I love this time of year

We have cute little teants living in our backyard. Fall is in the air--the dark crisp, chilly nights have arrived. I love this time of year--enjoy a nice walk in the leaves today.

Cowgirl, Pirate and Cookies!

We had so much fun trick or treating this year. The girls went to many houses this year without Sarah Jane whining at all :) --this made me very happy. We did the home-made costumes this year...yeah I know I am cheap...but that is okay they are usually the best costumes when the children think them up themselves.. I like to consider my family is thrifty.

I made my annual big pumpkin and bat cookies again this year. The kids love to take them into school for their classroom Halloween parties. I love to make them too...I sneak a pinch of dough while I am rolling out the cookies. I made about 100 of them using 7 batches of dough! The recipe is really easy to make up.

Sugar Cookie Cutouts
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
colored sprinkles and multicolored sprinkles, for decorating
**In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl (I am lazy and use the kitchen aide mixer right away, instead of having to wash another bowl) beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, then the vanilla. On low speed, gradually beat in the flour mixture. Divide the dough into thirds, shape each piece into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Preheat oven to 350F. On surface--roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. (I use the pampered chef baking stones) Decorate with sprinkles. Bake 10 minutes, or until edges begin to brown. (12 minutes for baking stones). Cool cookies and eat alot of them :)

Since everyone's time is precious during the holidays--make the dough ahead and freeze for up to three months. My family loves these cookies and I hope that your family will enjoy them too! I also baked some for Kevin's soccer teammates and they all seemed to enjoy them--for they disappeared rather quickly.

Enjoy a good laugh today :)

I saw this video on my aunt's facebook. I laughed so hard--it is good for people to really laugh-very healthy--I needed a good laugh!

Excellent Reminder for Parents

I saw this video via facebook from Kevin's soccer coach--Coach Cartwright. This is an excellent reminder for all us parents--how to act on the sidelines. I hope that some parents see how silly they look--plus how they are embarrassing their son or daughter in front of their peers.




On another note:
Kevin's ankle is healing very nicely. He is in the air cast until this Friday. He can not wait to get back to playing soccer. Keep him in your prayers still for his ankle to heal fully. I look at this picture and I cannot believe that my son's sneaker size is a man's 10.5! Wow.

Have you had your chocolate today??

Enjoy--I love chocolate and I actually ate one of these today. I just needed that extra little kick. You know those days I am talking about!--where you need extra Reese's in the house--where the kids will not find them--or husbands for that matter :) Peanut butter and chocolate is a slice of heaven. Why do we need that extra kick some days--simple answer...it makes us happy :D

just some monkey-ing around pictures

Sarah Jane loves monkeys and wanted me to share these pictures with everyone.

Remember 9/11

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost love ones on 9/11. We remember.

On September 11, 2001, four U.S. planes that were hijacked by terrorists crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania killing nearly 3,000 people. Please take a moment to remember these people who passed away. Remember these individuals--left behind family, friends and co-workers. May God be with you all.

Kevin's passion--soccer season begins

Kevin doing what he does best...playing soccer

We really had alot of fun at this tourney. We traveled to Columbus, Maryland and stayed at the Sheraton. Very nice hotel--would recommend to anyone. The boys played real hard. Their first game was a tie 0-0, second game also a tie 1-1 and their third game they won 1-0. I believe with how they do points and things like that our boys came in 2nd place in their bracket. Over all the team played well--great group of boys! They seem all get along and gel nicely. Coach said that I now have the title of "team photographer"--which of course I am loving!

On a happy note: school has started--YEAH ME! But to be honest I like my kids--so yeah I did miss them. I cannot wait for them to get home and fill me in on how their first day went. Well for all those parents out there in blog land--enjoy the first day of peace and quiet until all those little and big kids come home. There will be loads of papers to fill out, sign and return. The joys of going back to school--pencils, the smell of glue, fresh notebooks and crayons--brings back memories for me. I would love to go back to school shopping for folders, notebooks and all the other goodies that the stores try to sell you (still love going and buying that stuff) Well enjoy you children while they are still in school--going to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate before I have to go and pick up the girls. Kevin should be walking thru the door any minute from the bus stop. ;D

Pictures to come...

Hi everyone! The soccer tourney is great so far. The boys tied 0-0 their first game & the second game was also a tie 1-1. They worked hard & had lots of fun. I took over 500 pictures today...so they are coming soon. Of course I can only post Kevin's pictures. I know I am a camera nerd! But I like it. The boys started calling me Miss American Eagle...don't have a clue why; but I roll with the punches. Hannah is still working hard with gymnastics. Sarah Jane started field hockey and so far (cross your fingers) she loves it!

please remember our military...

I was reminded the other day by a video that is surfing the email chain...how our soldiers are in danger everyday that they are in Iraq and Afghanistan. They were talking about how water boarding is inhumane...however the video was how inhumane our soldiers are treated when they are captured...this video was so graphic that it made me cry while I watched with horror...and I immediately felt that I needed to prayer for these soldiers families--for they will never see these men again. These soldiers were burned alive! And then some men and women who sit in our Government have the nerve to even say that water boarding is inhumane?? Hello...our PO W's that are captured are probably so happy to be captured because they are treated as if they are in some 4 star hotel...3 meals a day...showers, etc. After I cried--my emotions turned to anger! How can someone else do these horrible things to another person??

Bottom line folks--whether you believe in war or not...our soldiers are over there fighting for our freedoms...our freedom of speech, freedom of religion--we have so many freedoms in this country we are spoiled with them. I feel that our government is slowly taking our freedoms away from us. My father was in the Army and I am very proud of him. He is the finest man on this green earth.

I know that I personally walk up to a soldier that I see whether in a restaurant, a mall or even goodwill (where I shop quite often) and tell them that I am proud of them and thank you for all your service to our country. I wish more people would be like me and do this...it really is such a simple thing to do--take time to thank someone for their service...it will make them smile and feel good. Our military is the best in the world--but then again I am coming from a family where my Dad was in the Army.

Enjoy this YouTube video made by Lizzy Palmer--it really makes you think.