweaty work hat and stinky shoes for presents. The best part was the cupcakes: slippers filled with underwear. Yummy!

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving, full of fellowship and fun. We had a great one. It was my first Thanksgiving to host at my house and do the cooking. I called my mom about 20 times for little bits of kitchen wisdom. After the first few calls, she started answering the phone with "Turkey Hotline, how may we help you?" I really think there is a market for such a venture.

There was only one big mishap. When making the gravy, I put hot broth and flour in a jar and it exploded all over the kitchen. I am still wiping it up today. How exciting.

Somehow, it all came together and there was a beautiful meal to serve. A lovely local, pasture raised turkey, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, beans, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole (that seriously tasted like candy), green salad, my grandma's refrigerator rolls... and of course pumpkin pie and derby pie. The traditional spread.

My sister and brother in law were here, and my niece and nephew. The kids had alot of fun running up and down the hall and shooting matchbox cars down the staircase.

Papa spent the morning with the girls decorating for Thanksgiving. They made a whole little village complete with a pilgrim family,a log cabin made of popsicle sticks, kachina dolls, and animals. The best of all was the tipi made from toothpicks and grocery bag. We put pinon incense in it and it smoked! It was a hit.

We have alot to be thankful for, on Thanksgiving and every other day too....

Music night

We have started having music nights on Mondays and Fridays, so come on over and have a good ol' time picking and grinning.

Oh yes, our son...

And here is the rowdiest member of the family, Sammy the Dog. When he isn't knocking the children down and harassing them, or chewing on precious household items, he is actually quite sweet and lovable. Favorite things: 5 gallon buckets, belly rubs, cow manure, screaming children, and digging holes.

this is a picture from Dress up day at Ballet Class. Of course, Mama had no idea is was dress up day so Bug was the only kid without a costume. I DO have an excuse though, we had been out of town for two previous weeks, plus another week that I totally spaced out. I was terrified of the biggest meltdown in Earth's history when we got there, but Mrs. Virginia saved the day. I looked at her and let her know Bug didn't have a costume, and she crouched right down and with amazement in her voice she said "wow, you dressed up like the most beautiful ballerina I have ever seen!" Bug was sparkling. She pranced around the rest of the day showing off her ballerina costume. They did a pumpkin dance that was about the cutest thing I have ever seen. Nothing cuter than a bunch of little kids in costumes dancing like pumpkins.
The best thing about little girls in leotards: thier underwear always sticks out!

Pig Race

A few weeks ago, the girls and I went to Schusters Playtime Farm. We played at the playground, in a sandbox filled with corn, jumped from a hay jump, went on a hayride, watched the pumpkin cannon, rode on the barrel train, etc. etc. By far, the most excitement came from the pig race! It was hilarious. There was a guy calling it, like a horse race. They had names like: Kevin Bacon and Arnold Swartzenhogger.

Good times.

Let us introduce ourselves...

This is Mama and Papa. Ok, so we don't usually look this nice. This is on our 5th anniversary (yes, I know that was 1 1/2 years ago, I can't find a more recent picture of the two of us, and that is very sad) In the picture we are inside the very tippy top of the capitol building in Madison, WI.

These lovely little insects are our daughters. The 4 year old we will call "bug." I don't know why, i just feel nervous about using our real names on this blog. Maybe i am paranoid. We have always called her bug, since she was tiny. She also loves anything creepy and crawly. They received these costumes from Granny, and have been wearing them nonstop, to nap time, to the grocery store, to the park, etc. When Bug was little she called ladybugs "lake a bugs." It was so cute. The 2 year old we will call muffin. Thats a name that stuck from her first day also. And it fits, because she is truly as sweet and cuddly as a muffin. Although, if you asked her, she would insist that her name is actually "Princess Muffin."

I have always wanted to start a blog, for the main purpose of keeping our families up to date with all the adventures of the Sanford family. My vision is that I will periodically add new pictures, snippets of our daily lives, funny things the girls say to me, or occassionally a ranting journal entry from Mama on the days she feels like throwing in the towel.

I hope you enjoy.