Addendum to the Rocky Horror Picture Show~~Kiss My GRASS!!

Who needs a scary Halloween when all you had to do was come and look at our yard? It was truly frightening looking out and seeing everyones exquisitely and professionally done yards and only seeing boulders and rocks in our yard.



YAHOO!! After 2 1/2 LONG years of hard work, we had grass delivered on Halloween!! On Saturday, we were so thrilled that first thing in the morning, about 10 neighbor men showed up to help Andrew lay the sod. I was so touched I was brought to tears. So I bought everybody doughnuts and chocolate milk. With all the help, it only took 1 hour to lay all the sod, front and back! It would have taken Andrew forever to do it alone. So THANK YOU to all the good neighbors who gave such wonderful service to us.





Even though it has been so difficult cultivating our yard over the last 2 1/2 years (thanks to this ROCKY substance they call Herriman), we have grown so much as we have humbled ourselves and have done the work as a family instead of hiring someone to do it. Each member of our family spent months throwing rocks into the wheelbarrow, raking, and shoveling up dirt. But the greatest thanks goes to my husband, Andrew who has spent every minute of sunlight, before and after work and every weekend to put this thing together. WOOT WOOT! KISS MY GRASS!!

Trick-or-Treat!!

We had a great Halloween this year. It was very low key, non-stress, and just a lot of fun. I could never have experienced this night with my kids if it wasn't for my friend, Nikole at work. She selflessly offered to trade shifts with me so I could spend this fun night with my kids, so here's a shout out to Nikole THANK YOU!! We had a great night, and the kids cashed in royally (which I am very happy about hehehe!!)

Halloween party!!

My sister, Rachael and her kids came up to the cabin on Saturday so we could have our annual Halloween party. The kids dressed up in their costumes and had a blast.
On the menu:
Appetizer: Mummy Dogs
Sloppy Boo's
Witch fingers (celery)
Dead mans eyeballs (olives)
Skeleton teeth (corn)
Tweenkie Ghosts

The kids helped make the Mummy dogs; they thought it was the best activity!!




I'm so glad we got to have a Halloween party. I'm already planning next year's!!

Going to the cabin

I had my first official weekend off from work ever. To celebrate this phenomenal occasion, we decided to go up to the cabin and have a wonderful weekend relaxing. Our cabin is in Midway, and I just love going up there this time of year. The air is so cool and clean; the colors are so vibrant. You get that hometown feeling of community that is so unique to small towns. Everybody knows everyone else. Everyone is so friendly. Nobody is in a rush. The best shakes are found at the local mom and pop ice cream stand. The local bakery on Main has the best little cupcakes and had a big huge moose cake in the window. I went to a new store that is located in a big red barn! It was a wonderful weekend and a fabulous opportunity for me to reflect on my countless blessings. The weekend was over too quickly. I can't wait go to back!!



I was relaxing so much I didn't see Ava eat a bright red marker!!

We took the kids to the park for the afternoon. They had so much fun!!


That is the face of pure happiness!

I've been tagged

I have been tagged by my cute friend, Matti who I love and want to give a shout out to: I AM SO PROUD OF YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ENDURED AND ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS! LUV YER GUTS!!!!
8 shows I religiously TIVO
1) Law & Order SVU-all episodes (yes, NOT quite the same anymore Meloni!!)
2) Grey's
3) House Hunters (new episodes only)
4) Desperate Housewives
5) Designed to Sell (new episodes only)
6) The Office
7) 30 minute meals by Rachael Ray
8) Little House on the Prairie

8 of my favorite restaurants (cheers to the all-American food chains!!)
1) Red Robin!
2) Olive Garden
3) Chili's
4) Su Casa
5) PF Changs
6) Astro Burger/Crown Burger
7) Cafe Rio
8) Arby's (except they don't have Diet Coke!!!)

8 things I did yesterday
1) Showered in the morning!! (quite the accomplishment!)
2) Went to the mall to buy Adam and Addie some pants at the Children's Place
3) Met Andrew for lunch at Applebee's (won't be making THAT mistake again...note favorite restaurants above and how Applebee's is NOT included)
4) Went to Costco to get gas/shop
5) Unloaded groceries from Costco (an eternity)
6) Took a short nap before work
7) Got a headache
8) Went to work and had a soup party; went home at 0230 with a headache

8 things I look forward to
1) our family Halloween party at the cabin this weekend (celebrating my first official weekend off work....ever!! woot woot!!)
2) My Birthday on NOVEMBER 12th!! (Hurry you folks out there; not much time to shop!!)
3) Getting our grass installed on Halloween
4) The Halloween parade at the school and trick-or-treating with my kiddies on Halloween
5) Thanksgiving and making Adrianne's dad's famous turkey!
6) Decorating for Christmas
7) Spending time with friends and family during our many holiday traditions
8) Having every other weekend off now!!

8 things I love about Fall
1) Pumpkins
2) Fall leaves
3) soup, soup, and more soup!!
4) Going to the pumpkin patch
5) Fall, crisp air
6) Wearing long sleeves with jeans
7) Getting to wear "fall colors"
8) The peace it brings me

8 things on my wish list
This will be easy because I think I have everything I have ever wanted right now. Over the last year I have had many opportunities to reflect upon my blessings every day. I have learned to appreciate even the small things like having clean running water, having a washer/dryer, having my kids kiss and hug me when they get home from school. The only things I really wish for is....
1) To someday be able to cut my hours or quit work all together to be more of a stay at home mome and not be such a tired mom
2) OH....and...I still don't have that refillable drink mug from the megaplex theaters. If I had that, my wish list would be packaged up all nice and tidy!!

Halloween Porch Extravaganza!!

I was a little late this year, but I FINALLY got the Halloween porch up! Yahoo....I am ready for Halloween!!





Halloween Brew
1 32 oz. box of chicken broth
2 cans of black beans (rinsed)
1 pkg frozen corn
1 bottle salsa
1 can chicken

add all ingredients and cook in crockpot on low for several hours. Yummy served with parmesan breadsticks.

Pumpkin Patch

Every year we go to the local pumpkin patch. We just love going there because it has a lot of fun things to do. It has lots of tractors the kids can play on, it has a corn maze which is made just for kids, and they create places that are perfect for pictures. Most of all the kids just love running around the pumpkins, trying to find that perfect one. We look forward to it every year!!