Oh Martha, you'd be so proud....(maybe)

So I was planning on making those little turkey cupcakes again this year, but I couldn't get these little pilgrim hats out of my head. I saw them on the Family Fun website. (such cute ideas!) There's just something about dipping marshmallows into melted chocolate. (Did someone say fondue?) So I enlisted the kids, of course. But I have to tell ya...this is definitely a two parent operation if your kids are under the age of five, unless you don't mind chocolate getting ALL OVER everything...you should have seen my kitchen table, the chairs, the kids...especially Noah. :)



Doesn't quite yet have the Martha flair, does it?

How's about this?

It's all about the presentation, right?

Or if you're like me...it's really all about the chocolate.

Just Fabulous!

First of all, I have to beg Chelle's forgiveness for taking almost two weeks to pass on this blog award she so graciously bestowed upon me. I think she was feeling a little sorry for me after she read this post, but that's okay! I'll take it. haha :)

I actually started on this post last week, but haven't had a chance to sit down and finish it. In fact, right now I should be cooking dinner, putting in another load of laundry, doing dishes, etc...but the kids are snuggled up next to me watching Milo and Otis for at least another ten minutes, so I thought I'd better seize the opportunity.

(...Okay,I spoke too soon. Now Noah is climbing on my back and pushing buttons on my keyboard with his feet. This will have to be short and sweet....ouch! knee to the head...)

Cue - Copy and paste!

As with any award, there are rules. The rules of this award are:


1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.


Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gidget.Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

EMAILS/COMMENTS ARE COMING, I PROMISE!!!

Carol @ The Siswick Construction Zone

Because Wendi Said So

Heather's Hodgepodge

Mrs. de Miranda @ The Road Less Traveled

Tracey @ Just Another Mommy Blog

If I hadn't jinxed myself saying the kids were distracted, I could elaborate more as to why I picked these ladies, but you'll have to find that out for yourself by checking out their FABULOUS blogs. :)

Now...five FABULOUS addictions?

(Noah is trying to close the computer as I am typing...What happened to Milo and Otis?)

1) Taking pictures of my kids. I am a camera happy mama!
(Okay...as I was typing that Noah found my camera and turned it on. No joke. I got it back from him and then Abby tripped over my laptop cord and the whole computer fell onto the floor. Luckily the floor is carpeted. Still...this is why I hardly ever blog when the kids are awake. Hence, I haven't blogged much at all lately because I am so tired by the time they go to bed.)

2) Used to be kinda addicted to blogging, but I've had to tone that down...(see italics above.)

3) Children's books - I'm a little dangerous with Scholastic Book orders, & I tell ya, I'd move into Barnes and Noble if I could.

4) Chocolate
5) Chocolate
Chocolate definitely deserves two spots. I could really use some right about now.

Tackle These Turkeys!

A couple Thanksgivings ago, I found this cute idea in a Family Fun magazine (11/06). Abby LOVED making them. We made the cupcakes the night before and then on Thanksgiving morning, we decorated them while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Since Noah is now about the same age as Abby was in this picture, I thought these would be fun for them to make this year.

(For those of you who are thinking about making these turkeys,I promise, they were easy to do...otherwise I definitely would not be posting this idea. I do not claim to be a domestic diva in any way, shape, or form. Just click the link above for directions. Have fun!)

To see what other moms are tackling, click here!

We've got our work cut out for us...

One of the things I LOVE about our house is that we are surrounded by trees. We've lived in this house for three and half years, and every fall I mean to take pictures of the autumn leaves before they fall off the trees and blanket our yard, but I always miss it....until now! I took this picture last week and within two days, the leaves were already falling. I caught them just in the nick of time. Whew...especially since this may be our last fall in this house.

Abby has been especially excited for the leaves to turn and start to fall. She's been asking for the last two months, "Is it fall yet?...I can't wait to jump in the leaves!"

Huge piles of leaves are never lacking around here...once we start to rake them up, that is. :)

Click here for more PSF!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I've hit 1000!!!

1000!!!!

1000 profile views!

I've hit the big time now.

Is there a special meme for that one?

(Geez, I hope not. Can you imagine?)

Of course, it only took ELEVEN MONTHS from the time this blog was created to get there.

But in all fairness to myself, I didn't really start posting much on here until March...so that's not too bad, right?

And just trying to make myself feel better, profile views are counted separately than visits to your blog page.

And yes, I know I could add one of those site meters, but I may be setting myself up for disappointment.

Still, I only have myself to blame for my lack of visitors as of late since I haven't had time to post (or comment on) much of anything.

One of these days, things will calm down and get back to normal, right?

Until then, don't think I've forgotten about you!

Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get to post a Wordless Wednesday this week!

Maybe...just maybe. :)

"You have to follow your dreams..."

The AWESOME Agape Children's Choir sang on Ellen today in honor of the Presidential election. (Click here for the Change My World music video!)

"We might be small, but our dreams are not."

Listening to the lyrics reminded me of a conversation we had with Abby recently. As we were driving home the other night, Abby noticed the first star in the sky. Pat reminded her to make a wish to which she replied, very matter of fact...

"You have to follow your dreams if you want to get your wish."

Taken back a bit, I said, "Wow, Abby! You are so right! Don't ever, ever forget that."

Children teach us so much, don't they?

How blessed we are to live in a country where we have the freedom to vote, the freedom to choose, and the freedom to follow our dreams.

"How-wa-weeeeen" Highlights!

I had every intention this year of not spending any money on Halloween costumes. I planned for Abby to wear her Cinderella dress, and Noah seemed fine with the Nemo costume Abby wore a couple years ago.

Then I saw the Thomas costume at Target.

Not that it's the cutest costume ever, but Noah LOVES Thomas! He's pretty much obsessed. The first thing he wants to do every morning (without fail) is play with his "choo-choo chains". So you can imagine his face when he saw this costume!

Of course, there was no way I could have bought a costume for Noah and not Abby...especially since she is obsessed with the Barbie Diamond Castle movie right now and dances around the house singing "Con-nec-ted! Con-nec-ted!" on an hourly basis.

And Target just happened to carry the Princess Liana dress too.

What can I say?

Maybe they'll want to wear these again next year. (haha!)
Here's my favorite Halloween picture of the kiddos (despite the red eye that I couldn't edit.) I love how Noah is tilting his head and grinning from ear to ear. They had a blast trick-or-treating. They were so good about saying thank you for their goodies, and then Noah would enthusiastically say "Appy How-wa-weeeeen!" It was too cute.

We've got some great kids (as their Daddy always says).

Here's a few more fun pics...Smilebox style.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook