Elf Yourself!

Make sure you watch these in FULL screen!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Peace out Homeslices!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Halloween Fun!

Hangin' in their cool shades!

Carvin' pumpkins!

Then painting pumpkins!

The finished result!

My little beasts!

So ferocious! I barely snapped this picture before they attacked!

I was so scared!

So was Jake!

Spirit week at Sunrise!

Jake and I on the way to KOOZA by Cirque du Soleil---it was Excellent!

Jordan and Braden on Hawaiian Shirt day. My mom bought these for the boys when they were in Hawaii a while back. They really came in handy!

Crazy Clothes/Hair day. Jordan did GREAT and loved his hair. His clothes totally didn't match and his hair was pretty crazy!

Adventures in Squashland

For anyone who knows me well knows that I am not afraid to try new recipes. I actually do it quite frequently. I like almost everything, especially if it is a fruit or a vegetable. Needless to say, tonight was a disaster. I acquired a butternut squash and a spaghetti squash last week and was eager to try a few new recipes. I LOVE yellow squash and banana squash, so I thought this wouldn't be much different. I chose a creamy butternut squash soup and spaghetti squash with tomato and basil. They were both easy and safe. As I completed my presentation it actually looked pretty good, but I had a feeling deep inside me that serving this to my family was wrong on so many levels.

I learned a lot at this meal. I sat down and we had prayer and then I did a lot of observing. Jordan dug right into the soup without question. I told him also what was in the other dish and he said, "Yummy." Braden dipped his spoon into the soup and carefully licked it off. He also liked it. Jake went for the Spaghetti squash dish first. Traditionally Jake is not a fan of ANYTHING from the squash family unless it is a dessert made with pumpkin. But here he was, my sweet husband, eating the meal I had prepared him -without question or complaining.

I started with the soup, which was WAY too peppery, but otherwise was okay...for a few bites. I quickly moved on to the spaghetti squash. I glanced over to Jake whose plate was half empty and tried my first bite. I quickly fought back my most simple of reflexes--the gag--with a gulp of milk. While the flavor was tolerable the texture was not. It wasn't long and before everyone was moving the food around with spoons and forks rather than actual eating going on. I only mustered the strength to take a few more bites before I exclaimed to the family....

Does anyone want PIZZA ROLLS?

If you followed our meal for tonight-- it went from the refrigerator to the stove and then to the garbage disposal. I will definitely continue to try new recipes, but I think I'm done with butternut and spaghetti squash. Still, several hours later, I feel as though I must swallow harder than usual.

After dinner while we were cleaning up Jake asked the rhetorical question, "Why is squash even on the earth?".....I'm not quite sure.

For anyone who would like to try these recipes you can find them in my recycling bin.

My "Fruitful" Shopping Trip

Today I went to a place where you pay a nominal fee and get and astronomical amount of food. I think the food is donated by many grocery stores and the money collected is used to help the poor and needy. It was a GREAT experience, and I got so much food that I had to share some of the produce with my neighbor. I had to take two pictures to show everything, because there was just too much for one. Let me know if you want any information about this place.

PS - They also provide child care. What a wonderful non-profit organization!

My little school boy!

My little Jordan is in Kindergarten!

Here he is before we left!
His new school, Sunrise Elementary!

Jordan with his excited, and a little emotional, mommy.

In line, ready to go into school. The girl he is standing next to is Gabby, our neighbor across the street.

Jordan with his teacher, Mrs. Gast.

So far Jordan LOVES Kindergarten. He has had a cough for a few days and today I said that maybe he shouldn't go to school. He said, "That would be sad, mommy. I need to go to Kindergarten". So I didn't argue any further.