Oaks Fall Festival

We enjoyed our evening at The Oaks Elementary Fall Festival for the kids.  This was a new experience for us since we had never participated in the local school events.  We saw and met several of the kids' friends.  It was nice to see so many parents and to see so many of the students dressed up in the American tradition of Halloween!

Matthew chose to be Optimus Prime once again!  This child is so very easy to please.  This is he and his friend from Mrs. Burris' Kindergarten class.  How awesome that he was Megatron!

Madeliene, on the other hand, had her heart on being a bunny again this year (year 3).  Well, low and behold, those pesky bunny ears are no where to be found.  So we improvised and we think we did very well--so here is your very own Snow Fairy.  Beautiful. In hind sight, I guess I could have walked behind her the entire time with bunny ears fingers over her head.  I think I would have gotten a mega-eye roll for even suggesting such an option.

Malcolm on the other hand was a cute as anything I have ever seen.  He is our puppy dog.  He actually wore his costume without being difficult.  If you could have seen him when he was walking around in that crowd of people.  The way that his suit was cut made his little tail wag when walked. So funny. He behaved as if he owned the place. My handsome husband went as a tailgator -UH Cougars No Doubt!

What a great way to start of the "Halloweekend" as my daughter so aptly named it. When we got home we mixed the candy cauldron.  If you have ever been to my house, then you have seen and visited the candy cauldron.  At least, that is the case for any child who has visited our house.  Come trick-or-treat with us on Halloween Night!

Rainbow Fairy Cakes

Look what we made!  These are beautiful and just sweet and tasty.  They are awesome because there is so much eye candy that the kids didn't ask for icing!  Which is also great because I didn't have any on hand and I really didn't feel like "whipping" some up.  I got this idea from www.ourbestbites.com.  Check it out soon.  You will be pleased.

How do you do it?  Prepared white cake mix-divided into 5 bowls. (Actually prepare the cake batter.)  Put food dye in each and mix.  Then spoon layer the colors in any order that pleases you.  A beautiful bright result every time.  

Tips: cover your counters the dye is serious business.  Buy the gel dye not the liquid.  If you are mixing colors--light dye first then add dark.  You can even add extracts to change the flavor and it only adds to the appeal because then they smell great too!


I call these Mork & Mindy since the red and orange sort of ran together.  I still adore them though.  My family loves these and we will make them again and again.   By the way, don't you love my picture?  I love my camera--thank you dear husband.

Beautiful Weather

Don't you just love when the weather is this fine.  Low humidity and comfortable is so nice.  We are now in the middle of October!  It is time to pull out some decorations and get into fall.  I have taken several photos of my babies.  I will post them as I get them loaded.  I hope you enjoy the great shots of them.

So many moments, so few of them captured on film.  For instance, my washer caught fire today.  That was fun.  Malcolm ambushed me with a can of hair spray.  Matthew asked me which my house was "A boy or A girl?'.  Madeliene is asking questions I am definitely not ready to answer and she is getting really good at showing her displeasure.  I can't wait until she is a teenager.

Anyhow, the M&Ms (these are the "seedless" variety) have made their yearly appearance on my kitchen counter.  I wonder how they got there. No worries.  They won't be there for long.

My Visit to Grandma's

I went to see my grandmother today.  It was, as usual, a very relaxing and fun experience.  She weeds her garden before lunch and even takes the time to walk up and down her street to gossip with the other ladies.  Today she told me about another lady who tends to steal all of the neighbor's plants.  I guess asking for a cutting is out of style?  She has always been very direct but, I think she has lifted several filters now that I am grown.  It is nice to be and adult and talk to my grandma.

She taught me so much as a child, how to sew, how to grow a garden, the list goes on.  (My mom showed me some of her best tricks too.) As an adult she has taught me about honesty with myself.  She is brutally honest--to a fault many times.  But, that doesn't mean she doesn't recognize where she has gone wrong.  This is a skill that I still have to work on tirelessly.

I know that my visits with grandmother are rich now--but the days I spent with her as child were no less lustrous.  Those days are a part of who I am today.  I love that and I love her.  That is why I am happy to spend a few bucks on lunch at Burger King or the local thrift store.  I don't mind looking at all of her pieced quilts.  I love when she shows me her newest addition to her garden and then gives me a lesson on how to propagate the plants.  I enjoy listening to her talk about how healthy she is and how she thinks she will live to be 100 years old (I want her to be around when I am 100 years old).  I smile when she contradicts herself and love when she makes herself laugh.  I visit her as often as possible.

(my mom's bleeding heart grows wild in my garden) 

One day I hope to be a grandmother and to have grandchildren.  I hope to love them the way my grandmother loves me.  I hope to love them the way my mother loves my own children.  I have a lot of respect for my mothers and hope my daughter and sons will too.

UH 29 Tech 28!!!!!!!!

Did anyone of you see that game?  It was a great experience--packed seats, lots of cheering, great fans, and a winning HOME TEAM!  I am still totally on a winning buzz with this game.  We were on the edge of our seats the entire game.  [Although disappointed by my Whataburg** not having milkshakes for my sore throat (after the game-could barely speak).]  We watched the game again on our replay just to relive it once more.  It was still just as sweet the second time we watched the Coogs win.

I am so happy that the team is doing well.  It means so much to the University of Houston on so many different levels.  It is absolutely invigorating to know that just maybe we will get excellent recruits (academic and athletic) because of our competitive football team.

For many years University of Houston has been touted as just the local commuter school.  But, there is so much experience, opportunity, and potential on this campus every year that goes unnoticed.  I love my alma mater and I am a proud UH-Technology Graduate.

Eat 'Em Up Coogs!

Yummy Fairy Cakes

My kids and I whipped up some happiness.  Look at this pink cupcake (fairy cakes for the believers) with special sprinkles.  So yummy--we couldn't wait to taste it.  Some things in life can be simple and pleasurable.  We just have to remember them when the time comes.

 

I can't say that washing the bowls and baking pans while standing on top of hundreds of tiny sprinkle candies (unavoidable) was as satisfying as that bite of cupcake.  But the smiles on the faces of my family definitely was!

Enjoy The View

I love my baby's big brown eyes!  I caught Malcolm by surprise with the flash of my camera and he muttered something in Malcolmspeak.  I am not sure if he was scolding me or if he was asking for a drink of water but, I know that I got a great shot of what I love about him on "film".  Enjoy the view, I do.

Go Coogs!

Most people that know me realize that I am faithful fan of the UH Cougars (Eat em Up!).  But, not everyone knows about the shear satisfaction that I get from watching them upset another team! 

I have seen many humbling losses and many GREAT wins!  It is exhilarating and I keep coming back each year for more of that poison.  The last game was gut wrenching.  Like every other Coog, I couldn't turn away--I just knew something great was going to happen. And the prediction was right on--they dazzled us with a 45-35 win against a nationally ranked team!!!

UH Cougars ARE that good!  We can justify and analyze the games all night (which is half the fun).  Sometimes the other team just beats you at your game (even when you are a great team). My advice--lighten up, have some fun, and TAKE IT LIKE A COOG!

My Favorite Kid's Show

I am often asked if I follow any sitcom programming.  I generally don't follow a television show written for adults. I do watch a lot of children's programming. My favorite by far is Charlie and Lola.

My kids (ages 1, 5, &,8) enjoy the unique animation and the soothing music. The moral/message in each show is always appropriate and relevant to today's children. More than anything I love the way the children treat each other (with kindness).

If you want a really entertaining sweet show to share with your children try this one.  I hope you love Charlie and Lola as much as we do.

www.charlieandlola.com

Labor Day Weekend!

I had a busy weekend.  I am so tired.  We saw UH football game -Eat em up Eat em up Go Coogs Go!  They won 55-7.  Not much competition this time.  I hope they win next weekend.

We spent yesterday together in the back yard--it was great- friends, kids, lemonade, and juicy ribs. Yum!  I also started my own facebook account and my very first blog.  So I will do what I can to keep it up and post my musings on a regular basis.

I will sign in again soon.

My New Blog

Hello Everyone!

I have decided to start my own family blog spot.  I have a grasp of the Face Book concept but, I really don't have all the time to read every single post on my wall and it is really OVERWHELMING!  No wonder people seem "addicted" to it.  I am going to give this a good effort and see where it leads me.

So, this blog will start off with my learning of the art of BLOG.  It will also share recounts of the whacky fun and not so fun things that go on in my loving home.  My English could use a brush up too!

Pray for me everybody!!!