"quick FALL fudge"

~Paula Deen's Fall Fudge~

• 1/2 pound sliced easy-melt velveeta
  
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 2 (16-ounce) boxes confectioners' sugar

Directions

Lightly spray the bottom of a 9 by 2-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt cheese and butter together, then add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Remove from heat & add vanilla and nuts. Empty confectioners' sugar into a large bowl and pour cheese mixture over sugar. Stir until completely mixed. Candy will be very stiff.

Using your hands, remove candy from the bowl and press evenly and firmly into the pan. Because of the amount of butter in this recipe, pat top of candy with a paper towel to remove excess oil (I like to top it with the rest of the nuts- it looks more like Fall). Place the pan in refrigerator until candy is firm.

To serve, cut into squares.

I adore this recipe for many reasons- it is quick, easy, & very VERY yummy:

(not to mention that it was another crowd pleaser @ the Ladies event!!!!)

I hope ya'll try it & love it too!!!

and as always:

"I wanna wish ya'll love & best dishes

from my kitchen to yours!!!"

"picture this.."

it's....

PICTURE DAY!!!
this day is NO different than any other day around here.. She looks precious & picture worthy to me everyday!!! I just hope that recess is afterwards??? She does look much older this year & will be sporting a spooky look with her new "jack-o-lantern" smile..




p.s. I found this after she left this morning.. She has taken over one of Joey's bibles & has bookmarked all of the "important stuff"-
she said very seriously!









I don't know where she gets it from??
(this was just 1 of my many nursing textbooks-
ha ha. She is SO me that it is scary!!)








speaking of "good times"
this is little A-man on his first train ride..
He loves trains- PICKLE!!!
(I think that he would love post-its too, but his
sister didn't leave any extras...)

"a YUMMY quick dessert"

~Mini-Snicker bon bons~

1 bag of mini - snickers
1 package of peanut butter cookie dough
1 can of chocolate frosting
little mini paper baking cups

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Unwrap the mini snickers
& place in cups on un-greased cookie sheet.

3. Put enough peanut butter cookie dough to almost cover the snickers.

Bake for 8 -12 minutes or until golden brown then let cool for 15 minutes.



4. Pipe a bit of frosting on each mini cup.
They are AWESOME & the ladies ADORED them!!!

p.s. I got this recipe from my SIL- she makes the BEST desserts..

thanks Michelle!!!!

(Joey offered me money to keep these @ home.... he thought they were amazing too!)

PRAISE REPORT:
The Ladies event went PERFECT!!!!! Everyone was blessed & I know that it was ALL for His glory!!!! and... Josey's class won the "Spirit Day" award & now hold the class shield (until next month's competition)- YEAH for Mrs. White's class!!!!!!

"attention Women of Grace"

I have been a little consumed with getting ready for this
WOG (Women of Grace) event @ our church. THANK YOU
to all who have been praying for me & who have helped out with it
over the past few months!!! If you live around here- I would love to see you tonight. This is our first event of the season & I know that it will
bless your socks off!!!!! I hope to post some pictures & YUMMY
fall dessert recipes from the evening next week.

"do not be terrified, do not be discouraged- for the Lord will be with you wherever you go.."
~Joshua 1:9~
(I am claiming this verse today!!!!)

~Have a BLESSED weekend~

one more thing:
today is Pioneer Day @ SCCS
(precious-precious-precious)

"some ballet & some BIG-girl advice!!"

I will NEVER get tired of seeing these little feet...
We got to ballet a little early last week- so I took
a few pictures of her "warming-up"!!

I only wish that ya'll could see how serious she is
while dancing... She has such talent- I hope
that she continues to love it for many more years!!!

she now LOVES to make phone calls- this little
message came @ just the right time... I needed a little
pick-me-up from a girl who knows how to give sound advice!!!
(Have I mentioned how precious she is? Don't just take it
from me.. you may ask anyone who has ever met her-
she doesn't disappoint- I promise!!!!)

"TU TU tutorial.."

o-kay ladies... dust off those sewing machines cause
Halloween is just around the corner & I have a super cute
costume or party-dress (in our case) idea to share:



~Holy-Ween Tu Tu~

this is all that you need:
go to Wally, Michaels, or any place with wedding stuff &
ask for Tulle. It comes in these little spools or by the yard.
You will need 1 spool of each color or 2 yards if on the spool.

next:
measure your little cutie-pie's waist
& sew (this took all of 15 seconds)

now:
measure out your 6 inch wide
tulle lengths to 30 inches long

ta da:
this is what you'll have in the end: 3 poofy piles

then:
do the same with matching ribbon (rick-rack would look sweet too,
but I didn't have any on hand..)

now:
tie tie tie- until you little hearts content! (don't make your knots
too tight- it takes away from the poof)

finally:
wait by the clock until time to pick up the one its intending for..... GOOD LUCK!!!
(I made one of these for Priss before Christmas last year with red, green, & white- then added jingle bells & ribbon- so sweet!!!! Also- I think these would look precious with red, black, & white for a ladybug costume too- I saw some wings @ the Dollar Tree the other day???? )
this takes 20 minutes from first cut to finish- so worth your time-
I promise!!!

p.s. I picked up some precious black & white tights @
Target (I love you Target) that will pull this little Tu Tu into a complete ensemble for the many festivities that October holds...

"our GREAT pumpkins!!"

sooo... we have tried it ALL when it comes to pumpkins- we

have carved them on our own, bought the FANCY kit, painted them,
polka dotted them, glued them, glittered them.... the list can go
on & on!! However I think that we finally have a WINNER!!!
This year we used our Mr. Potato kit- they are super cute, they
were NOT messy, & best of all- they took ALL of 5 minutes!!!
As far as pumpkins are concerned..
I'd say that these boys are BOSS!!!

....my kiddos are the proudest in the patch!!!

"new & has NOT improved!!"

this... Ashton Honor is YOU doing your new little "trick". You hide in your room behind the curtain when you go "stinky". I guess that I should be happy that you are at least acknowledging the fact that you're going.... but come on buddy. YOU are better than that- (ha ha)!!!!! I hope that one day you look back at this & laugh-
hopefully wearing big-boy pants!!!!

I do love you in those little PJ's!!!!!!!

"lunchbox love-notes.."

Do ya'll remember my "pretty notes" post from last year. Well it has remained a tradition to write those to Priss & put them in her lunch everyday. I had a lot of chats/e-mails with friends that have started this too. Now with first grade comes much MORE prayer & careful consideration to her lunch like: picking a snack that can be consumed "quickly" & choosing a lunch that "looks yummy in a baggie". Both of which are HUGE to my 6 yr old!!!! Then comes the important stuff like: making sure that the note is in place..... I always pack it last, but I am thinking of it during the entire process. "What does she need to hear from me when I can't be with her?" I think to myself. Then it came to me- scripture!!! So I have started to pray over her little notes (cause I know that can't hurt). What a blessing these little lunchbox love-notes can be for our children!
I encourage ya'll to try this out!!!


"They even help on spelling tests Momma"- I hear....



(p.s. PINK polka dot napkins can't hurt either!!!!!)

"I want ya to know.."

today I want to tell you about the BEST person I know... I remember talking to him once while we were driving to dinner & not hearing his answer to my question- he had jumped out of the car @ a red light to push a stranger's car off the road (in POURING rain). He is the kind of guy who when I picked him up @ the airport after a mission trip & asked him "where his bags were?" he said "they needed my stuff way more than I do!" He is the kind of man who calls to tell me that he will be home late because he is staying to pay for an 8yr old's exam & glasses who otherwise would not be able to afford them. And he's the kind of friend, (that when I need a prayer sent up or help with most ANYTHING from a hair trim to a splinter) that is there for me in a second!!!! He NEVER has to stop & think about what Jesus would do... he knows! I pray that my children read this one day & realize how BLESSED they are to call him daddy!!!!!!!! I also hope that they find their soul mates & are as happy as their momma is- (many moons from now- ha ha)!!!!!

(did I mention that this guy has seen to it
that my ENTIRE collection of the GILMORE GIRLS
was complete!!- all I have to say is:
"his mansion in heaven is going to be ridiculous!!!!")

"the trees are taking over!!"

well... it finally happened! After all the problems with the squirrels getting into the attic from "the trees". Then "the trees" moving & cracking our driveway (which I had no idea could happen). Now "the trees" have actually busted the MAIN water line to our house!!! I got a call from my sweet, patient, very very calm- husband @ work on Saturday saying "honey- now don't panic." "Is it the children?" I said in a panic. "NO- I said don't panic- we just have a little water issue" he said very casually. Now just between you & I- the main water line is NOT little!! But need-less-to-say... 4 estimates later- the girls are getting up-rooted this week. I do love those girls- they are beautiful & I love their shade, but I think that this is a must!!! I am sharing this as a lesson for ya'll- do NOT plant trees close to your home or in our case... buy a home with trees (particularly River Burch) close to your home......

p.s. I am trying to consider this trial "pure joy"- but it is difficult. However Josey reminded me this morning that "God makes ALL trees & he doesn't make mistakes!" So true- why don't I think more like her???

(one last picture of us with "the trees"
last fall... they were planted the year that we found
out we were expecting her.....)

"his 1st day of Music class"

well.... his 1st day of Music class was better than I could have even hoped for!!! He adored EVERYTHING including the "take home" drum sticks- they got broken in on the car ride home (ha ha). I didn't think that he would take to his teacher so quickly, but after the sticks were passed out- he became very comfortable with Ms. Nicole... He was the perfect little gentleman- waiting his turn & letting the girls go first (whoever said that chivalry was dead- has never met one of my boys)! I was SO proud of him. We can't wait until next week- thanks for your prayers!!!!! ~Here are a few pics from yesterday~

this is A-man ready for "school"
3 hrs before we had to leave....
(I think that he has been sooo ready to
go to something for him for a change & not
for his sister....)

this is his backpack that he insisted on taking..
(it has been in his closet for months- I was saving it for pre-school)
I must admit that it made him VERY happy & look very big!!!

please excuse this "very proud momma"
picture.. it was taken after class & I was still
so happy that he was SO good & that he loved it!!!
(I'm corny like that..)

"lazy-crazy-days of summer"

Yesterday we just kicked back & relaxed around the house. We colored,

played a little touch football (in the spirit of opening weekend), & busted out old Mr. Potato head. Ashton has become quite the little artist & Josey... well she amazes me with her talents!!!

these were some of my favorite pieces:

"Ballet Class"
(pay special attention to ALL of their accessories
& that beautiful FONT- she is seriously VERY talented!!)

"college"
(I couldn't imagine why she wanted to know how to spell
college- then I saw her picture... She thinks that is what it will be
like- "just sitting in a BIG class listening to a little teacher". I think
that she is way too smart for her age!!!)


"my dresses"
these are all little dresses that she designed-
(don't you love the details right down to the hangers)


"his- Mr. Potato head"
(we are just working on getting the nose & the arms in
the right holes at this point- he loves this little guy..)

p.s. A-man starts his music class this morning. I hope to get some pictures to share with ya'll tomorrow. Say a little prayer that he is good & has a fun time!!!