We gobbled till we wobbled

We hosted my family for Thanksgiving Dinner. We had a total of 12 for the meal & 26 were here for desert.



We saw this technique of pulling the skin from the meat & inserting seasoned frozen butter beneath the skin. Ken was in charge of that grossness!!!

Our long tiny dining room actually fit 12 people around the tables. Although when my lil brother Aaron & his girlfriend Trish came we had to come around to the back door. LOL

The table & set & ready for forageing. We used my Mom's silverware which was ultra special. Before the meal guests relaxed in the living room. My brother Darryl is in the recliner, behind him are Ken's Grandparents, then seated on the couch closest to the window is my sister's fiance Ernie, my sis Laurie & my brother Mike.

Ken & Darryl chit chattin in the kitchen

On the love seat are my brother Kelly on the right & my brother Joe on the left. And on the couch you can get a glimpse of Mike, Laurie & Ernie's face.

Ken thought the turkey was over-done. But I thought it was yummalish. The whole butter under the skin thing browned it up nicely.

More chillaxin before the meal

My Mom-in-law Jeanne & me gabbin away

See why Aaron & Trish had to go to the back door to get in? On the left side of the table we have :my mom in law Jeanne, Father in law Bill, Joe, barely see Mike's shirt & Ernie. At the head of the table is my sis Laurie then on the right side of the table we have my brother Darryl, Kelly, Ken's Gpa & Gma. Ken bopped himself out of his chair for this pic....the wanker!!!

After the meal extravaganza. In this pic is Jim (my real dad) my lil brother Aaron in the black shirt, behind him is my lil brother Jimmy & Aaron's g/f Trish on the couch & in the front with the black shirt is my youngest brother Jesse.

On the left side is Joe, Laurie, ernie, sis in law Kim (my brother Pat's wife) their kiddos Jessica, Jeremy in the orange & Jon in the blue hat. In front of Jon is my brother Mike then my brother Pat is standing against my treadmill. Pat is talking to the top of Darryl's head & Kelly is finding something funny, Then we have Gpa & Gma Krause.

My brother Kelly sent me pics he took of the day. I'm trying to figure out how to upload that album still to post on here.

All & all it was a fanfreakingtastic Gobble till we wobbled Day!!!

Thankful Thursday Goes White

WOOOOHOOOO Total excitement! Woke up this morning & it was snowing, went outside, shoveled our front, Nelson's, & Al's. this afternoon, go out to shovel again...snowing, suppertime...yup, it was snowing. It's now almost 11pm & guess what kids? It's SNOWING!!!! =)

Before I go on I have to mention a miracle hapened today!! Well somewhat of a miracle!! As I was doing the shoveling before dinner Mr Nelson was outside shoveling. The Nelson's haven't talked to us since the annual block party. See, they don't like the other neighbors & well, Ken & I are friendly with everybody. Sooooo since we are friends with the "enemies" we were ousted. This whole thing has been going on since August. The dirty looks, ignorance...yeah, I won't go into all of it. Well I do sooo enjoy shoveling so I did theirs & went nuts going down the block. Well, back to the story here...(focus Kathy, focus) Tonight he came up & talked to me!!! In a very nice fashion & we had a nice chit chat!! Can you even imagine the skittleriffic-ness of that!!! Yup, it was pretty swellacious if I do say so meself =)

Doesn't this just SCREAM angel in the snow? Yup, I think so too!!! I must thank my neighbor Bob for snowblowing tonight. My arms were getting sore from all the shoveling.

It's really fluffy flakes, non snowman makin material...but maybe we'll get more & be able to make one this weekend. Or go sledding =)

Check out the banks already!!! Fantasticness right!!!! =) The temptation of ploppin my fannie in the bank is ever so tempting!!!

The truck wasn't driven today...I say she has a good foot on it.

Tomorrow I've got my day cut out for me...snowblowing!!!! =) Ahhh the many things to be thankful for!!!

Thankful Thursday Strikes Again

Ya know, I haven't done a "Thankful Thursday" post in some time. I think my posts reflect on my thankfulness though. But tonight I want to address how thankful I am to be an American.

I have probably at one point in time taken being born an American for granted. I have always been proud to be an American though. I bet some may know where I'm going with this...How Mrs Obama is "for the 1st time proud to be an American" Well that urks me to no end.

I know the country is in a mess right now but can you imagine how much worse it could be & is in other countries? I know I am very fortunate to have been born in a hospital, have food, shelter, clothing, family...not all countries have this. I was privileged to attend school & college too. In some countries that is not possible. We as women have the right to vote, and be anything we want to be. Those rights have always been there for my generation. It's our forefathers who fought for us to have that right. I think some people take that for granted.

Most people know who I voted for & I'm honored I was able to voice my opinion in the form of a vote. It wasn't the outcome I had hoped for, but I will always support my country & my President...even in the bad times. Mr Obama sure has his work cut out for him. I think if one is for the 1st time proud to be an American perhaps they should do some thinking...if you weren't an American you would not have had the opportunity to vote, attend College, have babies in safe places, have schools for your children, safe water, shelter, etc etc. I was very privileged to have been born in this country & have ALWAYS been & will ALWAYS be proud & thankful to be an American.

Thankful Thursday

I have been so excited all day to post my Thankful Thursday post. Well, it's now officially Thursday so here goes.

I have been feeling rather swell this week! That my friends rocks my socks out loud! Knock on wood, so far this week I have no major attacks & the bathroom has NOT been my best friend!! With feeling this swell I have been able to acomplish oodles of things around the house. I kinda sorta feel like the old me!! I hope it lasts...

I very seldom call people who I don't talk to on a regular basis. The reason one may wonder is because I am not used to their voices & get tired of asking them to repeat themselves. On yucky blucky MM days I do not talk on the phone. My ears don't allow me to understand. So having such wunnaful days is a HUGE thing for me. Anyways, seeing I was having such a swell day I decided to surprise my friend Jewel with a phone call. She lives in Indiana & I have not seen her since we graduated in 94. We used to be good buds in grade school. I've also only spoke to her one other time on the phone since then. So actually speaking to her was pretty ultra fabulous!!!

I also phoned my friend Kristin tonight. This like, never happens. Krissy only lives in Gladstone but it seems we never see each other. I plan on popping into her work for a surprise visit soon. She's a beautician so I'm thinkin she could perform some miracles with my crazy hair!!

I also visited our local Farmers market today & picked up some corn stalks for decorating the front yard & porch, 15 bartlett pears & two large bags of assorted apples. I brought one bag to my real dads house. Oh, and a gynormous pumpkin!! I'm totally stoked to use my Mom's fun applesauce making gadget again!

After chit chatting with Krissy I chit chatted online with my cousin Mandy who lives in Seattle. We got to talking more & more. My fingers were getting tired from typing so I gave her a jingle as well. I haven't talked to her in eons. So catching up via phone was awesome!! While chit chatting with her Ken called. Even he was amused at my chatty Kathy skills tonight.

One more thing...if I may...game 1, Red Sox , post season, Papelbon pitching, bottom of the 9th, BOSOX leading 4 to 1...BAM! SHAZAM! COWABUNGA DUDE!!!! BOSOX win game 1!!! SHAAAAWING!!!


I know this post is rather blah. The hugest thing is I feel fabulous & it's allowing me to do so many things!!! Including being a major telephone hog, staying up half the night watching a baseball game & just feeling peachy!! And guess what? That rocks my SOX!!

Autumn is here!!

Today is a much better day than yesterday. I'm still a bit on the upset side. But nowhere near the state I was in yesterday...which is a good thing!!


We are still going camping this weekend & we hope to make the best of the situation...we'll see what happens.


Anyways, today is Thankful Thursday!! Instead of focusing on one thing I'm gonna let my scatterbrain lead the way.



I recently joined Facebook & have reconnected with oodles of friends from high school & college!!! I totally stole, I mean borrowed this photo from my brothers facebook photo album. I don't have a copy of this photo. But now I do!! It's of the 10 of us Pepin kids taken at my brother Darryl's 25yr Jubilee celebration. It's not too often you get all 10 of us in one place!!

Back Row: left to right Christine, Darryl, Bruce, Joe, Jim (he's my real Dad)
Front Row: left to right Pat, Mike, Laurie, Kelly & me

Yeah, in this photo we are lined up according to age =)











My most favoritist season is Autumn. The U.P. is by far one of the best places to spend the season! New England area comes pretty darn close, if not tied with Yopper Land. The cool mornings that turn into sunshiney afternoons & crisp evenings is by far the best! Some other favorite Fall things are:














Homemade turkey noodle soup on a cool Fall night











Quirky scarecrow on the fence & Pumpkins

and don't forget the foliage in reds, yellows & oranges!!

The smell of cinnamon, a pumpkin scented candle

Apple season!

Wearing jeans & sweatshirts

The smell...yes, I do enjoy the smell of Fall, even the dead rotting leaves

The fact I'm not getting swampy butt from being hot. and no, my heine does not smell like a swamp!!

cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds

bonfires & smore's

The Upper Peninsula offers some fantastical aurora borealis (northern lights) shows. If you have not witnessed the northern lights, you best get your fanny up here in the fall! It's amazing! It also seems like there are more shooting stars in the Fall. Sitting outside gazing at the stars is something we enjoy.

Knowing Christmas is right around the corner. Which reminds me! We will have two additions to our household this Christmas!! We, I mean I will be adding 2 more big trees to our home this year!! No clue where they will be put yet but holy stokage!!! November 1st begins the decorating spree!!

Next weekend Ken & I are going to go to Garden, MI to attend the Fall festivities at Fayette. We've never been to it but holy beans! Totally can't wait! After that we are stopping at the apple orchard. I foresee batches of applesauce in my very near future! OH! And at the orchard they have a used book store! So we know where Kaffy's silly self will be!! Ahhh the smell of old books!

Being in the U.P. we have oodles upon oodles of trails & places to hike & explore. Especially for geocacheing! What better way to spend a day! Pack a couple sandwiches, some cider & snacks & head into the forest on a treasure hunt. Don't forget the GPS!! Feel the crunch of the leaves under your feet, look up at the foliage, breath in the crisp air. Guess what's also neato about this? It's FREE! And fun!!

Be sure to get out & enjoy your Fall season!! Before we know it'll be snowing!!

Little toes in my home

Today was a fantabulastic day! It just so happens today is also Thankful Thursday & I have sooo much to be thankful for!!

I spent the day with a very special kiddo. I am not at liberty to say her real name. But she's a family member's foster kiddo. Having her is such a joy! In fact we had been tryingto adopt her for some time. But as our luck always goes...it's a no -go for a number of reasons I care not to discuss right now.

So back to today. She arrived here around 3:30 this afternoon. We took a walk to the park, then around the block, she played with the dogs & cats & was so excited watching the fish swim in our tank. Then I had her help me make frozen pizza. It was a plain ole cheese one so we added some pepperoni. Then she helped make juice. Much of the water ended up on the counter. She began splashing her lil fingers in it. Oh what fun!! We painted her toe nails, went outside with the sidewalk chalk & drew, read a few books & colored. Then she goes "Kashy lets for a walk in the stwower. Translation Kathy let's go for a walk in the stroller. How stinkan cute is that!!! So we did that. Shortly after we got home I got the call she was goign to be picked up soon. So you know what we did? We bounced on the couch! Well not me, but her. Total fun-ness!!!

Even though things did not work out as we hoped with the adoption stuff I am so thankful this lil peanut is in our lives! She totally rocks my socks!!

Thankful Thursday Week 2

Today is Thankful Thursday...I have hmmmed a haaa'ed about this all week as if I should continue this. Well today my Thankfulness's' are going to be in a list form. In this list I will include memories I have with each & every one of my siblings . Now, keep in mind there are some siblings I don't know all too well. Especially my biological Mom's 2 kids. Be prepared...this may take some time as I have oodles of siblings!!!! Now in order of their age...I present to you...

MY SIBLINGS =)

1. Christine...I didn't know Chrissy growing up much. She was already married & moved to Montana by the time I came around. Or at least that's what I remember. Every Christmas Chrissy would send a package home chocked full of home made cookies & goodies for the family. After Mom & Dad died a bunch of us flew out to Montana to visit Chrissy. The other's went on a hike somewhere in the woods while Chrissy & I stayed at her house...her "aunt flo" was visiting. So going out amongst possible Grizzly Bears was NOT a good idea. That's when I truly got a grasp what "aunt flo" meant! LOL On that same trip we all went white water rafting. Something I will NEVER do again!! Chrissy made it funny though. Especially when she bounced out of the raft. She's actually a hoot & says some off the wall stuff. I could say a few more things but they are pretty personal. I'll say one thing though...sauna....
2. Darryl...He was also already out of the house & at Seminary by the time I came along so he & I don't know each other as much as some of the others. BUT...He has mad skills at singing Miss Piggy & The "All In The Family" theme song!! Especially Edith Bunker!!!! I have never been one to be all huggy/kissy but Darryl was one to come in the house & give out hugs to everybody...including his filthy dirty kid sister. Well, all I cared to do was play, play, play. No time for kisses. So when he kissed me I started sticking out my tongue. Now if I knew then what I know know....ISH!! I french kissed my brother!! GROSSS!! Gag me with a spoon!! One summer afternoon I took little hunks of wood & a nail & made carvings of pictures & as far as I know Darryl still has his. Sooo silly!!!
3. Bruce...Now this man is one of my hero's. Not to say any of my other family members are not great people. Bruce is exponential at being a human being. He's an amazing brother, listener, husband & father & Grandpa. He's one tough guy but also has the biggest heart of any man I know. His commitment to his marriage is inspiring. Each year Bruce, his wife Donna & their two boys Dave & Jay went to Great America for a vacation. I was so lucky & they'd take me along!!! How stinkan awesome is that!!! One of my fave memories of him was at one of our family get togethers he & a handful of us stayed up till who knows when making up songs as my brother Pat strummed his guitar. Another time was heading to camp for the night & we sat outside in lawn chairs until 4 in the morning watching shooting stars.
4. Joe...Joe was also out of the house by the time I came along. He gives the biggest hugs that ever existed. At times you think your toe nails are going to come out of your nose when you get a "Joey hug" When I was young what I remember most is Joe sitting at the piano playing Christmas songs & Dave, Jay & Myself singing along. Perhaps he had a lil to do with my love for Christmas Carols. He also played at Church masses (still does) and when I was a kid he was behind a screen. Well after Mass we'd go to his lil corner. For some reason I always thought that was pretty cool. Like hiding behind the screen during mass...LOL
5. Jim... Jim is not only my brother but he's also my biological Dad. It was his parents that adopted me when I was a baby. He's hella funny!! For lack of better words!! He has his own lil language. Says "Breferse" instead of breakfast...totally cracks me up!!! Jim would come see me on the weekends when I was a kiddo. Sometimes we'd go for a ride in his big ole blue pickup truck. Sometimes he'd give me a quarter & I'd run to Norm's store & get what else? CANDY!!!. After Mom & Dad died I moved with Jim & his wife Donna. Jim & I would take Saturday afternoon trips to camp & munch on Pringles & squirt cheese. One of my favorite memories. Just a few weeks ago we had the opportunity to make more memories & went on a canoe trip. It was a complete BLAST & I'm so thankful we were able to share that!!!!
6. Pat...He's the guitar player in the fam & he's flippen fantabulastic at it!!! When I was a kiddo he & his wife would pick me up & we'd mow his lawn...which I totally LOVED!!! I was never allowed to operate the mower at home so doing it at Pat's was a treat. Ohhh, and after the mowing was finished we went to John's U.S. Gas station & he bought me a Hershey's chocolate bar!! YUM!! Then I'd spend the night. I stood as flower girl in his & Kim's wedding when I was 5. I still have the dress!!! Watching a Packer game with Pat has never been boring!! Actually watching Pat is far more entertaining than the game...and I'm a huge Packer Backer fan!!!
7. Mike....Now he was still home when I came along. Between him, Laurie & Kelly, they basically raised me. Mike usually gave me baths. When he'd take my shirt off he'd leave it on my head & holler "sister Abis, Sister Abis" To this day I don't know the meaning of it...I'm thinking I looked like a Nun with a "Habit" on my head. He also invented wicked cool hairstyles!! One which we dubbed the "Kathy ponytail" Sometimes we'd stand in his bedroom & dance. To this day I LOVE the song "Pop Muzik" by M. That was our song. Mike was always one to scare the jeepers out of people too. You'd walk by & Mike would be hiding under the stairs or wherever. Perhaps that's why I'm as jumpy as I am! LOL It seems like we were in the department store on a weekly basis buying the newest Barbies. And... Mike would help me name them!!! He also built me a heine kickin dollhouse for Christmas in 1985.
8. Laurie...She was basically my only sister growing up. Yeah, I had Chrissy but I didn't truly know her. There's a 12yr age gap between Laurie & I. So sharing a room with me must have been sheer HELL for her!!! But we managed to come out of it alive & still luv the crap out of each other. Her & I were always bickering. I was spoiled rotten, I admit. Growing up her & I would lay on the couch & I'd always snuggle up to her legs. When I moved out of Jim & Donna's & went back to the family house her & I shared a room once again. This time we had the whole basement though!!! Total coolness!! We kept a Christmas tree up until March & decorated it each season!!
9. Kelly....He provided me with a Kit Kat candy bar every week!! He worked at the VFW for Bingo & in the morning if there was a Kit Kat in the fridge it was MINE & it was from him!!! He was also the homework helper & on a few occasions the "doer" Working at Elmers with him was a flippen hoot!! Especially when I was in the cake dept & he was in the meat dept. We'd plan out our "Survivor nights" there. Total funn-ness times a million!!! He's quirky, like me & I like that!! Ohh and each year, around Easter time The Wizard of Oz would be shown. Kell, Mike, Laurie & myself would sit glued to the tv eating popcorn & drinking red koolaid as if it was our 1st time watching it. Those were the days!!

Below are the rest of my siblings. A handful are my real dad's kiddos, a couple are my real Mom's & a couple are one'e who were adopted by my real Mom's family. I will start with the kids raised by Karen, my real Mom. Keep in mind, I really do not know these two too much.

1. BJ...I don't know him all too well. He seems like a good kid. Actually he's in his 20's already. I got to know him a little bit after his wife passed away a couple years ago. He & I share a love for big engines, and big trucks & going fast. You get him away from his environment & he's pretty cool. He has a loving heart...when he lets it show.
2. Bobbie....This is where I have a hard time...I won't go into details...but I am thankful she did not abort my nephew Danny when she was pregnant & had the decency not to raise him herself.

Now on to my Real Dad's fabu kiddos!!!

1. Amber...What an amazing spirit she has. She faces many challenges in life but tackles them with strength. Watching her accomplish many things inspires me. She adores the Green Bay Packers & any sport actually. She's so fun to sit with & watch games. Hearing her get excited about things that most people would consider to be minuscule excite me. She has a zest for life & appreciates the little things.
2. Josh...When he came to us he was a one year old twerple...but a darn cutie pie head. For awhile he shared a room with me. His nightly "duice" calls annoyed me to no end. Oh, btw, "duice" is Joshy talk for Juice. He & I also share a passion for big trucks, big engines & going fast. I took him everywhere when I was a teenager. He was like his big sister's tag along...much like I was with my older siblings. It's hard to believe he's now a man. Oh well, he's still my kid brother & I can still kick his but...well that's what I say!! LOL
3. Aaron...what a lil munchkin he was when he came to us. I'm so proud of him for joining the National Guard & he's supposed to be going "Active" soon. It's hard to believe the lil baby I rocked is a man now. He's still a punk though with lots of growing up to do but I am certain he will get there. Once he let's you in you will realize what a charming fella he is. He's great fun to sing with & dance around with. Get us together & you have yourself a two person comedy show.
4. Jessica...She also has some obstacles in life but she handles them with grace. Just recently she gave me a bracelet she made for me. She loves to do crafts...as do I. So it's always great fun sitting down with her making things & just watching her create things. She adores animals too & it's always awesome watching her interact & be mother-ly to my many pets.
5. Jimmy...He & I are very close. It reminds me of me & Kelly growing up in a way. JJ is a complete joy to have around, very helpful, and hella funny!!! He was just a baby when I moved back to the family home after high school. I babysat the kids all the time so when I moved out it was like leaving my kids. I know, I was just a kid myself but still...JJ tagged along at my heals for everything. I walked in the door & he jumped in my arms. To this day he sees me & gives me hugs & tells me he loves me.
6. Jesse James...He came along after I was already out of the house. We've had him over for the day on occasion & he's one heck of a jibber jabber-er & can easily entertain a whole country. He cracks me up! On our most recent visit we made cupcakes. Like any kid he wanted every color sprinkle on the cupcake. Watching his face when I said go for it was sheer bliss. Take that boy shopping for his birthday gift & you'll have a field day!! He's soo indecisive. But hes 6 so yeah, he sees one thing, wants that, changes his mind in the next aisle. He totally cracks me up!

Next are my two sister's who were adopted by my biological Aunt

1. Jamie...She is my only full blooded sister. In the ways her & I are alike we are very alike & the ways we differ, we really differ!!! I met her when I was probably around 8 or so. I always knew I had a sister Jamie. One 4th of July at the parade I met her. It wasn't planned. But our families happened to be watching on the same corner. We got introduced to each other & we watched the parade, sharing our candy & having a Good ole time. After Mom & Dad died we lost contact for 8yrs. But once we got back re-united we picked up where we left off. We've had numerous good times & a few not so well times. I won't get into those though...I have 2 wunnaful nieces & a super fab nephew. She invited me to be in the delivery room when her youngest daughter was born. What a gift! I also cut the umbilical cord for Jordyn & Jordyn's middle name is after our 2nd baby...it's pretty special.
2. And last but not least is Elizabeth...who friggen rocks the house!!! She & I didn't really get to know each other until she was a teenager but once we did holy bean bags!! We share a lot of quirks, and interests & when people see us together it is her & I that people say look like sister's. Anytootles, she has given me two amazing nieces whom I totally adore to pieces!!! We've had oodles of fun times, geocacheing, movies, brunches, shopping, and just being dorks. That's what I luv about her. She's not afraid to be herself & just be quirky. She's a scatterbrain like me so we "get" each other. And we both LOVE, LOVE LOVE books!!!! I totally can't wait to go book shopping together one day!!! We also have sister tattoos. Hers on her foot & mine is on the back of my neck. It's of a shooting star. (I will go into what it means to me in another post.) To not even grow up with each other & to have what we have now is freakin fantabulastic!!!

So there you have it in a nutshell...a very large nutshell in fact. These are my siblings...all of them & I am so very thankful for each & every one of them. They have all had a part in inspiring me, and helping me to become who I am today & that pretty much rocks my socks bright purple!!!!

Hi, Low

Everyday for the past several years Ken & I do this thing called Hi/ Low. We first saw it being done in the movie "The Story of Us" with Michael Keaton. What a fantastical movie it was!



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In the movie at the end of each day they ask each other what their high was for that day & what their low was for the day. Each night as we lay down in bed we go through the high/lo routine. Even if Ken is on the road I ask him his highs & lows & he does tha same. At first when we started to do this it was so easy to pin point the lows & the highs took some real thinking. It showed us we need to be more thankful. I guess we just took those little highs for granted.




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Each and every day my high is waking up, having my hubby and pets & health, a roof over my head, family & friends. You know, that sort of thing. What we go for is the non obvious highs that happen every day. I notice I have oodles & oodles of highs every day!! One such high was the other day, I was sitting on the recliner & Buster nuzzled up to me & made himself all snuggly in my dress. Isn't he just adorable!




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I've been thinking about having one day each week where I post about the many things I am thankful for during that week. I was thinking Tuesdays but I'm leaning toward Thursdays...Thankful Thursday sounds rather catchy & swell. =)