Hello, Fellow Blogmates!

As most of you know I'm on a newblogging adventure on my other blog http://corbellicooking.blogspot.com/. It's something I really enjoy and hope you wouldn't mind checking it out. Even more so, please feel free to become a follower of it since I only have 1 right now. I think Emma just follows because she's new to this and let's face it, just because I'm Mom :) I will continue with this blog for more family updates and other farm family fun :) Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New year!
Love,
Jen

Tribute to David Letterman's top 10 countdown.

Top 10 reasons you know it's cold in Iowa!

#10 Grocery stores offer drive you service to load your groceries in your trunk.

#9 Kids want to wear heavy coats, hats, gloves, scarves, ski masks, etc.

#8 You leave your beer and soda out on the deck to stay icy cold.

#7 When you dump your cup of ice water in the parking lot and find the same ice cubes there the next day.

#6 The drive to school/work seems more like a giant Slip and Slide from snow covered roads.

#5 Suddenly the always perky newscasters become and an angry mob over the meteorologist's 7 day forecast.

#4 You know it's cold in Iowa when people from here say, "It's chilly out there!"

#3 When you have to sit in your car while filling up at the gas station.

#2 When the hot Starbucks coffee you bought mere minutes ago is now an iced coffee.

And the #1 reason you know it's cold in Iowa......

You just fired up the John Deer snow blower in preparation for Tuesday's blizzard!!!!

An Iowa Thanksgiving

Days, weeks, ok maybe even months before the holidays were coming, I wondered what they would bring. This was a first for me. A first Thanksgiving without extended family. I have been blessed in years past by spending the holiday with either my side of the family in Scottsdale or with Dan's side in Colorado Springs. All have been memorable and wonderful family celebrations. So good in fact I wondered how I'd make it through my first without them. I knew it was going to be hard, what I didn't know is how special it was going to become. Tradition has held a special spot in our family gatherings and it was now our turn to form our very own. Even our morning greeting of Thanksgiving wishes were special in itself. We greeted each other almost as if it was Christmas morning. Instead of rushing downstairs to open gifts, we rushed to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was the first year the kids truly appreciated it. And I might add, watched it until Santa sent his merry wishes. I have roasted turkey in the past and found out (by mistake) that cooking them upside down makes for a delicious, juicy turkey. This year I switched it up a bit and took some tips from TV shows and my favorite, TV Food Network. So while the actual cooking for Thanksgiving began several days earlier for me it was time to put the icon of the day in the oven. This gave way to some free time and quality family time. We played board games, watched football and sat over some tasty appetizers. The day couldn't have ran any smoother. We decided to break from the eating early tradition and sat down to our feast and our normal dinner time. What a feast! While I have to say hands down my grandma makes the best stuffing, mine might have come a close second ;) The kids and Dan were so gracious with their compliments on our dinner. I felt so proud to have done it, with the help of my wonderful hubby. He came through this day for me with shining colors and I couldn't be more grateful. His help in the kitchen was a blessing especially come cleaning time but it doesn't surpass the support he gave throughout the day. Dan was the official ring leader and kept the day flowing with fun, laughter and a Thanksgiving Day Grace my grandma would be proud of. I know I sure was and it just may have been the one of many highlights of "Our 1st Iowa Thanksgiving!" Now Christmas is near and though some family is far, I know how special Dan, Noah & Emma really are!