Just Like Dad

I snapped this picture yesterday afternoon. Sage is so much like his Dad that not even he can deny it.

Fall Festival

Yesterday was the Fall Festival at Sage's School. I remember attending his School's Carnival every Halloween as a kid and it's sad that it's just not the same as it was then. I guess it has to do with a lack of parent participation in his school, so sad. Robert and Lydia took the kids around to all the booths while I helped out in one for an hour. It was fun and I'm glad that the kids enjoyed it.

Hopefully next year Aurora won't fall and skin her forehead and knees while playing hopscotch with Gabby.

Jumpin' Good Fun

Last Friday was Gabby's Birthday. Becky rented a Jumper, so I took Gabs, Rora and Jess over and we spent the entire day jumping and being silly.

I caught some video of the girls being spazzy.

Eat Mor Chikin

Last Thursday night Sage and I headed out for some alone time. It was great to get away with my boy so he could have me 100% to himself. Our local Chick-fil-a was having a Mother/Son Date Night so Sage and I decided to take advantage of it.

We arrived and checked in and waited for our friends Marissa & Keenan who joined us. We were shown to our table where a menu and our names were waiting at a table for all four of us. The boys played games and did some art while we ate. It was so nice to be waited on for a change. After dinner we had some Ice Cream and played some games where Sage won a FREE Breakfast and a Chick-fil-a Baseball.



Why I Believe

This is perfect.

Grieving

Today has been one of those days that really makes you think. It hit me today that everyone really does grieve differently.

After the devastating loss of my Mother I find myself bring stronger than I ever thought I could be. It's amazing how well I'm doing actually, given my depression and other death issues. It it still a struggle to get up every morning and convince myself to be a mother and a wife. It takes making a chore list like a kid has for me to get household stuff taken care of, but I am coping the only way I know how. Others who shall remain nameless are moving way too fast through the grieving process for my liking. My Mom was and is the most amazing woman I have ever known and I don't uunderstand how people can just move on so fast.

It really hurts to know that people are already forgetting her. My goal for my children is that they never forget her.

Sea World

We've really had a great time with Jessica being on Fall Break. Today we went to Sea World so see some animals, ride a few rides and play some games. While we were checking out the Polar Bears we were lucky enough to catch this on video:

The girls even played a game where all three of them won a huge dolphin. After Sea World we headed to Souplantation for lunch before picking up Savannah and Sage.

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Yesterday after school I took all the kids out to Oma's Pumpkin Patch. I hadn't been there since High School and while it wasn't exactly like I remembered and some things had changed it was still a great afternoon.

 We started out in the Hay Bale Maze and lots of fun getting lost and then finding our way out a couple of times. Then we took so silly pictures and practiced milking cows. Next, we headed over to Cotton Seed Hill and slid down so many times that I lost count.

 We also went on a tractor ride where we got to see goats, donkey's, ducks and cow's. We also got to see the new baby heifer cow that was born the night before. The down side is that it was so stinky or as Gabby said "Cow's are yummy and stinky!" Before we left we made sure that each of the kids got a pumpkin, it was definitely a lot of fun and I'm sure we'll go back again before fall is over.

Haunted House

In our house whenever Sage gets 100% on a test we take him out for Ice Cream, but this weekend instead of ice cream he wanted to get this Haunted House Gingerbread Kit he saw at Sam's Club.

We went home and cracked it open. I put the house together but then he decorated it or told me what he wanted me to do. He was so proud of his Halloween House!

Stuffing Cupcakes W/ Cranberry Frosting

I had these amazing Stuffing Cupcakes at my friend Marissa's house yesterday and I enjoyed them so much that on my way home from her house I stopped at the Grocery Store and picked up the ingreadients so I could make some to go with dinner today. I tweaked the recipe a little bit, because I'm a picky eater. I guarantee that like me, after eating these you'll be in the mood for Thanksgiving.
Stuffing Cupcakes
2 boxes of Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing mix
2 Eggs
1/2 C. Milk
10 Sauage Links {cooked and sliced}
1/2 C. Flour
2 C. Water
1/2 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped {optional}
1/2 White Onion, Chopped {optional}
1 Stalk of Celery, Chopped {optional}
1 Can of Turkey Gravy or homemade gravy
1 Can of Cranberry Sauce

Mix eggs and milk together and set aside. In large bowl combine stuffing mix, sausage links, flour, and the veggies if desired, then add egg and water mixture.  Scoop into greased miffun tins and bake at 350* degrees for 45 minutes. You may have to loosen them with a knife so they don't fall apart when you take them out of the pans. Yield 14.

While the cupcakes are baking heat gravy and cranberry sauce in seperate pans until thinned out. When the cupcakes are finished top them with the thinned out Cranberry Sauce{frosting} and then serve on top of a little gravy.

These were SO good! I'm not a fan of those particular veggies so I left them out. I was skeptical at first because of the cranberry sauce but oh my Goodness, they were AMAZING!

Conference Fun

*EDITED

I've been really struggling lately with how to help my kids enjoy conference and at least be quiet so I can listen. I think I found the answer.

Conference Packets with activities to keep them busy and a rotating gospel snack tray. When the kids hear someone say they words above the snacks they get one of those snacks. My kids LOVE snack food so I really think this will work.

I'll get back to you after Conference to let you know how it went.

It worked like a charm! We'll defintely do this every time. They paid attention and were actually quiet.

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