To Light . . .

Mario Batali jarred Tomato Basil pasta sauce -- ingredients:  "Plum Tomatoes, Fresh Red Onions, Fresh Carrots, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Basil, Fresh Garlic, Sea Salt."  Period.  Really.  Buy a jar, microwave in casserole dish while 50-50 whole grain penne boils.  Mealtime!  No preservatives, pastes, or artificials.  Um, and I found it at Wal-mart.  Seriously!

Indian and Pakistani snacks at the corner gas station, and three kids (American and Haitian) sampling them (still waitin' for the day that Bay is less timid of "new").

A second self-styled hairdo by oldest daughter -- this time the ENTIRE un-do, wash, condition, and style done on her own.  And she's got some imaginative 'dos -- good for her for so many reasons!

My Dad's humor  .  .  .  Explaining the holiday of Thanksgiving to Jameson a few weeks back, "It's when we give thanks for everything we have and eat all of it in one day."

Salt and pepper popcorn.

Stuffing!  I could live contentedly the whole of Thanksgiving on stuffing alone.

"Caramel Brulee" sprinkles that, upon request, can be strewn atop the whipped cream of any latte (like, um, decaf Cinnamon Dolce).  Love them seasonal sugar crystals!

A 3rd grader who typed an original story on the computer at school today while I worked in my classroom, and she knows what "genre" means  .  .  .  came home and created "illustrations" for her tale, and set up a "writer's binder" organized into sections for "typed" and "not yet typed" stories.

A 6th grader who asked "What color is a basketball?" as she sat down to paint  .  .  .  showing thoughtfulness for coaching daddy.

Feta and spinach pierogies!

The "new" Karate Kid movie -- "Being still and doing nothing are two very different things."

Christmas greens galore, trees, ribbons, stockings, candles, soft sofa blankets -- all in place for the cozy season!

The three youngest enjoying their kids' tree in the living room -- trimming (by all four) and then playing "I spy" over the ornaments.

Humungoid dinner rolls from Covington, Indiana's "The Beef House" -- couriered to us by a traveling friend -- carbo coma!

Hot, spiced cider.

The Muppets Christmas w/ John Denver music CD.

That fresh baklava, after frozen, thaws perfectly -- scrumdillyicious!

Pictures from Bay's teacher from the Veterans' Day assembly  .  .  . My LITTLE Bay  .  .  .