My holiday helpers!

Such a sweet time today as we prepare for Thanksgiving.   It's been a busy week getting things ready to start the madness.  We can not forget even in our busy times to make room for our little favorite pumpkin friends to kick things off and make the season official.   I am so glad that both kids enjoy eating these things especially since the recipe makes over 3 dozen muffins.   Every year since Abigail was old enough to sit up straight I have enjoyed including her in the messy process of the holiday pumpkin muffins.  This year our only chance to do it amidst the busy schedules was to do it on a day we were watching the Bit's closest buddy in her 1st grade class James.   She met him in her kindergarten class last year and we just adore him.  He is small like her and with tons of personality and imagination.  The 2 kids share in their "adventures" on the bus ride to and from school and Abigail loves to tell me all about them. He is such a sweet pea,  as soon as he bounded off the bus he ran right into my arms for a hug just like he was my own kid.  I can eat him up.  Earlier this fall Abigail and I were having one of our many discussions about Heaven.  She told me as her arms flailed and eyes rolled once,  "Mommy,  do you know what James told me"?    ..."what dear",...."he told me that since he is older then me that he will get to go to heaven before me.  He said that he would watch out for me from up there until I made it to Heaven with him".   Seriously,  how sweet is that!?!?  You see why I approve so much of this little friendship!?
  We let them play a little while after school then  I found 3 aprons so all the kids had one and we got to work in the kitchen.   It was definitely our messiest attempt at family cooking.  James is a wee bit wild in the kitchen but his enthusiasm for it made up for the flour going everywhere.  We had a great time and I sent them all to the back yard once the oven was full and timer set.  It was a great afternoon, the house smelled like one big Yankee candle and the holidays could now officially begin!   Glad to have an extra set of hands and giggles for the memory and pictures of project muffins 2012. :)