Thanksgiving Pre View

Ten Commandments of Hanging

I know this is horrible picture quality, but I found it on twitter and couldn't resist.

It's the most wonderful time...

I love Christmas music. I mean, LOVE. So I thought I would unearth my playlist and put it up.

Much better.

Today

Today it rained. Thank you Lord! And hailed. And blew all sorts of things around, but it rained!

Today I prayed that the power wouldn't go out till I went to bible class because I needed to use my oven. And dry my hair.

Today I used my new hair dryer for the first time. It's the little things people.

Today we got to bless a sweet soul and her new baby-to-be in bible class. There were lots of teary eyes and lots of yummy food.

Today I got to view my sister-in-law's fantastic family pictures and came home to email her photographer. They really were great photos.

Today Tucker dressed himself to look like daddy. He picked out practically the same shirt Stuart was wearing as he walked out the door.

Today I realized that I really miss cold weather.

Today I got to hug one of my sweet friends. I sure do love her.

Today I need to do laundry. Downer.

Today I'm making pancakes for dinner. :)

On Being a Veteran

I never really thought about the fact that Stuart is/was a veteran until he got out of the military. While he was in, I was so focused on the day to day drama that it never really dawned on me what an honor and privalege it is to call him a veteran.

While he was enlisted, he was never deployed.
He only served at two bases.
We moved 7 times.
We had two beautiful children.
We met amazing people.
We struggled.
We had to ask for help.
We saw promotions.
We worked really hard.

Being a part of such an organization is both amazing and incredibly difficult.
But I look back at those first years and am so thankful for them. Those years helped shape us. Without those difficult times, we would not be the people, the couple, the family that we are now. I truly am thankful for the military. I know without a shadow of a doubt that's where we were supposed to be. I am even more than thankful for my veteran. For those in our family that have also been graced with that title.

Thank you just doesn't seem like enough.



{pardon the fact that this video is from a Super Bowl game but I thought it was pretty cool to have all the branches of the military showcased}

I wish I could sew

because I would so make this johnny for the boys and Joshua

and make this adorable dress for Kate

'ya know, so all the cousins could look ridiculously cute

He did NOT learn this from me

Tucker loves

to drunk his fruit

into ranch and Chic-fil-A sauce

while they are lined up in a pattern

(ok, maybe he learned that from me)

Delish!

I'm Finicky, I know

Last night, after Stuart come home from fishing and the boys had gone to bed (boo to Daylight Savings), we were talking about this and that. Mainly about how to cook fish next time he catches some and pondering how to cook venison (he's going hunting next week). My food fears immediately went into overdrive and thus I thought to share with you some of my ahem, tastes.

Enjoy!

1. I do not like condiments. Really. I don't. Plain and dry.
2. I do, however, really like chicken salad. But PLEASE don't remind me there's mayonnaise in it. Ewww.
3. I'm really particular about bread and dough being cooked. I would rather have an almost burnt cookie than one that's slightly underdone. This drives my husband crazy.
4. I prefer for food not to touch on my plate.
5. I can't handle spicy food. Although I did remarkably well eating seafood boudin.
6. I would eat steak everyday if I could.
7. I don't like licorice. 
8. I don't drink milk. Stuart thinks this is just down right nutty.
9. I don't like corn dogs.
10. When we got o Starbucks, I don't order coffee. Yet another thing that makes Stuart shake his head.

With that said, I'm going to makes these cookies this afternoon. I'm having a hankerin' for pomegranate, so this should fit the bill. I found the recipe here.

Double Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies
Makes 2-3 dozen
bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes

1/2 Cup (1 stick) Butter--don't use margarine
1/2 Cup Vegetable Shortening--you can substitute more butter or Coconut Shortening here but shortening gives cookies a flaky crisp

3/4 cups White Sugar
3/4 cups Brown Sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups Flour
3/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Salt

2 to 2 1/2 cups choc chips--appx 1 bag of chips. (I prefer mixing 1/2 bag of semi-sweet and 1/2 bag of milk chips)
1 cup pomegranate arils (those red seeds. 1 Pomegranate is more than enough)

In a Kitchenaid mixer (or in a bowl with a handmixer) cream together the butter, shortening, 2 sugars, vanilla, and eggs. Beat the mixture on medium-high for a full 3 minutes--this is important. During that time you'll watch the chemistry of the ingredients change into a very creamy mixture.

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine it with the butter mixture and mix till everything is incorporated.

Then comes my favorite part...
Add the pomegranate arils and chocolate chips. In my opinion, more chips is better than less. So I add about 2 1/2 cups of chips (or 1 bag of chips). And I prefer using a mixture of semi-sweet and milk chips. Dump in the chips and arils and mix briefly to incorporate everything. A few seeds may burst while mixing but that's fine.

Scoop the dough into 15 small balls on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes

Frantic Friday

I've been crushing on this song lately. It's currently #1 on my playlist.



I just got this cd (thanks mom!) and I am so stinkin' excited about it. Talk about some HUGE names!

Here's my current scar from surgery:

Not too shabby.

Stuart's gone fishing all weekend. Yup.

I had to keep Tyson home from school yesterday because he is/was sick, sick. Poor thing literally begged me to go to school today because they have free centers on Friday and ice cream at lunch. Seriously, what child begs to go to school? He didn't have a fever this morning, so I took him. Crazy kid.

I know that we live in South Texas and the weather is more than erratic (and warm) but this morning is was actually quite cold (I am SO excited about it. Bring on MORE cold please!). My phone said it was 35* and my van said it was 38* so by all accounts this weather warranted some bundling. I put the boys in long sleeve shirts, hoodies and a jacket. Yes, I know. I am THAT MOM. But by golly, my kids were not going to be cold. That and Tyson still isn't 100% and I don't want him getting sicker because I didn't adequately dress him. And that would be the reason for his getting sicker: inadequate clothing. As we got to school though I was flabbergasted at some of the other kids. THEY WERE WEARING SHORTS. Literally. Shorts AND NO JACKET. Now I know that it's probably going to be 80 degrees this afternoon (actually weather.com says the high today is 67*) but that attire is just NOT appropriate this morning. Come on parents, get your act together and dress your kids. Pssh.

My middle sister and her husband just moved their church to a new building and have their first service this Sunday. My BIL is the preacher at The Door Church and my sister has taken on much of the responsibilities on a Children's Minister. I know they would love your prayers for a blessed time this Sunday. Plus, if you live in and around Dallas, you should check them out. :)


Several of my friends and even my sister have started their Thankful in November posts and I'm thinking I may do that as well. Maybe.

And I really want to have either one of these right now, but without the peanut butter/peanuts. Cause I really don't want to go to the ER from an allergic reaction.

{via my pinterest}

Oh and tomorrow night don't forget to turn your clocks BACK one hour! Woo hoo...not. I mean who gets to enjoy that extra hour anymore when you have kids?

Pumpkin Bread

I'm sure that everyone has a pumpkin bread recipe and I am no exception. I'm not claiming that mine is the best of the best, but it sure it tasty. And it makes enough to give one loaf to a friend or a neighbor or have one for every member of your family (whatever works for you).

Pumpkin Bread

                                    3 C Sugar                               1 ½ tsp Salt

                                    1 C Oil                                     1 tsp Cinnamon

                                    4 Eggs                                                1 tsp Nutmeg

                                    3 1/3 C Flour                                    2/3 C Water

                                    2 tsp Baking Soda                1 15 oz can Pumpkin

Grease bottom and sides of two 9x5x3, OR three 8x4x2, OR four 7.5x3.5x2 inch loaf pans.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together sugar and oil. Add eggs and beat well.

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Alternately add flour mixture and water to the sugar mixture. Beat at low speed until all is combined.

Beat in pumpkin and spoon into greased pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Add several pats of butter to top just because everything tastes better with butter!

Novembers

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010