Camping at the Beach

The weather was a bit on and off but we still had a fun time camping together.



Little did I suspect that there might be alligators?! We didn't see any though.




My Love.



My little love.



My littlest love.





Little loves in the sand.




Little love on the run.




The sea was fierce my friend.




tadah--I did get my pumpkin hats knitted and one more winter woolie as well. Thank you to my mother in law for the green stalk on top.




Sweetness




No trip to the beach would be complete without a sand castle with a huge moat. It was a grand castle and a grand yet by far not glamourous time. The children had baths in a tote we cooked every meal at the camp, our souveniers are our photos and our love grew stronger.

recipes

Go to www.loobylu.com/

(you know my linky thing is non operational)

On this website she is doing a giveaway and hence asked for everyone's favorite recipes--if you go to her comments there are over 200+...kinda fun if you're looking for something new to cook.

We're off to the beach...sure to have some pics upon return.

Crisp Autumn

There are few things better for children than the excitement of visits from grandparents!



Little man getting some one on one time.



Little miss holding on with all her love.



Oh, that time has come...the last tomato, the one that took so long to ripen. How shall you go...with bacon, of course!!



Tonight was one of those perfect fall evenings. Just enough of a chill in the air to make you feel knitty and pull out the needles. Aspiring for a pumpkin hat, but time will tell what it ends up to be.



"Not in the mood for modeling, mom!!"

Such fun camping

We embarked on our first camping adventure with the little ones.
They had such a good time. Smores always help to make the experience more fun for all of course.



Daddy and daughter making a fire.



John found a spot for rock climbing and sliding




On a nature walk in the morning.




Try to wash the dishes and this is what happens!!




An art show in the woods...play doh, sticks and rocks, perfecto

Pumpkin Muffins

We found these at Family Fun.
They are scrumdidillumtious!
Little miss and I made/ate some today.

Pumkin Muffins:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking pwdr
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup veg oil
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin

Frosting:
1 1/2 cups confectioner sugar
4 oz cream cheese
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp lemon juice
(orange food coloring if desired)

Oven 350 F . 12 cup muffin pan.
In mixing bowl stir together flour, baking pwdr,
cinnamoin, nutmeg,ginger, salt. In another bowl stir
together oil and sugar, then whisk in eggs and vanilla.
Pour wet ingredients over dry ones and stir until combined.
Now time to put in you cup of pumkin. Stir and then put in
your muffin pan and bake for about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together your frosting ingredients for the
yummy topping. Enjoy...

I know this is sort of off the wall, but in case you are looking for a sippy that is not plastic there are now kleancanteens that you can buy. They are a bit out of our price range, but definitely thinking GREEN. We all rely so heavily on plastics and all the talk of BPA (whatever that is) ... is something to think about atleast. And of course, I cannot get my links to work but the website is www.kleankanteen.com.

The little ones really enjoy playing with rocks. Here's how we stayed entertained at my dad's for the week that my car was being worked on after catapulting a deer up 20 feet in the air. We also played a lot of play doh and made many cups of tea.



Here they are painting rocks they collected from my dad's house



My husband was gracious enough to put me up a clothesline~I did actually ask for it. He even attatched an American flag I had found and a pully system so little miss can raise it a lower it.



My latest craft joy...hand embroidery. It is portable and very gratifying!



Winter is on its way and so I am making our little man some appliques of things he loves. The next one has to be a train because he is obssessed with them at the moment. "choo choo"



My blue eyed girl~ oh how looking a pictures like this make me smile!

Happy big pancakes

Okay, since the computer died and has now been brought back to life, I haven't put my photo program back in yet...So no pics til then, but going without the computer has been a really good lesson on how dependent I have been the last few years on the internet. I use it for a phone book, cookbook, craft tutorial book,etc... hmmm --I guess I use it like a book. It was strange to go out to the workshop to hunt down a real phone book, they are so bulky and smell like newspaper which makes me sneeze from delivering way to many in my youth.

Alright almost done rambling. So, other than losing all the programs on the computer we also lost my favorites , which is where I would store anything I didn't have time to write down and wanted to refer back to later and in it was a recipe for something I wanted to try. After finally remembering the name of them (Dutch Babies) I did a new google search and made them tonight. The recipes made one happy big pancake that little miss and I coated in sifted powdered sugar--yum. I used the allrecipies recipe with a combo of the readers suggestions. So, go use your computer to get the recipe and make some they're good!!!!

Best Friend

Well, today is my best friend in the whole world's birthday and I wanted to write a little ode to her. Since 6th grade we have been connected and it has been an adventure. She is delicate and special--the most special. God has kept our planets aligned, so we have been within close proximity of one another for a long time now and although that may all change as husband finishes school next year, I feel we will always be close. If we move far away we will have to pick a star to communicate on---or just email I guess!
She is beautiful, thoughtful, and she understands me.
Happy Birthday my friend!

My brother always said he knew I would have a child that ran around in cowboy boots and blue jean shorts...well, here she is!




Little man had a rough week. Didn't feel well and clung to me like a koala bear.




Mr man got a lot done on his boat project. Pictures of the completed paint job coming soon.




Butterfly season is the best! We had a lovely day at the zoo this week.



Almost got it...






Watching the sea lions. Beep beep--my latest applique fun.

Well, if you missed me yearbooking myself, you missed a good chuckle, but I couldn't handle seeing that again. So go load a photo of yourself on www.yearbookyourself.com


Here is little miss last Sunday. I always love the way the little ones look on Sunday. They don't just look all scruffy and covered in paint, play doh or mud.

Such sweetness making it all worth it!



I've been enjoying making my own appliques lately--just not so enjoying zig zagging round corners!



Water and your parents toothbrushes~how much more fun can you have!



His latest passion...pulling all the books off the shelf and then sitting in the middle pretending to read.



Can't roller skate, but can't wait to learn!



His sweetness, making it all worth it!!



My Tigger is growing up too fast, slow down little girl.

August Already

The little one is sporting a mustache her uncle helped her draw and stick on. She looked so funny! She is very interested in coloring and cutting up her paper in to little bitty tiny bits of paper that I sweep up every evening.



This weekend, we decided due to the beautiful weather to head to the 'Grand Trap Shooting' contest to see William's friend shoot. On the way up one of the towns is the home of the creator of Popeye. We tried to get the children to flex their muscles really big!






Most of all, I have been doing a lot of procraftinating since my mom left to go home.
I think about crafting, spend too much time looking at other craft blogs and just dream about all the interesting things that can be made. I have finished a couple of projects though. Above is the little tutu onesie I just made.

Random Summer Days

Singing 'Father Abraham' at VBS. Our sweet girl had a great time with her friends.



Botanic Gardens -lovin' nana!



Run with me brother. Best quote for the week from little miss was "Momma, will brother still love me when we grow up?"



Ainsley's 30th party was so much fun!




Ah, who doesn't love the $1 spot at Target?



My fav picture this summer! Three generations--girl trip to Nashville.



The Wiggly Party was wonderful. Each time one of the performers would wave in to the audience little miss would say "Are they waving at me?" :)



When shopping in Nashville one must have on a cowboy hat!



The beautiful Opryland Hotel...what an Oasis.




She bought her brother a toy shaving kit at the Opryland Hotel ~ she couldn't wait to get home and try out her brothers new toy.

No pictures available to show my mom and I during the movies, but if you laughed and cried hysterically at Mamma Mia (the Movie version) you know how fun that is! I have had such a great visit with nana and am soooo sad she has to go so far away so soon!