A *Magical* Celebration

Well, I am 40 now.

Look where I got to celebrate!

Is this not the most magical place ever???

Stay tuned for LOTS more pictures, my friends.

Someone's Turning the Big 4-0

You'll have to excuse me for the next few days . . . I will be busy blowing out all my candles.
:)

Easy Pumpkin Pie Bars

I saw these at ALDI and thought Caroline and I would give them a try. (normally, I do not like dessert mixes, but they are so easy to make with kids)
Oh yum! (I was pleasantly surprised!)

They are sooo easy to make and they are sooo delicious! (if you like pumpkin pie, you will love these!)

They have a gingerbread crust, which is actually my favorite part.

Make sure you cook them long enough and then refrigerate them or they will be very runny.

Enjoy!!

My Go-To Fast Food

Once in a while, I find myself in a situation where I have not eaten anything for a long while and I have not thought ahead enough to pack something for myself to eat and I start getting "the shakes". (just happened today)I needed protein pronto.

So I stopped at my favorite little place on the planet (Starbucks, or Bigbucks, as my kids like to call it) and got myself one of these. . .

source

It is a Chicken Santa Fe Panini and I LOVE it!

It's "Natural chicken breast with sour cream green chili spread, bell pepper and pepper jack cheese on flatbread."  Soooo good.  And if you don't give in to the temptation of buying a pumpkin spice oo-la-latte, you won't spend any more money than you would have at McDonald's. (this sandwich is sooo much better than anything you would ever get at MickeyD's, just sayin')

With 27 grams of protein and just the right amount of 'kick', I am hooked. 

p.s. this sandwich may not always be posted on the drive-thru sign . . . just ask for it 

Anyone Up For A Nerf War??

Watch out!!

There's a war going on here.

A Nerf war, that is.

A very serious Nerf war.

A very fun Nerf war.

John set up the back yard with obstacles and places to hide. (aka the "war zone")
Jake and some friends played "capture the flag" with Nerf guns.
What a blast!
And it was free!!!
What could be better??

Anyone else up for a Nerf war??

A Weekend with Friends

Last weekend, I faced my fear of driving long distances by myself on busy highways in the dark and I went to Ohio to see a few of my college friends.  (It took me 8 hours to get there and 6 to get home . . . lots of construction.) I was proud of myself and I was so glad I went.

We laughed.
We played cards.
We shopped.
We ate out.
We drank coffee.
We stayed up late.
We slept in.
We ate killer brownies.
We talked.


I left Ohio feeling very blessed to have these girls in my life.

"Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief."

- Joseph Addison

Trick or Treat!!!!!

We had a lovely evening to go out gathering candy with friends.  (a little chilly, but beautiful)

Who dat??

Well, it's Drew Brees from the New Orleans Saints, of course! (Jake wanted to be Jermon Bushrod, but we couldn't get his jersey)

I tried to not spend $$ on the costumes this year, so I used an old helmet from the neighbors and spray painted it to look similar to a real Saints helmet.  Here is the "before" . . .

. . . and here is the "after". 

Not bad, right?? 

Jake thoroughly enjoyed being a football player for the evening.  (his over protective mom won't let him play on a football team yet)

He looks pretty good as a football player, I must say.

Caroline went as a dog.

The costume was from a neighbor and her good buddy, Alie, just happened to have the very same costume!!

And look at that sweet cupcake!

Luke went as Brian Urlacher from the Bears.

He loved running from house to house gathering his treats.

"Daddy . . . stop eating my candy!!"

The whole gang . . .

Friendship is so very sweeeet.

:)