Oh what a beautiful morning!

I couldn't help but blog about this mornings beautiful sunrise. Thanks to our early morning start with Nick sick as a dog...we got to witness this. What a day to be sick... HALLOWEEN.... but I am so happy to have noticed the sky. Happy Haunting tonight!!!

My Curse

Why is it that I cannot do anything easy!? Sadie had a party for Dancing yesterday that she needed treats for, & we got SPOOKED by a neighbor... so we had to pass on the spooking to 2 others.... all these good holiday times! However, I have this curse that will not allow me to just go to the store and buy a bag of suckers or cookies.... oh no! I have to make them. So, feverishly at 4:30 (dancing starts at 5:30)... I am destroying my kitchen, stirring a brew of orange flavored, black suckers. They turned out fun and cute! and oh well... its all in love for the kids, to make memories of such fun times! Hopefully its good memories and not a curse.

Pumpkin "pudge"

OKAY! If you've never tried it...Pumpkin Fudge is probably the best treat of the season. (keeping in mind, my length of season generally lasts.... oh .... a week or so.) And so I thought I would share the recipe. It's a good weekend experiment for you. Don't eat too much like I have though or you will have yourself a pumpkin "pudge." It is a great visiting teaching treat... that way you don't eat it all.

Pumpkin Fudge
3/4 c. butter
3 c. sugar
2/3 c. evaporated milk
3/4 c. pumpkin
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 c. white chocolate chips
1 7 oz. jar marshmallow cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped nuts

in heavy saucepan heat butter, sugar, milk, pumpkin and spice to a boil over MEDIUM heat stirring constantly. Continue to boil until mixture reaches 234 degrees on candy thermometer. remove from heat stir in chips and marshmallow cream until smooth. stir in vanilla and nuts. pour into buttered 9x13 pan. Makes about 3 lbs.

*tip: it sets up fast so work quickly.

Witch Doctor

Poor Nick....

At his yearly checkup a few weeks ago the Dr. suggested that I go to "Shangrila" and buy an ear wax extraction device due to the fact that Nick had large amounts of hard black wax lodged down in there. OUCH! No wonder the boy gives us all the duh stare when you talk to him sometimes. He can't hear. Not to mention it is totally painful if you even touch it or he bumps it. So, we found the "ear candle". Is it the most bizarre thing you've ever seen? The smoke supposedly goes down through the tube and into his ear, forcing the wax back up and out into the tube. And it WORKS!!! Oh man.... seriously, we put Shrek to shame. Oh, and Nick is a new man. Only the kids woke him up at 6:30 am... he was sleeping right through the morning noise before.

If you have an ear wax problem... Jenny the Witch Doctor highly recommends the ear candle.

oh what fun it is to ride in a pumpkin ride with Hay!! HEY!

Over the freeway and through the woods...
to our families house we go...
the van knows the way, to carry the sleigh
to Lisa's new house we go - OH - (and what a cute new house it is...)

Over the freeway and through the woods,
from Lisa's house we go..
to the red barn
where we were warm
where pumpkins were found in a row.

It was UEA weekend (or Fall break) for the kids and so we decided to take a vacation. Can I just say...being with family is so rejuvinating for me. I love spending time with them and especially outdoors. The weather was just perfect. And so here we go on our journey:

Where the green grass grows!

It finally happened. After weeks and weeks of hard work, we finally got our back yard in. Can you say GRASS!!! Yikes! That is going to be a lot of mowing. Have fun Mason. :) Mom and Dad surprised us and showed up to help. We all enjoyed watching from the kitchen window the crew of sod layers do their magic. We have the hook ups here in this neighborhood. Not only is there a sod farm near by, our neighbor works there and cut us a great deal on "seconds" and an "install crew" to boot! 5 of them had it knocked out in 2 hours.... beats the heck out of Jake and Me doing the whole thing in a day or two! Jake is awesome! He did the sprinkler system and all the other hard prep work. The big dirt patch in the middle will be a giant sand box that the swing set will sit in. We'll see how soon the kids can convince Dad to put it up. There is a stinkin football field in my back yard.... TURKEY BOWL at our house!

alright it can snow now.... we are suppose to see snow this weekend!

A classic childhood moment...

It's Parent Teacher Conference day today. The kids are doing exceptionally well :) especially with the help of this....

Translation: (10 year old boys handwriting... ya gotta love it)

Dear Mom,

If I got Star Wars Battle Front (a PS2 game...) I would some how do better in school they say Star Wars Battle Front is good for your sole.

xoxoxox

Love,

Mason

Do you like the part that says.... "I will do better in school.... if I get the game." Nice try on the ultimatum buddy! Mason has been saving his money to buy a game for a long time. He looks online to find the deals and informs me when he finds exactly what he wants and where it is on sale. I like the concept of him being on top of things... and I must say that he is very persistant about it. He hand delivered the mail to me today and the note was tucked inbetween the envelopes. sly...

What have we become?.... has the gaming world taken over my boys... all of them... look, even Andrew was intense watching...

The funnest thing this fall...

Mom called me a month or so ago and asked if I would cater lunch for her and my Aunts for Aunt Jill's birthday. They would come to my house since it is in the middle and I would fix them lunch. Are you kidding me? I loved the idea!!! Totally got into too! I spent yesterday doing most of the prep work so that my kitchen and I wouldn't be a mess. Today worked out better than planned. I absolutely love love loved doing it. If you ever need a self esteem boost, spend an afternoon with Mom, Cindy and Jill! They are my favorite! The food wasn't half bad, if I do say so myself.

The Menu: Fresh Grape Gelatin's, Fall Salad with Cider Vinaigrette blue cheese and candied walnuts, Chicken pot pie in a pumpkin, and turtle brownie "skookie's"!

Like Ina says... take advantage of some things prepared for you... like the bagged salad (the fall mix) and a Betty Crocker box brownie (Turtle variety...) and then do other things that make a difference like fresh herbs, homemade chicken stock and pie crust. Martha might have smiled at it as well... except for the flies :)