Halloween 2008

The Wizard of Oz

with Kate as Dorothy

Annie playing a mean Wicked Witch of the West

The cowardly Lion Meg -

who was very cowardly about wearing the rest of her cute costume

Adrianne as the Tin Man

And Dan as the Scarecrow

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Rachaels' Pumpkin Cookies (from Favorites)

3 cups canned pumpkin
2 eggs
2 t vanilla
1 cup oil
2 t nutmeg
2 t cinnamon
2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
3 cups sugar
1 t salt
5 cups flour
1 1/2 c chocolate chips

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, sugar and salt and mix well. Add flour and mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Browned Butter Frosting
1 c. butter
4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c milk ( i use evaporated milk in frosting)
1 t vanilla

melt the butter on the stove in small sauce pan until melted and it begins to brown. (watch it close so it doesn't burn) add to powdered sugar and slowly add milk until smooth, add vanilla
Frost and enjoy!!!

Tagged

8 Shows I love to watch
The Mentalist
Chuck
Biggest Loser
Amazing Race
Without a Trace
The Today Show
Ellen
Life
SNL

8 Favorite Places to Eat
the Dodo
Cafe Rio
Red Butte
Carl's Jr
Lone Star -Fish taco's yum!!
Cheesecake Factory- delish pumpkin Cheesecake
Rumbi
my mom's house

8 things that happened yesterday
i laughed
i cried
i swore- just once
talked on the phone with Ashley
folded laundry
rocked meg to sleep
worked in the yard- what a beautiful day!
made dinner that everyone liked! yippee for Chicken Enchilada Casserole from Favorites

8 things I love about fall
jeans and a t shirt
Halloween parties
the crunch of leaves
apples- love a good apple crumble, warm with ice cream!!
pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin bread
soup season is here!
warm afternoons
football season ( & baseball season which sadly for us is now over!)

8 things on my wish list
(This is hard seeing as how I just had a birthday but id I must . . . )
a dust buster that actually works
a king size bed
a babysitter for the week Dan & I are going to Mexico
for my kids to know how much I really do love them
a clean desk by the computer (which is currently home to my 5 part time jobs)
for Halloween to be fun & to finally be over
a long warm fall
my chairs in my living room to be re-upholstered

8 people I tag
Um! aside from the gals from work who were all tagged, I don't think that 8 people read my blog, so if you do and this looks like fun knock yourself out!

the amazing love of sisters

Read this about the amazing love of sisters

and then make sure you kiss and hug everyone you love.

Pack's Pumpkin Patch!

Packs Pumpkin Patch in Farmington was free! (except for the $50 in pumpkins we took home) and not crowded at all. What a treat! Lauren was home on fall break and when she is home from School we always find reason to hang out! I almost see her more now than when she lived four blocks away and was busy enjoying every minute of her senior year. Now she misses us when she is gone (and we her)- so we love to see her every chance we get!!

Back to the patch- the kids enjoyed the mini corn maze- pulling the hand cart ( I broke a sweat trying to pull all of the pumpkins and the kids)- posing for pictures- and very thoughtfully picking out their own pumpkins!

Trying to get the girls to smile at the same time is a challenge- but they do "angry pumpkin face" really well on cue!

Oh Kate! Thanks to Lala she has cute little pig tails and can make a mean kissy face.

meg was SO cute sticking her head through the cut outs for a picture.

Sophie in her new Halloween skirt. Thanks Mushie!!

Aunt Coco, Annie & Meg!

And afterwards we all smashed into one booth and ate a yummy lunch at Apollo Burger! What fun. For more cute pics see Ashley's Blog

Bewitched!!

The witches at Gardner Village are always a hit! We braved the UEA crowds and the kids has a great time finding all of the witches! I think their favorite was the one who had flown right into the side of the barn. I loved the ones who were headed on vacation!

Meghan and Ashley!
Emma was a little nervous about this big witch- so Kate put her arm around her. too cute!!
Annie & Meg
Meghan, Annie, Emma, Kate & Ashley- happy to have found all of the witches on their list!

30 and well . . . . content.

So, A how does it feel? the big 3-0. Honestly it feels great! I am thrilled to be 30!! I am in a very content place in my life. Happy in the moment- and for me, a constant "planner of the future" this is a big deal for me. There are no plans for next week, next month or next year, no remodeling project to finish- or a stage in life that I am just trying to get past.

No, I am truly enjoying the moment.

I have caught myself so many times lately- smiling, enjoying my family around me. Playing games with the girls or spending some one on one time with them. Even with busy Meg. I am enjoying her late night rocks. Although she goes to bed perfectly around 8 she is usually up one more time for a "love". It is a very tender moment rocking her, kissing her head, holding her finally still little body and having my heart so full with how much I love her.

The highlights of my birthday were: dan & I and the kids huddled around the heater in the car between soccer games trying to get warm and enjoying breakfast from Mcdonalds.

Pampering myself with a friend enjoying manicures and pedicures!! and shopping!

Dinner out with friends at the Cheesecake Factory! mmmmm! the pumpkin cheesecake is amazing!

A Movie in the Murdock Theater!

Thanks to all for the cards, calls and gifts- it really was a wonderful day!

Dear Jesus,

tonight Kate tucked this little note to Jesus in the mailbox. It says . . .

"Dear Jesus,

I love you.

Love Kate"

These are a few of my favorite things

Spontaneous nights out!!

The rain. It makes for a wonderful sleep after working the night shift.

It is dark and overcast and a little cooler than usual.

You know that " I just want to stay here in bed all day snuggled under the warm covers feeling" - then imagine how great it would be if you had been up all night and you get to stay in bed.

Matching, themed jammies!! I am a huge sucker for holiday pj's!

Visits from Lauren

Looks like Kate has the Lauren signature face down, but Annie could use a little more practice

Making new traditions! We enjoyed a very mellow, fulfilling conference weekend as a family!

And my cute husband! Sometimes everything seems to click and I love these moments! Thanks babe for your enthusiasm about what to make for dinner, how hard you work, and for helping me find time for myself. I love you!!