A Halloween Trick For You

The above sign is my disclaimer ...... yes, the same as the scary rides at the big theme parks. If you do hereby and herewith promise not to hold me accountable for any subsequent heart attacks, view the below link for a Halloween fright!

Turn your volume UP to get the full effect and watch the girl on the bike closely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8nVVffZRck

Double Digits

Our Holly turns 10 today -- quite a milestone! She's excited to get her ears pierced after school and celebrate with a family night at the mall.

Ten years ago .... even then she was unpredictable and had a mind of her own, as she decided to make her entrance into the world a week early.

She's our most complex child, who is artistic, athletic, with a strong sense of justice. (I've suggested a career as a parole officer when she grows up).

Happy Birthday, Holly Dolly!

The Easiest Recipe Ever

This is a simple recipe for PUMPKIN MUFFINS that's ideal to whip up with the kiddos!


One box yellow cake mix (the Golden Butter Recipe cake mix works best)

PLUS

1 2/3 cup pumpkin pie mix




Equals this !

Just mix the dry cake mix together with the pumpkin pie mix, and that's it.

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full, and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.


I think the only thing simpler than this would be to go the bakery and BUY the muffins!

Adjusting our Lenses

In response to my last post, by popular DEMAND (just for you, Amy) -- here's a picture of my new short 'do.

I think the weathered fence background brings out my eyes.

I had to take several photos before I was satisfied. One shot accentuated my wrinkles, one seemed to highlight my fashion forward double chin......

Is it just me, or do you view pictures of yourself with a critical eye? I have tendencies to view myself through a critical "lens" in most areas of my life, actually. Always trying to measure up.

I need to adjust that lens to be less severe, sort of like that "soft glow" lens I'm fond of at the photograhy studio. You know, the one that softens all the features and glosses over the imperfections? It's called GRACE.

Are you prone to be too hard on yourself? Come on, admitting it is the first step in recovering!

I have to remind myself constantly that all I ever have to be is what HE created me to be. And that He doesn't expect perfection and extends grace and unconditional love to us.

Lost in Translation

I'm going to level with you right now -- I tend to put off hair cuts for myself. I also procrastinate on oil changes for my vehicle, but that's beside the point. Back to the hair, it's entirely possible that I have some lingering baggage in that department.

Anyhoo, last week I took the plunge and dropped in to a "quickie" salon for a trim. That, by the way is a key word: TRIM. I think you sense where this is headed.

The hairdresser (who appeared to be fresh out of 6th grade) proceeded to then lop off the majority of my long, luxurious tresses. (Hey, it's MY story -- roll with it)!! In her little cosmetology world, the word "TRIM" must translate to "LOCKS OF LOVE".

The aftermath includes relentless choruses of: "YOU GOT ALL YOUR HAIR CHOPPED OFF"! I tell them that wasn't my intent, and then go on to assure them I am NOT undergoing chemotherapy. My self-appointed personal stylist, Coco at SuperCuts, took it upon herself to make that fashion choice for me. She who holds the scissors is the one in control, folks. Apparently, with my dainty, pixie like facial features, she was convinced I could carry the Mia Farrow look.

The bright side is ..... I won't be needing another cut until, say, 2011. At that point, I'll head to that swanky, renowned salon of Great Clips. After all, they're cutting edge. Ba dum bum!

This Should be a Tide Commercial

At our recent community festival, Evan was presented with the perfect opportunity for an 8-year-old boy: Chasing a pig in a pit full of mud!

This little piggy proved to be elusive, but there's always next year! See him in the far left part of the picture mocking us? Consider this fair warning, Wilbur, our snouted nemesis -- we'll be training during the off-season! Evan was even hosed off by the fire department afterward. What a great memory for him!

Oh I Love Me Some FALL !!

Fall is my FAVORITE season! I just love pulling out the autumn decorations and "decking the halls with boughs of pumpkins" (feel free to chime in with a fa-la-la, if you so desire)

Our weekend was da bomb! The kids were out of school last Friday for a "teacher in-service" day. (What IS that, anyway?!)

As a side note, they most certainly DIDN'T have such things when I was in school. We counted ourselves fortunate to get a day off from school during the Blizzard of '76, but I'm not bitter.

Anyway, on those occasional days off from school, I make an effort to plan a fun day for us to enjoy. This time around we headed to a GREAT pumpkin patch we had heard about and spent about 5 hours having the best time!

This wasn't just your run-o-the-mill field-o-pumpkins, friends. This was the mother lode of Fall Festivities! There was so much to do -- lots of plain, simple fun. Here's where I'll mention that I. FORGOT. MY. CAMERA. Oh, the pain! I spent the whole day thinking "that would be such a precious shot"!

One favorite stop was the underground slide that the kids went down repeatedly, paddle boats, an inflatable to jump on, hay bales to climb, a mega bin full of feed corn to romp in, a train ride, a corn maze, playgrounds, and of course, a hayride to the pumpkin patch.

I allowed each of the kids to pick out a small pumpkin -- and it was interesting to watch each of them approach that task. Natalie had hers selected in 10 seconds flat, and thought everyone else should too. Alli hunted and hunted for the perfect one. Holly kept picking up pumpkins, carrying them around, and trading them repeatedly. Evan was pretty much just happy to be trekking through the mud! Here's what they ended up with, in age order:

Holly had a Fall concert last week where she had to dress as a scarecrow. Doesn't she make a cute one? AND an effective one -- you'll notice NO crows around! It goes without saying that she had endure more than one chorus of "If I Only Had a Brain".