spooky lil skeleton

I have to admit I was a little disappointed with Aiden's costume choice this year. No more sweet little boy costumes. Now it's all about the gore! Without the mask he still is pretty cute.

soccer party

Aiden had his soccer party last night. We so enjoyed the indoor practice at the Sportsplex. The boys loved the pizza and the trophies! Aiden really enjoyed his coach this year and is already looking forward to next season!

pre scheduled tooth fairy visit

All summer I wondered when Aiden would lose his first tooth and then in September during his dental check up they discovered the 'shark tooth'. One of his adult teeth had grown in behind the baby teeth. We were supposed to help him wiggle his baby teeth and hopefully they would fall out on their own. No such luck. After a month of waiting we went and had them pulled. Aiden did fabulous and I was surprised how long his tiny nubbins of baby teeth actually were with the root still attached. I have known for a month when he would lose his first teeth but I still didn't have it together. I was scrambling to find the tooth fairy box I purchased years ago and what type of currency the tooth fairy was doling these days.

Halloween sneak peek

I took a cue from the rain free weather today and dressed Amelia up in her costume. I read last year about dressing your kids up on a nice day before Halloween because it's usually rainy and dark on the big day and the kids are too excited to stand still for pictures. I love this idea. I bribed Amelia with a little glitter make up and she was more than happy to prance around in her costume!

eye candy

Love, love, love our pumpkin patch pictures. Thanks Rebecca you are so talented. Pictures from rebecca breathauer photography!

meal plan monday

monday:rotisserie chicken from Costco, brown rice, broccoli
tuesday: spaghetti & meatballs, salad and garlic bread
wednesday: white chicken chili (from leftover chicken) and corn bread muffins
thursday: soccer pizza party
friday: leftovers
saturday: turkey mummy dogs and veggies and dip (Halloween)
sunday: potato burritos

pumpkin spice granola

I wanted to use up the pumpkin puree from the waffles last night and combined a few online recipes to make this. I doubled the recipe to fill a large glass jar because part of the fun of making homemade granola is looking at it on the counter!

Pumpkin Spice Granola
Ingredients:
6 cups rolled oats

1 cups Grape Nuts cereal

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

¾ tsp. salt

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup pumpkin puree

¼ cup applesauce

¼ cup maple syrup

1 tsp. vanilla extract

up to 1 ½ cups chopped nuts

up to 1 cup dried fruit



Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.



In a large bowl, combine oats and Grape Nuts cereal. In a medium bowl, whisk together the pumpkin pie spice, salt, sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Whisk until very smooth. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until the oat mixture is evenly coated. Spread on the prepared baking sheet in an even layer.



Bake for 30 minutes. Then turn over the granola using a large, wide spatula. Sprinkle the nuts onto the granola and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until crisp and golden. Depending on the size of your baking sheet, the center may not be fully dried if your granola layer is thick, so if necessary remove the edges of the cooked granola and let the rest cook until done, 10-15 more minutes. Cool on pan or on a fine wire rack.



Break up granola as desired and toss with dried fruit. Store in an airtight container.

pumpkin carving

Last night we got our fall groove on and carved pumpkins. One of my children (not Amelia) was very skirmish about the pumpkin guts but after some help from his little sister he was ready to start creating. Aiden has a monster/alien theme going on, Amelia has a kitty cat (surprise, surprise) that she added numerous kitty cat stripes with a pen while Dale was trying to carve, I drilled holes into my pumpkin for a fun polka dot theme that took less than 30 seconds (love that) {for all my love of the holidays I don't like carving pumpkins or decorating Christmas trees} and Dale carved our name into the fourth one. I had to give you such precise details because it will be hard to make them out from the pictures. Afterwards we feasted on gingerbread waffles, chicken and apple sausages, hot apple cider and roasted pumpkin seeds. It was a great end to one of the most boring and rainiest Sundays we've had in awhile.

why I should clean out my kitchen cupboards more often...

red potato circa 2005.

blt cups

yummy with soup or as an appetizer!

8 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled (I used real bacon bits)
1 tomato diced
3 oz grated cheese (jack or cheddar)
1 sm onion chopped
1/2 cup mayo
1 tsp basil
1 tube Grands Biscuits
Combine all ingredients except biscuits. Divide biscuits into 3 layers and divide each layer into 3 pieces. Put pieces into ungreased mini muffin tins, pushing up sides to form a tart. Add BLT mixture. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen tasty appetizers.
recipe from Dale's Aunt Kaaren

meal plan monday

monday:beef
tuesday:beef
wednesday:beef
thursday:beef
friday:beef
saturday:beef
sunday:beef
just kidding...or am I???

right now...

Outside my window...it is pouring. It has been raining for hours with no signs of stopping.

I am thinking...about what I should be doing to prepare for our little party tomorrow- cleaning, shopping etc.

I am thankful for...our health. Everything sounds so scary regarding flu season this year and I just keep hoping and praying we along with everyone else is spared.

From the kitchen...the dishes are cleaned up from cornmeal and bacon waffles we had for breakfast.

I am wearing...purple bunny flannel pyjamas.

I am creating...a little surprise for a friend tomorrow.

I am going...to clean a bit, shower and have hot soup ready for when Dale and Aiden return from soccer.

I am reading... a Marie Claire magazine I lifted from work last night (I'll bring it back Monday!) as well as Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

I am hoping....Amelia has a nap today.

I am hearing...the dishwasher running, the washer and dryer and 'Olivia' on tv.

Around the house...Amelia is twirling back and forth from the couch to the kitchen table taking bites of applesauce and goldfish.

One of my favorite things to look at...is the dining room table that I decorated for fall and made some new cloth napkins

A few plans for the rest of the week...work, school, a visit from my grandparents, soccer, dance and maybe a much needed date night!

little Miss right now

You're a little past two and a half but not quite three.

you love peanut butter and jam sandwiches and mac n cheese
you call Aiden your sister
you ask me everyday if it's summertime and if you can put on your bathing suit
you love Wow Wow Wubbzy and Olivia
you play with your dollies and cover them with blankets to go to sleep
you love to dance like a ballerina and ask me everyday if it's dance class day
you try to wear your favorite (Aurora princess) underwear everyday
you don't like to wear pants, only skirts and dresses preferably both at the same time
you still carry around Bear Bear and Miss Flower most days
you love love love the color pink

beef bonanza

I'm determined to not let the beef thing become like the apple thing. I loaded all my meal ideas onto wordle and created this. Maybe I'll make a print and hang it in the kitchen. No more what's for dinner?


Wordle - beef: ""

meal plan monday

We just placed our order for a half of beef so I would love your favorite beef recipes!
monday: Thanksgiving leftovers!
tuesday: chili dogs with baby carrots and hummus
wednesday: lasagna, salad and garlic bread
thursday: chicken broccoli roll ups (recipe on blog) green beans and garlic mashed potatoes
friday: leftovers
saturday: frozen pizza (Mama's heading out for the evening)
sunday: pot roast with carrots and potatoes

pumpkin patch

Yesterday after school we headed to Stoney Ridge. The sun was shining but there the air was cool. Definitely a beautiful fall day. There were no crowds and the kids had a great time (after we filled their tummies with pie and ice cream)! We checked out the animals and played with the pumpkins while we waited for our favorite photographer to arrive. I'm sure Rebecca got some beautiful pics of the kids but you'll have to wait a bit for those. Here's some from my camera.