Happy Halloween 2009~

Here is hoping you have a great day today.. and a better evening!

The sun is finally out!!! Im so happy.. too bad Im sooo tired! hahaa. I brought work home with me yet again and havent even began with that. I would like to make up some sort of treat to take to Mellys tonight for the chili dinner she is having. Andddd Id love to go shopping at Michaels or Hobby Lobby for some clearanced Halloween goodies or beads.. yes I said beads. Im actually looking for something in particular and its killing me. But... for now.. I lay my weary head back on my pillow for a little nap.. get up and go go go!!!

The boys are BOTH going to be Ninjas.. {gee I can hardly wait for all the sword and dagger flying} hahaaa. I will post pics as soon as I have them!

Have a great weekend! :)

Its no secret~

I love to cook and bake. I sure wish I had more time to do it. But ... you know, I just do what I can do. In the meantime, I wander from blog to blog reading about all kinds of delicious new things. I get newsletters and emails of recipes and google more recipes and try them as much as my family will allow. hehee I also have and love to collect cookbooks! Some of my most treasured items are my Grandmas cookbooks and written notes and recipes. Sooo many memories!

So.. today, I thought why not share another recipe, I hadnt done it in a while... and this came across in an email and it is just too cute of an idea! I always try to bring goodies on a regular basis to Hunters sitter. They love it.. so I thought I would do this for the coming Halloween. I mean with this weather being rainy and yuck why not!!??!!! If you try them let me know how they turned out.. ok? In the meantime... enjoy your weekend. Preston and Rachel are up for a visit and Im going to enjoy them as much as possible. hehee and speaking of cooking.. he wants me to make my famous meatloaf... I sure hope I dont disappoint.!!!! ;)

Candy Corn Cookies

1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/3	cup butter or margarine, melted
1	egg
	Orange paste food color
2	oz semisweet chocolate, melted, cooled

	Print these coupons...
	About Concordance™

	Line 8x4-inch loaf pan with waxed paper, extending paper over sides of pan. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms.
	On work surface, place 3/4 cup dough. Knead desired amount of food color into dough until color is uniform. Press dough evenly in bottom of pan.
	Divide remaining dough in half. Gently press one half of remaining dough into pan on top of orange dough. On work surface, knead chocolate into remaining dough until color is uniform. Press over plain dough in pan, pressing gently to edge of pan. Refrigerate 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until firm.
	Heat oven to 375°F. Remove dough from pan. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut each slice into 5 wedges. On ungreased cookie sheet, place wedges 1 inch apart.
	Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until cookies are set and edges are very light golden brown. Cool 1minute; remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely. Store in tightly covered container.

A Friend in Need~

ok.. so I know a lot of us out there have friends that we've met via the Internet now a days. Friends that are dear to our hearts for one reason or another, someone that you've not met in person. If you are a person that has such a good "net friend" you will understand the severity of hurt and other emotions that come with knowing that that special friend is in need... of whatever.

Knowing and understanding that your friend is going through a tough time and that you are unable to be there for them in person. It really stinks. I feel almost useless. But, I cant feel that way. I have to help in any way possible and one important way is to continue my support if even via the net.

I have one such hurting friend right now. Her name is Kylee and she is the sweetest thing. I met her via Twitter... and I cant even tell you why, but Ive just come to love that girl. She is going through a very rough time right now and needs all of our prayers, strength, hope and anything we can come up with. I know she would be eternally grateful for our thoughts and wishes and any help we can give.

Please visit Kylees blog to read the story.. and pray or donate.. or email her a hug ... just anything. It would mean the world to me to do this for her, as I have been in her shoes and its not easy... but I do know with community and friends she will make it alright!

Thank you... sincerely...

Uncle Gregs Party~

Ok.. so I didnt make it to post yesterday... who knew when they hired me that theyd expect me to work so hard? hahaa. Seriously I could have worked overtime last night and tonight and still not been done with what Ive been doing. Watch, next week I wont have a thing to do... ahhh work work work... hahaa

Sooo... this past weekend was a weekend Ive been looking forward to for a while. Uncle Greg, Todds Uncle was coming in from Texas. We havent seen him in several years and the last time was under seriously sad terms {his son, Todds cousin passed away}. So, we were looking forward to a nice family/friend get-together.

We met up over at our friend Johnnys house around 3pm and it was coldddd, we sat around the fire pit and told stories, drank drinks... ate dinner... After dark we all quieted down and were marveling in the fact that we were hard core partiers.. then my brother in law Jim looked at his watch... it wasnt even 9pm hahahaa... We all laughed so hard at the fact we were getting older.. at least together huh? haha. The next few hours flew by and there were hugs and more hugs until we finally left at midnight. It was a great time... great food. It took us {or well me} dang near til 5pm Sunday evening to recover. hahaa.

Here are some pics of the party.

Uncle Greg

Todd tellin' stories!

Roseyyyy cheeks!

Old time friends

Melly and Jim {Todds sister & her hubby Jim}

Messin' round... laughing and living!

Back on the Wagon~

againnnnn....

Hunter, Preston & Justice

I am promising right now to be a better blogger! I have just gotten lost in the days and weeks passing by.. so much going on and no slowing down.. sleeping, eating and working.. just no in between time. Im missing out on LIFE!!!! Soooo... Im going to shake things up and start living again. If I can kick Todd in the butt it will help too Im sure.

Can you believe Im already thinking about a Thanksgiving menu and we still have 2 weeks until Halloween. But hey, I like to plan ahead. Im hoping that Preston and Rachel will make it up for Thanksgiving... they havent been up since Fourth of July. And Justice... lets talk about that lil fella.. I cant remember the last time he was here! So Im truly looking forward to family being around and very soon!

Ok, so what have I been up to?... Well lastttt weekend I went back home for Justice soccer game on Friday night. I had the day off and Hunter and I took off fairly early, drove through rain the whole way! We ended up going straight to my brothers {Neals} to see Amanda and the new baby Addison. We had a great little visit and I got to talk to the nieces about what they think about my brother and his wife getting stationed in Hawaii and how they are handling it and their plans.

Baby Addison

Later that night, I went to Dads and fixed him dinner.. then Hunter and I went and picked up Justice since the game got rained out. We watched movies and chatted. The next day me and the boys met up with Preston, Rachel and her Mom and little brother for lunch. It was a great time and we got to celebrate Rachels birthday {hers was the 3rd}, it was also a mini celebration for mine, if even only in my own mind. hahaa. I also ran into a cousin I hadnt seen in ages so that was nice too!
After lunch, the boys and I went out to Dads and they graciously let me take photos of them! That made my entire weekend dont ya know! We went in and got ready for my other brother Daniel to come out with his family to have a birthday party for his youngest JR.. who turned one on the 13th. hehee lots of October babies! :)

JR the birthay boy {ONE}

We wrapped up the weekend Sunday and headed home...

Todd has been hunting on the weekends-hence why he didnt travel with me.. yes its true.. Im a "hunting widow" from October-January. Bad thing this year he hasnt seen a thing yet. I keep hopin' for the "big one" for him, but not yet.

Todd in his deer stand

This past week was hell on earth at work. I wont even bore you with those details.. lets just say... as I told my boss {appropriately on Bosses Day}..."if things dont change... Im going to start drinking margaritas at lunch to get through my day." haha and so all I wanted to do when I got home this week was kick back, play some online UNO.. {thanks to facebook} and relax.. blah! hahaa..

So, now you are caught up to this weekend! I will post more of that and pics tomorrow!

My sweet, sweet fall boys!

Checking In~

Well, I wanted to post some pics from the weekend back home, but the pc that has the photos has gone caput! I will be back to post real soon. In the meantime.. enjoy this...Some retro funnies...

ps: Angie and Kimmy both nominated me for blog awards... Thank you girls!!!... please visit them in the links to the right side.. Im so happy to know them and be friends with both.. ;o)

Strength~

Well today Im home.. I havent felt much like my joyous self lately and havent been feeling much like posting or complaining about anything to anyone. So Ive been missing for a bit. I dont want any sympathy as I know its all me. In my head and heart. And the things going on are things only I can fix. And with time they will be fixed or patched up. I just have to keep believing in myself that anything is possible.

Sooo... while reflecting and taking notes in my thoughts.. I got to looking around {perhaps side-stepping the issues for a moment} and found this.... Infinity Strength Necklace .... And this is the message....

~All the strength you need is right there inside you.~

I knew right away that I should get this.. first of all.. Todd has always told me this, he has always believed in me and I think gave me the courage to find my own strength. Also, with the way Ive been feeling, I just think I needed a little boost of that strength. I cannot wait to get it and wear it every day.

If you know me you know that this will pass, this feeling of ughness {is that a word?} and I will be back to my cheerful self soon. I have the strength, Ive been praying.. its just taking longer than usual.... perhaps old age?, perhaps change of season?.... perhaps.. Im just crazy! ;)