Thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving and I am at work for 12 hours! Thankful? Well maybe, somewhat, thankful that I am not hosting a huge dinner at my home.

I do have so much to be thankful for, so here is the list.

• Father in Heaven and Christ, their ever extending love
• the most loving caring husband / friend
• the love of my husband
• my passionate love for him
• the strength and warmth felt when I am held in his arms
• my husbands ability to make our children laugh, and to teach them
• our 4 children here, and 1 cherished angel son
• hugs, especially from my children
• soul mate friendship
  Milo's imagination, and genuine laugh
  Tommy's contagious smile, what a handsome boy
  Riley's love for nature and all things in it, animals, bugs, snakes, spiders, etc
• Lil's girlishness
• time to be with my children
• time to watch the boys play soccer
• time to color
• time to play house or princess
• scriptures
• dark chocolate
• Burt's Bees lip balm with passion fruit
• gardens
• flowers
• quiet
• coffee ice cream
• alone time with my hubby, need way more of that
• my mommy and daddy
• my family and his, struggles and oddities included
• telephone chats with friend
• pedicures, don't get enough of them though
• music
• laughter
• hair color
• a job
• a job that enables me to care and love for others who are in need
• modern amenities
• whole wheat sunflower toast loaded with peanut butter
• ability to move breath and exercise
• sleep
• when the children get their chores done
• etc........

There is so much more, I express my heart felt love for God, Christ , all blessings my many blessings.

I pray for all those who don't realize all their blessings.

Cake " Hoot Hoot"

For all those Pokemon' lovers out there.

I made this one June 2005 for Milo.

Halloween Fun

The pumpkin carving.

That is all you get of that, I forgot to take pictures of the finished products it was very late.

" Beauty and the Zombie"

I got to do Milo's make up twice. Once for the school party and then on Halloween. I really enjoy doing make up for Halloween, it is fun to envision what would create a certain look. Don't ask me to sew costumes though.

Luckily we have Grandma I, she put in a lot of hours making Lil's " Belle" dress. Lil' was so excited about it. Thanks Grandma I, we love you.

Can you believe all the candy is gone!!!!

Our Fall Outting

Daddy came home early from work, and I happened to also be off. Wow both of us home on a weekday in the middle of the day.

So the battle begins; house work vs going out and enjoying the beautiful fall weather and the changing leaves.

It was an easy choice for me, I had to coerce my hubby. He rather chill out at home when not working. I suggested several activities before he finally agreed on one.

We decided to hike up to Timpanogas Cave. This is a 1 1/2 mile hike to the cave entrance; paved but all switchbacks and steep.

This cute picture just after a few switchbacks, they had to take a rest.

Such a beautiful day. The colors were just starting to change. Now just a few weeks later all the leaves are falling and we are starting to get our first snow. Arrghh!!!!!

Just love seeing daddy smile and enjoy our time together! Plus he looks so good in RED.



Daddy and Lil'


Yet another rest stop. Our little ones did a great job. I think it is 3000ft climb in elevation. I highly recommend that you DON'T drink all of your water on the climb up. If you do, DO NOT pass up the the last chance outhouse just before the cave entrance.



We did it, and well under the 1 1/2 hour time they gave us before our assigned tour of the caves.

I was hot!!! I got to pack all the water, treats and the little ones coats for the tour in the cave.

Now inside the cave, the temperature drops greatly. Remember when I mentioned not to drink all your water and make sure you pee. Well, Milo immediately upon the doors being locked has to pee. Half way throughout the tour I couldn't stand watching him doing the pee-pee dance, I had to help him some how. So I allowed all the other tourists to move ahead of us, then I had him pee in the very water bottle he had depleted. I couldn't let him just pee in the cave and ruin millions of years of formations. Milo thought it was hilarious! We, dad and I, didn't. What can we do?

At one point we were 500 ft deep in to the mountain from the top. Crazy, huh!

All done, on our way back down the 1 1/2 mile trek. Here you can see Milo carrying the water bottle. It wasn't until we were half way down the mountain that we actually had the sense to dump out the pee filled water bottle. Yeah, can you believe it, we were just a packing it back down with us.

I am so glad that we put off our dishes, laundry, bills, and veggin' in front of the TV to spend time with the kids. I love it! Now the snow is coming.

Ode To Joy

You've Been Ghosted!

As my hubby and I sat on the back porch hiding from the noise of the house, I saw it coming. A white van pulled up around the side of our home. It slowed down and a child jumped out carrying a plate of goodies I knew exactly what was happening. No.... I thought. I couldn't stop it from happening. Have you ever watched your child fall and felt helplessly moving in slow motion to try to catch him/her? This is how I felt. I didn't have time for this adventure. I wanted to stop it from happening.

We got up and entered the house. I was right. Milo and Lil' were joyously gathering a plate of fall goodies. The idea of goodies sounds great huh? Well this little plate of goodies comes with cute Halloween Poem and a picture of a Ghost. The poem instructs you to enjoy the goodies hang the picture on the your door so that everyone knows you have been hit. I quickly posted the picture in our kitchen window. The goodies are great but the pressure to pass along the poem, the picture, and goodies to two other families within two nights. It was the middle of the week, way too busy for these fun neighbor hood traditions.


The next evening a knock comes at the door. What the freak? Can't they see the GHOST hanging in our window? Another plate of goodies, poem, and ghost to hang up. I IMMEDIATELY taped it to our mail box next to the door. Now feel even more pressure to fulfill my family neighbor hood duties.


I whine and complain, Milo says, " Just don't hang up the GHOST. We can get treats every night." " Yeah that is a great idea!", exclaims Dad. They truly are men after my own heart, I would love homemade treats every night. I just couldn't deal with the guilt.

So several days late but never the less duty fulfilled. Sunday evening I made our goodies. Milo and Lil' were excited. Goodies made, copies of poem and ghost, we were set for our adventure of sneaking out in the night and delivering the " frightful " package to the unaware neighbors. Milo dressed in all black quickly delivered each package with out getting us caught. It was so much fun. Okay, so I admit it, I am glad that we got GHOSTED. It was a fun memory made.

Now to pass on the fun.



Pastry Flake http://thepastryflake.blogspot.com/



Poop on Jelly http://pecksinkc.blogspot.com/



Consider yourselves ghosted. Below is a recipe for one of our favorite goodies. I share it with you and other readers, however those tagged choose two blogger friends and GHOST them and pass on a favorite goodie recipe and encourage them to pass it on.

PUMPKIN WAFFLE COOKIES

• 1 1/3 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. shortening
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 1/2 c. nuts or raisins ( optional); we use CHOCOLATE CHIPS, duh !
• 2 eggs
• 1 c. pumpkin
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. ginger
• if your diet permits a dab of cream cheese frosting just off the waffle iron.

Mix together, place small balls on hot waffle iron and bake. Don't over bake, cookies cook faster than waffles.

Enjoy!!!!!

The New Critter

I have previously mentioned the snakes and lizards. This past week end the REPTILE show came to town. It is a must for a few of the male genders in our home. I didn't make it this year. I had worked until 3am and just couldn't do it.

Multiple times Milo was instructed that he wasn't going to come home with a new pet of the scaly persuasion. Riley on the other hand has a job and his own money. His dad also takes care of his two snakes, so Riley didn't have a pet to care for.

Did you notice that I said, " Reptile show?" This is what was brought home. This big critter is NOT a reptile. No where close to it. Neither is the cute little mouse. The video below is not very pleasant I warn you.

Oh come on a spider that eats mice. This is a " Goliath Bird Eater" one of the biggest tarantulas. Riley name him David. Well, I guess I successfully taught him one scripture story. I can't believe he did that. It was the cutest little mouse, come to find out Riley had a hard time doing it.

I thought the phrase was " Lions, tigers and bears. Oh ,no!" Around here it goes, " Lizards, snakes and SPIDERS, Oh, my! What is a mother to do?