Family love, it's the best!

My Mississippi, favorite cousin and her husband came out for a long weekend.  We just don't get to see each other enough!  We had more fun doing nothing really. 

We did a little shopping and such but just visiting was the best part of the whole weekend. 

There was much good food, football, Wii playing, and laughter.  The guys fished.  The two fish they caught however, didn't really feed us all though! 

I have never known anyone better with kids than my cousin Buddy... just watching him with the girls is a treat!

OH, and how did it get to be the end of Oct.

already??? 

Hey guys, I drive a SUV, does that mean I'm in the mob?

So this week has been loooong, full of cranky parents who really didn't want to pick up their sick children, some cranky teachers and various other odd things. 
I had the big girl start a conversation with me that I just wasn't prepared for... I tried not to look shocked, I even had to turn my head and giggle uncomfortably at one point because of the subject matter coming from my little girls mouth.  I was very glad she thought all the things she had heard about were gross, but HOW did she get big enough to know about these things?????  Ah, the joys of middle school.  I wasn't prepared but I got throuh it.  We may have to homeschool now though...
The weekend is here, and my only goal for the weekend is to clean the SUV.  Maybe a little laundry.  Big plans I tell you...that's just the way I like it. 

Everything goes by so fast, we should try to take mental pictures of the high points

You know there is nothing I like better than a good dreary day!  Today was just that.  Football has been on the t.v. all day and I only got out of my p.j.'s long enough to run to the store.
Here's some of what happened at our house today...

Kite flying...I think Kellie's kite may have been in another county at one point! 

Cake balls.  I have I told you of my love of cake balls?  Well, today I decided I needed to make a batch of carrot cake cake balls that may or may not resemble pumpkins.

They are not Bakerella worthy, but they taste good.  I put them in egg cartons to send to a couple of friends.

Katie has been asking for a cute Texas Tech dress that we are seeing a lot recently.  After looking at it in the stores, I decided that I could make it and it wouldn't cost $65 like buying it.  So, today we took one of my camp tee shirts that is too big now and tried it out. Worked great. Took an hour, very easy and looks just like the one in the stores...

And finially, there was some pumpkin carving....

A big pot of soup got both college student niece's to stop by to eat...It was a wonderful day. I'm tired now.

Fall and the Flu

Because I can't get enough of flu like symptoms at work with the tons of kids I've seen lately, Katie had to bring it home.  Oh, it started out like just a cough but quickly turned into the flu like symptoms I had seen so much of...
5 days later I think she is finally almost over it. 
This could mean two things. 
1.  we are done with the flu or
2. Someone else will have it about the time I get her back to school.  I'm praying we are through! I am really praying Mike doesn't get it because he just quit talking about the dreaded flu of 1995. 

Yesterday Katie still felt terrible.  She stayed home with her dad but called me twice crying because she didn't feel good.  Today I stayed home with her and she hasn't cried once.  I'm so glad she's better.

I was thinking I could have gone to work since she was a little better today.  But looking back, I would have missed a wonderful day at home with just Katie.  We snuggled on the couch and watched the American Girl movie, I finished up some crafty projects, baked Pumpkin dump cake, made glazed pecans , and have home made pizza dough rising to use for dinner tonight. 

It was a perfect fall day at home!  (Except for the flu of course...)

I think they will have these in Heaven

My sister and brother-in-law were coming in for the weekend and I needed to fix a few snacks.  We had a few dips and a very good meal but my favorite was the cookies.  It is a cookie recipe I had seen in Real Simple magazine and also on a blog I read, Elizabeth's Edible (her cookie pictures are much better than mine).

Peanut Butter-Cup Cookies

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 12-ounce package small peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped

 Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Coarsely chop peanut butter cups.

With mixer beat butter and sugars.  Add egg and vanilla and beat to combine.  Gradually add flour mixture and mix till incorporated.  Drop tablespoon sized portions, two inches apart on cookie sheets.  Bake 10-12 min. till just lightly brown around the edges.  Cool on wire racks.  Makes 48 cookies

I loved that this makes a nice small batch and I wasn't tired of baking before they were all done! 

I love love love the mini Reeces. You know, they do have the perfect chocolate to peanut butter portions...so, I figured cookies with them broken up in them had to be good and they are! I want to make them and try other chopped candy like Heath bars. Yum. You need to make these!