Halloween Party!

Our neighbors have a Halloween party every year and it is a lot of fun. The kids especially like any excuse to be able to wear their costumes. This year our diva darling, Kassidy was a can-can girl. Bailee was the cutest sailor girl. They both were so cute, but of course, I'm biased. :-)They like for me to dress up too, so this year I was Cinderella. At the party, the girls got to turn their Daddy into a mummy and decorated some pumpkins and went to town on a pinata. We had a great time, McConnells! Can't wait until next year!
 
 
 
 

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Severed Witch Fingers!

 
 
I got this great creepy recipe from my good friend, Jessie. She won a contest with these, so I thought they would be perfect to bring to our neighbor's Halloween party last night. They turned out great and so real looking. They are pretty tasty too!

The recipe is as follows:

4 cups creamy peanut butter
2 lbs. powdered sugar.
1 lb margarine
straight pretzels
sliced almonds
red decorating gel

Melt margarine and peanut butter. Add powdered sugar. Stir and knead until thoroughly mixed to form dough. Mold dough around pretzel and mold into finger shape. Use toothpick or backside of spoon to help shape finger and make lines for knuckles. Add almond slice for fingernail. Use red gel for blood.

*Pretzel in center give the notion of biting into the "bone" of the finger.

The girls loved these. This recipe makes ALOT of 'dough'. The girls have parties this week, so I can use it, but next time I may half the recipe. Great treat for Halloween.

Wheat Bread!

Deborah (my relief society president) took my left over wheat that wouldn't fit in a can and ground it into flour for me. I was so excited to get it that I attempted to make bread today! It actually turned out pretty good. I don't have a Bosch, so I did in in my bread maker. I was proud. The kids liked it too. Yea for me!
 
 
 

Making Mom a cake

Well, yesterday was my birthday. Do dare say how old I am?.......(cringe)37. I really wasn't feeling old until I talked to my oldest step-daughter, Morgan on Friday, which was her birthday and she just turned 18! How can that be possible? Anyway, After church,the kids hung out at Mike and Melissa's and Billy and I had some alone time. (THANK YOU!) While the kids were there they made me this great Barbie cake. It was almost a shame to eat it, but it was good! It was a busy weekend. Saturday, the girls and I were at Super Saturday at the church and then that night we went out to the Haunted Corn Maze. It was a lot of fun and Bailee even went through the Haunted Woods with us. I screamed about 50 times and Bailee didn't scream once! But she sure squeezed my hand real tight when she got scared. Then it was almost 11:00 and we took the kids to eat at IHOP. They were so tired. Zombies eating pancakes! Thanks to everyone that called to wish me well for my birthday.
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Food Storage

Saturday our ward Relief Society had its Super Saturday. It was a lot of fun for all the ladies. There were many "crafty" things you could make (good Christmas gifts) and then we also had the dry pack canning equipment that you could use all day. I'm just barely getting started on my food storage and I was so excited. I did 50 pounds of wheat, 25 pounds of oats, 25 pounds of rice, and 10 pounds of pinto beans. (just getting started on my basic life sustaining grains). My goal is to reach a 3-month supply for my family. For my non-LDS family and friends who might be thinking what the...???? In our church we are advised to have a food storage that you can use immediately if need be or in case of an emergency or disaster, where you aren't able to go to a grocery store because of disaster or economic hard times. You can see more explanation by clicking HERE. I really saw the impact that Hurricane Gustav had here. A day or two before it was supposed to get to our area, Walmart's shelves were practically empty and it was a mad house. Especially no water or batteries. Now, Gustav died out before it reached us, but the panic of not being prepared was there, especially when hundreds of thousands of people were all after the same thing. So,I was very excited to get mine going and knowing my babies won't starve, at least for a little while. :-)

Tag Again!

My cousin had this tag and it looked like fun.
"Post the 4th picture from your 4th picture folder."
Here's mine....


July 2006 Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA)at the Army base in Okalahoma about an hour from where we were stationed at Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX. It had a lake for fishing, a beach area, and two water slides that we went on over and over again. My goodness, my girls look like babies! Bailee was 5 and Kassi was 2 1/2. They grow so fast!

I tag anyone!

Master's Degree! Yea!

Yea! He's all done. I just have to take a moment to brag on my awesome honey. Billy just completed his Master's degree. He now has a Master's degree in Business Management.
I am so proud of him! I know it's not easy going to work and going to school especially for a Master's program and also finding the time to fix up stuff around the house, spend time with his family, and oh, yeah...FISH! Of course, he is the smartest guy I know and he made it look easy. I just want to tell him Congratulations. That is quite an accomplishment. I am so proud and thankful for him and all he is doing to provide a good life for his family after he retires from the military. Now, he is getting busy to study for the next rank of Senior Master Sergeant. That's my go getter! Whoo hoo!Way to go baby!

Dooder, Dooder Pumpkin Eater

The other morning I thought Dude was just chewing on one of his toys. As I went closer, this is what I found.
 
Yes! He had stolen one of the girls' little pumpkins they picked at the corn maze and was really eating it. Crazy dog.
 
Since it's Halloween time and he was behaving like a little monster, I took this opportunity to put his Frankenstein hat on for this photo opportunity.
 
He didn't even mind the silly hat as he was chowing down on some pumpkin.
 
He ate the whole thing!Crazy dog. I know you're all wondering. Yep, he promptly pooped and it was all seeds. Good fiber, I guess. Happy Halloween!

Hook 'Em Horns!

It's been kind of a slow week, but we had a big sports day Saturday. Bailee won her soccer game. Yea!!! It was also the Red River Rivalry The Big Texas vs Oklahoma Game.

It was an awesome game. Even the girls were watching and doing their "Hook Em Horns".

#5 Texas came out on top over #1 Oklahoma. Whoo Hoo! Go Texas!

Then we watched the LSU game that night, which unforntuately they didn't win. Too bad Tigers. I didn't know previously, but LSU's quarterback is an LDS return missionary that followed Crowton out here. Cool. Right now, Billy is watching Dallas and last time I walked by they made a touchdown, maybe we can come out for a win.

Tag

TAG!

1. What is your occupation right now?
Mommy, wife, Transcriptionist for a market research firm.

2. What color are your socks right now?
Live in the South. It's warm. Flip-flops about everyday.

3. What are you listening to right now?
My daughter crying because she got marker on her new shirt.

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Yes, grew up on a farm and it was kind of required, but it came in really handy when my dad got a '69 Mustang four on the floor for my brother and I to drive. It was cool!

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My mom catching up on things.

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Of course! My cousin! It has been fun to get to know her more through the blog since I am older and we lived so far apart growing up.

8. How old are you today?
Oh my gosh! Do I dare say 36 and counting? I'll be 37 next Sunday! AAAH!There is no way I'm that old!

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Football if I'm in the mood,but only certain teams. In our house we watch Dallas Cowboys (Billy's team since birth), Texas Longhorns (Hook 'Em Horns!)and we will watch LSU Tigers and the Saints (When in Rome....) Then, I will watch any Idaho or Utah team if they are on because I miss it back there. Billy will watch any of them though.

10. What is your favorite drink?
Lipton Raspberry White tea. It is sooo good, but I'm trying to quit. I'm not sure where that stands on the W.o.W. I don't drink carbonated drinks anymore, so I may be stuck with water.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes. Have tried a few different colors of blonde. Went dark brown for the first time last year, but really prefer blonde. When I was dark I noticed that I actually had some grey hair! I was appalled to find that out! I will definately stay blonde from now on!

12. Favorite food?
It's a toss up between Mexican (which is hard to find in the south. It is not like California/Utah Mexican food, which I could eat everyday) and Italian.

13. What is the last movie you watched?
The Condemed with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Billy's pick, but it actually wasn't that bad. I think I have seen the Prince of Egypt about hundred times today too. (The kids are out of school today.)

14. Favorite day of the year?
Christmas! I love watching my kids Christmas morning and seeing them be so excited.

15. How do you vent anger?
Probably being sarcastic and a bit of banging and slamming things.

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I'm a barbie girl

17. What is your favorite season?
Spring and fall

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
Blueberries

20. Who is the most likely to post a comment on your blog
Sabra, Cindy, or Melissa. THANK YOU!

21. What is the most important thing?
FAMILY.

22. Living arrangements?
My disco 70s house that is slowly morphing into updated glory. It's looking great.

23. When was the last time you cried?
A week or two ago we watched a movie about a family where their child was killed in a hit and run. I just couldn't help but to sympathize and think of myself in that position of losing one of my children. I couldn't bear it.

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
Shoes, shoes and more shoes! For the record, Billy has more than I do. My feet grew when I was pregnant with Bailee and I haven't quite built up my collection to where it was.

26. What did you do last night?
We watched a movie.

27. What are you most afraid of?
My kids getting hurt.

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers?
Cheese.

29. Favorite dog breed?
Coton de Tulear. My little Dooder!

30. Favorite day of the week?
Friday

31. How many states have you lived in?
Idaho, Utah, Texas, Louisiana

32. Diamonds or pearls?
Diamonds (they really are a girl's best friend) I agree.

33. What is your favorite flower?
Calla Lilies

34. How did you meet the person who sent this to you?
We're related!

I tag: Sabra, Melissa, Kristie and anyone who wants to.

Watch Day

At Kassi's dance class they have watch day the first class of every month. Monday was Kassi's first watch day of the year. She is always so excited for watch day to strut her stuff and she is quite the strutter. :-)Bailee had her cheernastics watch day last week and I forgot the camera. (Bad Mommy). I will have to catch her next month.      

The Corn Maize

I love this time of year! A family in our ward owns a corn maze here in the area. It has become a yearly thing for us. We went last year a few times and this year Kassi has been waiting and waiting for me to call Sis. Billings to see if the pumpkins were ready yet so we could go. Melissa and I took the girls this afternoon. We had a great time. They have the corn maze, hayride to pumpkin patch, cow train, duck boat races, pig races, a huge box full of corn kernels, and this year they had bunch of ducks. This was a big hit with the girls. They just loved chasing and catching the poor things. The whole little flock was under a minivan trying to hide from the kids. One or two would venture out to be caught. We also ran into Kassi's old soccer coach and her daughter Zoe. So many friends to play with. The other big hit with the girls was Oscar Hinkledinkle the clown (aka Bro. Bates) also from our ward. Now everyone knows I hate clowns, even my girls. They kept asking me if I was scared, I said no because I knew who it was. Kassi was a little timid at first too until I told her it was Raegan's grandpa then she was all over him. They couldn't get enough and he kept making them balloon animals. He even went on the hayride with us. We picked out two huge pumpkins and two tiny baby pumpkins. They were so excited. Melissa and I were pooped out, but had to venture into the corn maze for the girls it was the last thing they hadn't done yet. Melissa knew one of the "corn cops" and asked him to come in after us after 10 minutes to help us out. Thank goodness because we would have been in there forever. They also have a Haunted Woods trail that we may come back and go through with the hubby's next weekend. Should be fun. Sorry about another montage, but I had so many pictures I didn't know which ones to post so it was the easiest way show all of them!
 
Bailee loved catching the ducks
 
 
I like this no swearing sign.
 
Kassi nervously holding a duck, which is surprising considering she will pick up or squish any bug or worm on the planet.

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Ride without training Wheels? Maybe.

Billy and Mike had this great idea that Kassidy and Evan are ready to take the training wheels off. These poor girls aren't even 5 years old yet. I tried to remind Billy that Bailee only learned just over a year ago when we first moved here just before she turned 6, but he was determined she should learn. Not too bad. My camera battery died, so thanks to Melissa for these pics and video. She was easily willing to give it a try, but also easily ready to be done and not try anymore. Maybe we'll try again tomorrow if Daddy can talk her into it. Here is some short clips of Kassi Poo trying to get the hang of it. Please don't be alarmed at my motherly gasp in one of them. She is my baby you know. I couldn't help it, just instinct I guess. Am I ready for her to grow up?