Trunk or Treat

At our last church, Kenny and I participated in Trunk or Treat. Don't know what that is?...let me tell you! It is an event much like trick or treating but it is done out of trunks, and in our case at our church parking lot. It is a great outreach to members of the community and just a really fun event. When we moved to this town, we decided to give it a try! Since our members had never done one before, I was in charge and quite nervous about the amount of participation we would have. Well, I worried for nothing because we had about 20 cars from our church participate (that is amazing considering we have about 150 members). And even better was that we had a huge amount of people from the town come to trick or treat! We ran out of the 200 hot dogs and only had 3 small bags of candy left. The night was a huge success on so many levels and it only confirmed in me (and Kenny) why God has brought us to this small little town in West Texas.

Our trunk was decorated as a Thanksgiving feast. Kenny and I were pilgrims...well, Kenny dressed his part but I was a little too busy to do my part. I didn't hand out one piece of candy! (I did, however, hand out about 150 hot dogs!!) You will also notice my sweet little ladybug sitting in her stroller and her big brother, the Red Power Ranger, protecting her from behind!

Some of the kids from our church. The Power Rangers were represented quite nicely!

Brayden and Reese the penguin

This was the winning trunk!!

What a great night!! What are your Halloween plans?

And I almost forgot...a HUGE THANK YOU to my mom for making Brayden's adorable ladybug costume. She loves it and so do we! Thanks mom!

HAHAHA!!!

Okay, so I saw this on someone's blog and couldn't stop laughing. Is it bad that I don't do ANY of this???

This is word-for-word from a 1950's public high school home economics textbook....

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE TODAY

*Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home, and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

*Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

*Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, and papers. Then, run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and will give you a lift, too.

*Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small). Comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures, and he would like to see them playing the part.

*Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile.

SOME DON'TS:
*Don't greet him with problems or complaints.

*Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow, and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

*Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

*Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

Our Weekend in Pictures

The kids helped out with the laundry on Saturday.

Then it was pumpkin carving time! (I forgot to get a pic of the end result...)

Where's Brayden?

There she is!!

Saturday evening we went to the library for the Fall Festival. Our little ladybug was a little overwhelmed by it all!

Kennan did a little bowling...

The best shot I could get of my Power Ranger and ladybug...

Brayden gave bowling a try!

Brayden trying on the mask Kennan made...

By far, the best part of the whole weekend...Kenny's first baptism!! He got to baptize our little friend Reese!
Kennan playing in Children's Church with some friends.

On Sunday we went to a Fun Farm/Corn Maze/Pumpkin Patch in a neighboring town. I was pretty disappointed...$30 for our family to get in...definetly not worth it. It really made me miss Terhune Orchards in NJ. This was the best shot I could get of Kennan with some pumpkins. For some reason he was really into tilting his head for pictures...

Doing the corn maze. We only made it halfway...

Kennan and Kenny shooting the corn cannon

Playing in the corn barrel.

Even though it doesn't look like it, this was Brayden's favorite part!!

Doing duck races with Jackson and Mason

Brayden is ready for trick or treating!!

A Bad Hair Day...

6th Folder, 6th Picture

I've seen this on other blogs and thought it might be fun!! All you do is look at your 6th picture folder and find the 6th picture in it.

Here is mine!! Kennan sleeping in May of 2005...

Talk about a flashback!!

Now you do it...what is your 6th picture?? Comment and let me know if you do it too!

Anyone??

I own one piece of Pampered Chef stoneware...

and this is it! The deep covered baker.

It has been in my possession for about 2 months and I have never used it. Does anyone have one of these (or something like it)? I am in need of some ideas and recipes... I was drawn to it because you can use it in the microwave for quick meals, or in the oven. Can anyone help??

2 Things...

So, my friend Kristen has a new cooking blog. I think everyone should check it out and read it all the time. Don't forget to comment (even if you don't know her)...we all love a little blog love, right?? She posts her weekly meal plans and also really great recipes (with pictures)!! With fall coming I am always looking for fun new meals and her blog is the best spot for that! Check it out...I promise you won't be disappointed!

Second thing, I never really do these, but thought it was kind of funny. Pick a name and put yours in the comments! Or feel free to do this on your blog!!

MY GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of your first name plus “izzle”) Jenizzle

MY DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Purple Gorilla

MY SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, name of one of your pets) Lynn Tootsie

MY SUPERHERO NAME: (“The” plus 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Yellow Amaretto Sour

MY NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Gustav Raymond

MY WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Lynn Edward

MY SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Summer Tulip

We've been BOO-ed!!!

Last night, our doorbell rang unexpectedly. Kennan and I ran with anticipation to the front door not knowing what we would find. It wasn't the UPS man or a friend wanting to play...it was a little orange package that said "BOO"!!! We looked around and saw no one in sight so we took the bag into our house. It was after the candy, stickers, and tattoos had been discovered that we realized we had been BOO-ed!!
If you are like me, then you have no idea what it means to be "BOO-ed". Let me explain...it is like a "tag your it" game involving Halloween/fall items. After you are BOO-ed, you place a sign on your front door so that no one else will get you. Then you have to go out and purchase enough fun things to BOO 2 friends. They are to go on and do the same thing until everyone you know has been BOO-ed!!

So, we did our job and went out to the Dollar Tree to buy the perfect BOO-ing items... Then we went to the first house and were very sneaky...

After leaving the package and ringing the door bell we ran away as fast as we could!!
Then we were off to the second house...even more sneaky this time!

After an eventful night of BOO-ing, it was only fitting to come home and have a nice warm chili dinner that had been cooking all day in the crockpot (because isn't that what you are supposed to do in the fall???).
Brayden loved it!!!

Well, there you have it. We have been BOO-ed and we returned the favor to 2 more friends. I think everyone should give this a try!! Go to http://www.organizedchristmas.com/ for the printouts that you put with the goodies that explain what is going on. And after you BOO, enjoy a warm dinner (because it is fall, you know).

(Princeton friends...why didn't we do this when we lived there?? If you are still there give this a try! What a fun tradition!!)

Help a momma out...

In the hustle and bustle of my daily life, I sometimes forget about taking care of myself.

So, this question goes for EVERYONE (men, women, husbands, wives, moms, dads)...

I want to know what you do to have some "me" time.

What do you do to "get away"???

(The fine print: Don't misunderstand me here. I love being a wife. I love being a mom. I love being a sister and a daughter. I love being a friend. But sometimes I need a break...a "time out", if you will. This is where you come in.)

FALL!! (and a birthday shout out)

The sky the other night after a rain storm... Kennan enjoyed playing in the mud after the rain...

Brayden also did a little exploring...
and tasting!!
It is finally getting cool enough to put the kids in long sleeves in the evenings. I think fall has become a favorite season of mine. After living through three falls in the northeast, we became quite spoiled when it came to all things "fall"...cooler weather, leaves changing, apple and pumpkin picking. I miss a few things abut NJ, and fall is definetly at the top of the list!

And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS (my dad). We love you and hope you have a wonderful day. Kennan has already asked many times today if we get to go to your birthday party! So, if you have one don't tell him, okay??

Thanks for being the best dad,

father in law,

and Pops!

WE LOVE YOU!!

Baby Girl...

Where have the last 14 months gone??

August 2, 2007 October 2, 2008