So Thankful:

• For those two rugrats pictured above



• For my husband who is currently practicing the guitar in the living room. I'm so glad he is still with us, able to walk (albeit with a limp), and able to enjoy a new safer hobby.



• For time spent with my precious family last night. We enjoyed the John Conlee (Rose Colored Glasses, Common Man) concert and I couldn't help thinking how much my dad would have loved it.




• That my FIL came by this morning and helped Tommy move the gargantuan television out of the hallway. Since it bit the dust a few weeks ago and we bought a new one for the bedroom, it's been sitting in the hall. Not anymore! :)



• I can take a nap later today. I'm not a fan of Daylight Savings Time.

So, I'm b-a-c-k! I'm not going to even make excuses for how long it has been since I posted an update to this poor neglected blog.

It's just like a soap opera around here, you miss a couple of months, and you can catch up by just watching one day.

A brief recap:

June 2010

Built a pool (well we didn't, the pool company did)


Grandpa planted watermelons and we enjoyed them by the pool. So much so that the seeds which were spit out into the yard began to sprout and we had our own little watermelon vine.

July 2010

Celebrated Jack's 4th birthday with a Thomas the Tank Engine pool party


Owen became an artist

August 2010

Owen started Kindergarten


Jack started PK4

October 2010

Tommy was in a horrific four wheeler accident in Georgia which left him unable to walk for 3 months.
No pictures of this event, well there actually is one, but you wouldn't want to see it.




We celebrated Halloween

November 2010

We went to the fair and took lots of pictures since Tommy couldn't be there with us.


Jack's first trip to the ER.He ran in front of the swing while his brother was swinging.


We celebrated Owen's 6th birthday with a party at home. We also went out to our favorite Japanese restaurant the night before. We opted to forego the huge party this year and just let Owen go to Target and pick out three toys he really wanted. His choices? A Leapster Explorer, a new game, and some Legos.

December 2010

You can barely see Tommy's wheelchair in this one. Thank goodness he doesn't need it anymore.







Jack serenaded everyone at his grandparents' house before opening presents.

Merry Christmas!


It's way too early on Christmas morning. I've been up since three when Santa needed help getting presents together. I'm also irritated at myself. I thought there were two presents in one Amazon box, but there was only one when I actually opened the box this morning. Lesson learned. Open the boxes as they come in. That way, customer service can be of some assistance before Christmas morning.

The boys are going to be excited. Santa dropped two new presents off at our new house on his way through town. Those presents will require helmets at all times!

Speaking of the new house, I've been pretty lax about updating and keeping track of the house progress. I don't think I've taken one picture, either. Oops! We're waiting on the sheetrock finishers at the moment. After that, I hope it goes quickly. We're going on five months now. I'm ready and the boys are definitely ready for it to be finished.

The boys are still asleep and I'm going to try to get a little more sleep before the excitement really starts later today. Merry Christmas! :)

The Fair
From our first trip to the Pensacola Interstate Fair this year on October 25. We went with Aunt Cindy.


Tommy and the boys rode the real helicopter around the fairgrounds. I don't think I took a breath until they were all safely back on the ground again.













This is an awful picture (quality wise) but I love Jack giving me the "thumbs up" sign.

We will miss you, Will.

Project 365 (Day 49)


My niece, Erica and me

We had a great Valentine's Day here. We went to Jackie's (sister's) house to celebrate...and eat seafood.

Still alive.

We've all been a little under the weather lately. I've felt like someone ran over me with a large truck for the last few days. Owen has a cough and Jack has a stomach virus. So, it's been fun times at our house lately.

But, I've still been keeping up with Project 365 and I plan to post those pictures here as soon as I get them off the card,mom. :)

Today, I'm going to get my hair done and that is way more important. I really hate gray hair. Really.

It was my mom's birthday yesterday! Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!

Project 365 (Day 21)

Tommy and I spent the day painting and deep cleaning for an Open House on Sunday afternoon. The boys were so excited when Aunt Cindy came to visit and didn't waste any time getting her to sit down and play.

Sixth Annual Bake-a-Thon
Wow! We made nine different recipes this year. Some were old favorites and some were new recipes we'll definitely be making in years to come. One was an interesting idea, but not one we'll be making again, I don't think.

From left to right: Simply Sensational Truffles, Sugar & Spice Black Pepper Cookies, Rum Balls, Peanut Butter Balls, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Cornflake Holly Clusters, Pinstripe Cookies, Top of Stove Cookies (AKA No Bake Cookies), and Cashew Brittle

A little closer look

 
I only have one rum ball because I only take one when we divide the cookies. I don't like them at all. That leaves more for my mom and sister since apparently they love them because we make them every year.

The Sugar & Spice Black Pepper Cookies taste way better than they sound. What an interesting mix of ingredients to end up with a cookie that tastes so very good. I'd definitely make those again. They are great cookies to accompany a cup of coffee, too.

 
Hmmm...Mexican Wedding Cookies, my favorite.

My niece made the Top of Stove Cookies and did a great job. Even though she spilled the cocoa all over my stove (just kidding, Shelby).

The Pinstripe Cookies were interesting to say the least. They are very pretty, but the mixture of flavors together left something to be desired. They are very cakey with only a 4 to 6 minute baking time. Tommy thought they were raw when he tasted them. I guess he likes his cookies a little crisper like I do. Each layer individually tasted fine,though. I just wouldn't put them together.

We had a great time baking together, as usual. Some of us needed a nap half way through and in the end, it was just me and Shelby finishing up in the kitchen. She even helped me start my cookies for the cookie swap. So, I forgave her for spilling the cocoa on the stove. ;)


Here are the links to past years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. You may have to scroll down for a few of them.

Company & Cake


Today my family came for a visit and my mom brought tons of food! My only contribution was Veg-All casserole and the pumpkin spice cake pictured above.

It was really delicious, super simple, and in the interest of full disclosure, it was made from A BOX.

Caramel Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Spray bottom of a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with wax or parchment paper.
   
   
2. Follow directions on box of spice cake mix, then add in one can pumpkin. Pour mixture into baking pan. Bake.
   
   
3. Allow time for cake to cool, then remove from pan onto non-stick surface.
   
   
4. Cut cake into thirds, evenly. You may wish to trim the edges (about 1/8").
   
   
5. Place one section onto serving plate and frost with cream cheese frosting. Repeat with second layer.
   
   
6. Top with third layer, but do not frost. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
   
   
7. When ready to serve, pour sliced almonds over top of cake and drizzle with caramel.
   

I'm alive. Really. I have been decluttering! Sadly, that was not my New Year's Resolution.

My one and only resolution? To drink one bottle of water a day. Seriously. The amount of Caffeine Free Coke I drink daily is frightening. I figure if I can drink one bottle of water, that's a start. One is better than nothing. Maybe this year is the year I can actually keep a resolution.

We have been spending quality time with family. Cousin Erica came to visit last Wednesday-Friday. Grandma and Cousin Shelby came to stay the weekend with us. Tommy went racing this past weekend while we went shopping. Sounds like a fair trade to me.

Jack is sitting up, crawling/scooting all over the place. Clearly he has not read the baby books which state he should not be so mobile this early. He's a fast little bugger!

Niece's Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Erica! I can't really believe you are 19! I love you!

Happy Halloween


Owen and Me


Me, my mom, and sister


Full length shot of Owen in his Tom Arma monkey costume. I was so suprised he wore the whole outfit the entire time.


Owen & Cousin Shelby


Owen, Cousin Erica, and Cousin Shelby...It has been brought to my attention by my brattiest niece that I left her out. Seriously unintentional, I uploaded these last night and guess this one didn't go through. I wouldn't leave out my great babysitter!

Almost ready for Halloween

A picture of my three favorite kids at the pumpkin "patch" yesterday. I use the term patch loosely because it was actually asphalt covered with hay. But, we managed to come away with a pumpkin and pictures so it suited us fine.


A shrinky dink skeleton held together with paperclips!

Now it's almost time to get my little "monkey" ready for his first Trunk-or-Treat at church tonight.

Happy 18th Birthday, Erica!

Enjoy every second of it! Don't rush your life. Time flies, believe me!

We're Back
I think I could live in Disney World. We had a fantastic time and I'm ready to go back. We visited all four parks and I still don't think we saw everything. Owen loved the characters, especially their noses.

And one of us is sporting a shorter haircut, sans unruly curls.


With grandma waiting for haircut. Even though before we left the hotel, I slicked his little hair down, it's already flying all over the place.


After the haircut donning a "First Haircut" set of Mickey ears. Notice the stickers all over him which were placed there by the fantastic lady barber (is a lady called a barber at a barber shop? hairstylist?). Also notice the napkin he has torn to shreds during the cut.


After the haircut, kicked back. Notice the sticker that I left on his leg thinking there was no way he could get to it. It was found in his mouth about two minutes later.

We had a wonderful Easter. We were going to attend the sunrise service at our church at six but when we woke up to get ready it was pouring. We did make it to the 9:45 service.


I came home and made deviled eggs and put Owen's Easter outfit on him. We went to my sister's for lunch. Everything was yummy, as usual. Owen found one blue Easter egg and even had a taste of Grandma's Cadbury Mini Egg. I wish I had a good picture of the three grandkids together but they wouldn't cooperate.

Yesterday would have been my Dad's birthday. I miss you Daddy and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you and how lucky I am to have known you.

It saddens me that Owen will never know his Grandpa Jack or what a wonderful man he was.

Today is my sister's birthday. I know she is going to like her present since she was with me when I bought it. Happy 38th, seester.

Busy.

Planning the class' Winter Celebration party for next week.
Preparing materials so we can make ornaments every day next week.
Writing Christmas cards.


So far, the plan is felt snowmen on Monday, candy cane reindeer on Tuesday, yarn hats on Wednesday. I will have to post a picture of the little yarn hats. My room mother brought one in and I fell in love with it. It is just made from yard and a piece of cardboard tube but it is adorable.

Well, the kids definitely know that Christmas is around the corner. I don't think they believe in Santa anymore since most of them must be on his naughty list, anyway. Really, they are just excited but they are about to drive me up the wall. I am glad to have a four day weekend!

I don't have much to do as far as Thanksgiving preparations. I just have to make broccoli salad and deviled eggs. That is the easy stuff. And I'm not complaining but do you think they are trying to tell me something? Supposedly my deviled eggs are the best...I think they just say that so I'll keep making them and no one else will have a smelly eggy kitchen.

For a couple of years now, my sister has done most of the work. She makes the sweet potato casserole (topped with pecans and brown sugar, not marshmallows), dressing, green bean casserole, and other surprises she adds each year. Bless her heart. I'm glad she can cook. My brother-in-law fries the turkey about an hour before we eat so it is nice and hot. My mother even said she isn't baking this year. Though she is making pineapples and brown sugar for sister and me because we won't let her out of it. We just top the Honey Baked Ham with it and it tastes just like mom used to make.

I am looking forward to putting the Christmas tree up this weekend. Tommy and I are supposed to go to the lake house on Saturday which should be interesting.