MK's Thanksgiving Essentials

I have really enjoyed thinking and planning the details of my Thanksgiving dinner this fall.  Last year we just had little newborn baby twins so my mind, body, and soul were a little more preoccupied.  But this autumn I have been able to browse the internet for recipes, watch the Food Network for Thanksgiving cooking shows, and flip through the holiday edition of Williams-Sonoma.

I am home so often right now in this stage of my life that it has been even more fun than usual to have a little project to work and prepare for.  Thanksgiving is a lovely holiday that brings friends and families together with happy feelings of thankfulness, gratitude and delicious food.... Maybe I should have listed delicious food first.

When Adam and I were just starting our family we returned to our parent's home for Thanksgiving but as our family grew and grew we began staying home and having our own Thanksgiving meal.  I discovered how much I enjoyed cooking this delicious menu in my my own home.  I love the wonderful smells permeating the air all through out the day,  I love spending small amounts of time with my little ones in the kitchen, and I loved being able to have the whole meal have a happy and relaxed feeling.  I will always miss seeing our families on this holiday but for our own family a Thanksgiving at home is one of the many things I am thankful for.

MK's Thanksgiving Esssentials

1.  Great Holiday Music Playing-  Thanksgiving is wonderful but it is a lot of work.  It requires a great deal of time on my feet and working away in the kitchen.  I enjoy cooking but some of the scrubbing, cleaning, and washing can get a little tedious. To help I love to have great holiday on in the background.  It helps keep me happy and then later when the party begins it helps set the mood.  Ina Garten who is quite the amazing hostess talks about how much she loves having music playing when she entertains. She begins with upbeat music while guests arrive, then moves on to more mellow music to play in the background during dinner, and then back to more peppy music for dessert.  So in the hopes of being more like Ina I will continue to always strive to have have good music on for a great party.

2. Lots of Flatware-  I love having plenty of utensils on hand and in the past Thanksgivings or other big holidays I did not.  I would run out of forks because I taste tested too many items or I would stir something with a spoon and then set it in the sink to be washed before I was really done with it.  Then I would be washing forks, knives, and spoons right before dinner so everyone would have clean utensils to eat with.  This year I am completely setting the table early and I purchased some extra flatware in the hopes of avoiding this last minute scramble.

3. Some Shortcuts- I love to cook for holidays but the meals can be so large and time consuming that it is so helpful for me to have a few shortcuts.  I love my potatoes from scratch but I am also very happy to make Mrs. Cubbison's stuffing from a box or use some pre-made jarred goodness from Williams-Sonoma.  This year I purchased a dry brine mix from WS and a maple bourbon glaze for the turkey.  I hope it all turns out but I feel more confident about getting all my tasks done if I have a few shortcuts up my sleeve.

4. Table Linens- I love beautiful table linens. I don't have too many but I do love the ones that I own.  I love to spread them out and dress up my table on Sundays and holidays.  I purchased a pretty white tablecloth about a year ago and love how versatile it is.  I can use it for any holiday or event and it coordinates well .  I hope to add to my linen collection and get some tablecloths that are specific to certain holidays or seasons but until then I love my pretty little white one.

5. Great Tools-  Last year right before Thanksgiving Adam and I ventured out with the twins for our first outing.  We went to a nearby Williams-Sonoma and bravely entered the store with our two little bundles. To be honest I almost lost my nerve and didn't go in.  As we were exiting the car Michael began to make some noises that sounded suspiciously like he was thinking of crying.  I told Adam to go ahead without me, that I didn't mind sitting in the car with the twins, that I was foolish to even try going anywhere for the next 10 years, and all other manner of panic mother statements.  After a rousing pep talk from Coach Telles we all made it out of the car and to our destination.

We had a good time walking around and then purchased a few items for the upcoming holiday.   One of them was a gravy separator.  I had always wanted one because I love homemade gravy but do not love skimming the fat off the drippings.  This handy little gadget eliminated most of that less than desirable chore.  So I have decided that each holiday season I would try to pick up some extra tool for my use in the kitchen.  This year it may just be extra glass measuring cups or a good meat thermometer and another year it may be a great carving set. It's just nice knowing that with these extra items I am making my work a little easier and enjoyable.

What are some of your Thanksgiving essentials?

Telles Family Thanksgiving 2011- Salt Lake City Temple Square

Halloween Revisited

I grew up in a wonderful neighborhood but there was one small drawback.  It was not wonderful for Halloween or trick-or-treating. There were hardly any other young kids around, the houses were too far apart, and a lot of the streets nearby were huge hills.  At least they felt huge when I was walking up them on the way home from school or when my brothers and sisters and I were being chased by our neighbor's dogs.  I didn't mind too much though because there was a happy alternative for what my neighborhood lacked.

My old elementary school Scott Avenue had a yearly Halloween carnival that we kids loved.  The adults would start setting up booths for it the afternoon of Halloween.  My friends and I would hang our heads out the classroom door or peer through the windows to get a better look.  We would make plans to meet each other over by the goldfish booth and talk about all the fun we would have together.

As the years went by my school stopped doing the carnival.  Luckily, my parents came up with a great substitution.  They hosted a front yard BBQ with hamburgers, hotdogs, chili, cinnamon rolls, cookies, popcorn balls, and hot cider.  I have very happy memories of friends and family stopping by all through the evening to enjoy the great food and good times.  

Now my own cheerful little neighborhood offers all the traditional trick-or-treating grounds I could want.  There are kids running along the streets, parents pushing young toddlers in strollers, jack o' lanterns on neighbors porch, and friends stopping by to visit and admire each others costumes.  It really is such a great night here.

I love Halloween and hope my own kids have as many happy memories of this holiday as I do.

Our Families Five Favorite Halloween Traditions. 

1.  We (the kids) love to carve pumpkins together usually on the Family Night before Halloween.  

2.  We love to watch the Nightmare before Christmas the night before Halloween to help set the mood for the next day.

3.  Set out early on Halloween evening together as a family for trick-or-treating.  I actually like to go  before it gets dark.  It's safer, warmer, and I can actually see the other kids costumes.

4.  Coming on home to relax, pass out candy to other kids, and enjoy chili, hot dogs, and cinnamon rolls. Then we end the night watching Young Frankenstein together and laugh our heads off.

Annaliese- Little Red Riding Hood, Adam- Jack Sparrow, Bella Kate- Alice in Wonderland, Jake- Indiana Jones, Davy- Captain America Winter Soldier, Michael- Peter Pan, Jane- Tinker belle

Davy at his Preschool Halloween Party

5. The last tradition is not an an annual one but we all wish it was.  We always love to go to Disneyland but especially when it hosts their yearly Halloween Party.  The Park is decorated so darling with pumpkins, large autumn flowers, and cute Halloween banners overhead.  The Haunted Mansion is done up as the movie The Nightmare before Christmas which makes it even more special and interesting. And one of my favorite parts is to see so many other people dressed up in great Halloween costumes throughout Disneyland.   

Taking a ride on Mr. Toad's Motorcar

Jane and I on Dumbo.  One of us is trying not to get sick.  

Ending our night on my favorite ride. "Hurry baaack! Hurry baaack!"

Laundry and Me

I don't love Laundry.  But apparently Laundry loves me.  Like a lot.  And no matter how many times I try to end things my Laundry just won't take the hint.  I have moaned at the sight of It, I have said some terrible things about It behind It's back, I have even tried to hide from It when I see It approaching but my Laundry still won't go away. And unfortunately, the more I try to ignore Laundry the larger and more difficult our problem becomes.  I mean what else can a girl do?

Luckily I have some wonderful sisters who have learned how to handle the Laundry in their lives much better than I.  Through the years they have realized that it would be better for everyone involved if they just accepted the Laundry and try for their family's sake to make things work better between them.  When my kind sisters learned of Laundry and I's unfortunate predicament they offered me some very good advice.

1.  Just Get it Over With:  You are going to have to spend some time with your Laundry every day.  It really is best to deal with It as soon as you can each morning.  Just get the first official meeting over and done with when you first get up and things will feel easier and smoother between the two of you the rest of day.

2.  Baby Steps: It's best to start with small, easy simple things first.

• Bath Towels
• Linens
• Dish Towels
• Dark Clothing
• Brights or Lights Clothing                                  

Remember Rome was not built in a day.  These easier loads that require less time will help you feel like you are both making progress.    

3.  Use Items that only Enhance your Experience:  You want to make your time with Laundry as positive as possible.  Invest in products that you love and make you both feel good about each other.  It may cost a little extra money but it's worth it in the long run.









4.  Get the Children Involved: Our kids can definitely add to the stresses of Laundry and I but they can also be a tremendous help to the both of us.  It's wonderful to see each child spend a little time with Laundry every day building their own healthy relationship with It. Children can really breathe new life and energy into the situation.  I know it puts a smile on my face each time I see one of my kids folding and sorting away with Laundry.

5.  Save the Worst for Last:  With my Laundry and I we really seem to struggle in one particular area.  It is always a sore subject between us because it is so unrelenting, tedious and frankly requires more time and energy than I can sometimes give.  I know and understand that it is an essential part of Laundry but if I am being brutally honest it's the thing I hate the most about It.

• The Whites             

Even though the Whites are usually the most needed it is wise to leave them towards the end of the day.   That way if they become too overwhelming you can leave them in the dryer with out it holding you back from getting the other loads taken care of.  Then later when you feel up to the task you can work on them.  

I know I'm not perfect and I make plenty of mistakes when it comes to Laundry but I want things to be better between us and I'm willing to work on it. And I think that 's what really counts in the end.

Jane is doing a wonderful demonstration of how I feel when I see Laundry coming my way.

How do you feel about the Laundry in your life?  Is it the kind of relationship that one only dreams or hears about on Facebook?  Or does it mostly just feel like a lot of hard work?

List-less?

I am not an organized person by nature.  I mean Not. At. All. I'm always running late, I forget appointments, I lose things, I don't remember important tasks I should be working on.  In fact as I am writing this I just remembered an email I was supposed to send off to my daughter"s teacher this morning. Hmmmmmmmmm not so good Mary.  Like I said not an organized person.

With the arrival of the twins and another one quickly following I feel like I should be a more Together Person.  One big reason is that I am finding it harder and harder to fudge my way through this wonderful but chaotic family life without some basic human like organization skills.

 In my defense I have tried in the past.  I tried to become a list maker but apparently lists scare me. I know that may be hard to believe but it's true. When I look at a list with a bunch of tidy numbers and that smug little title of Things to do Today on top I start to panic.  I can feel my heart start to pound.  The list is sooooo long and so booooring that I immediately want to crumple it up and throw it in the trash.  I can't possibly get all that done in one day! In truth I can sometimes scrape by and get the important things done when I need to but I guess to see it written all down staring up at me in black in white is just too much for my little ol' heart to take.  I promise I'll do the work but please don't make me have to read about it too!

But I have decided to be a whole new different kind of person and go against my fundamental nature! Now I am going to be a punctual, organized, list making kind of girl.  And I have decided to try these new found skills out on this upcoming holiday Thanksgiving.

I was cruising around the Williams-Sonomas web sight for inspiration on some turkey recipes when I came across a Thanksgiving Timeline.  It assured to me that that the key to a stress free holiday was to plan ahead and stay on track.  That I could have a lovely meal prepared for my family and guests without wanting to take off in my car by myself.  It was all very convincing.

The Timeline is very detailed and probably more thorough than even the new Me wants or can be at this point in my life but it was extremely helpful.  William-Sonomas web sight was full of great recipes, fantastic tools, and entertaining knowledge that I felt that maybe with their useful Timeline that even a list-less person like myself could be the Magical, Together, and Calm Human Being I always hoped to be and give me just one more thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving Season.

The Timeline suggested going through your linens to have them all in order a few weeks before Thanksgiving.  The twins were kind enough to assist me.

Below is a link to the Thanksgiving Timeline

http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/expert-thanksgiving-tips/

It's Official

There are moments as a mom where I want to be taken seriously.  Where my kids could look at me as a person who commands such respect and authority that they wouldn't hesitate to follow my requests the moment I give them.  Unfortunately my kids have seemed to have learned to zone me out and too many times it isn't until their mommy dearest says ever so sweetly "kids!" through gritted teeth that they spring into action.....Maybe if I was taller I could command that type of respect.  My Dad was very tall and he certainly could get us many kids to scurry around and work at the drop of a word or look.

I suppose the chance of a thirty something year old woman having a major growth spurt is not too likely? No? Oh well.  I will have to come up with some other means to inspire that kind of intimidation and I think I know what it is.  A uniform.  People always look to others in uniforms for orders.  What I need is a simple but effective Mom uniform that let's my family know I mean business.  Below are the three major components that are needed for this bold fashion statement.

1. A clipboard.  I know this is not an article of clothing but accessories really do make the outfit.  A clipboard makes me think of my basketball coach, Coach Hemingway.  He would look at his clipboard, bark a few plays to the team and we would all hustle to perform.  Clipboards are great because they don't get thrown away, you can make lists quickly on them or clip down important papers and reminders, and you will look very official as you flip through them and rattle of instructions to your kids.  Look even the twins, bless their little hearts, look like they are doing serious work with a clipboard in hand.

2.  An apron.  I cannot think of anything more useful than an apron with pockets. It saves my clothes from total destruction and  I am constantly finding odds and ends around the house and put them in my large pocket to be sorted and put away whenever I may get a minute.  I also found having a spot for diapers, wipes, tissues, and other needed items while my hands are very full with my twins to have really come in handy lately. An apron also lets others know you are a helper and a worker.  My own mother wears aprons to do her shopping or run errands in and people are constantly assuming she works there and asking her for help.  She is a very cheerful little lady who is happy to assist in any way she can even though she herself is just a customer.  Everyone loves a person who is helpful and ready to be of service so aprons are an absolute must this season.

3.  Shoes.  Shoes can make or break a person's ensemble and the Mom Uniform is no different.  I need the right pair of shoes on my feet to let me and others know it is work time.  Bare feet are great but bare feet are for beach time, lounging time, or bed time but certainly not for let's get a move on it time.  In the morning I usually put on work out clothes and my running shoes and even though those two things may never happen those articles of clothing help me get my morning work done.  Later when I am dressed to head out for the day I usually wear comfortable flats. With any size of family there is a lot of work to be done and I cannot possibly hope to take command of this work without shoes on.

There you have it.  My Mom Uniform.  Inexpensive and comfortable. Versatile and stylish.  Simple yet effective. So if you ever feel like you need to look more Official and In Charge I would highly recommend the Mom Uniform....or you could just be tall.  Either one works.

Introductions are in Order

"How do you do a shake hand, a shake hand, a shake hand? Oh, how do you a shake hand? You state your name and business.  That's manners."
This silly quote is from the Disney movie Alice in Wonderland. Poor bewildered Alice is being instructed by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb on the proper etiquette of what to do when two people meet for the first time.  And although their names certainly don't inspire much confidence in their intellect they actually were dead on for the details of introductions. So in the spirit of Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, let's introduce ourselves and shake hands.  I'm sure we are going to be great friends.

Hello, my name is Mary Kate and I have seven children and am currently expecting number 8.  This sounds slightly like a confession one would give at a meeting for those with troubling addictions and I suppose having 7 kids including 1 year old twins and another on the way could count as having an excessively bad habit but in this blog we will only see having a big family as the best and wisest thing a girl could do.

I actually really do love being a mom to a large brood. And the more kids I have the more I love it.  I can't help it. It's in my blood.  I am the youngest of 10 kids.  I have 7 sisters and 2 brothers.  Being the youngest of such a sized family definitely has it's benefits.  I am the lucky recipient of decades of practical advice on Motherhood from my very experienced mother and many sisters who had children before me. This information and hands on research is invaluable to me because I really do need all the help I can get!

Now onto to stating my business. The purpose of this little blog is to make a feeble attempt (for future references those are the only kind of attempts I make) on documenting this wonderfully useful practical knowledge.  Family life can be such a chaotic, messy, unpredictable, nonsensey,  and challenging endeavor that if I can make it through all that Realness without losing my head like little Alice in the story than I will count myself a success.   So thank you so much for stopping by.  It was lovely to meet you.