"TrIcKs & TrEaTs"

We're back... but our (Joey & mine) backs our both still out!!!! Joey is laying on my heating pad even as I write this (I know that he will never curse her again for being left on- on his side)..... We ALL had a blast- Joey rode the hay wagon with the kiddos & I drove behind & helped get them in & out (about 1,000 times)- ouchy!!!!!!! Here are some pics from our day:

Priss sported this little outfit ALL day- until time for the hair buns....
(which by the way only took 1 do-over..)


Ladies & Gentleman I give you:
~Princess Leia & Yoda~

me & cutest little Stars Wars characters in this Galaxy!!!

the WHOLE Harris Gang!!!
(I wonder why it is that Joey looks more rested than I do??
ha ha ha...)

Princess Leia accepting her award for:
"Best Halloween Hair"

Yoda accepting his award for:
"Best Over All Costume"

posing for pictures after the awards......
(I got a little misty eyed during the ceremony of course- I'm such a water-head!!!!)

Princess Leia- after completing her costume with
her light-up mask & lightsaber...

Yoda & Leia
(waiting for the others on the hay wagon-getting very sleepy)

(2 very PROUD & Very TIRED Jedi parents)
until next year......
May the Force be with Ya'll!!!

p.s. THANK YOU Laura & Sheri for making the Club House party soooo fun- we always have the best time!!!

"whew- Spirit Day GALORE!!!!!"

Well... we are back from "Spirit Day", the Walk-a-thon, & Anna Lou's party & let's just say that I'm pooped- we ALL are. Ashton is finishing his nap in my bed & Priss is putting Lucy down as I post some pics- (really quickly). It was SO much fun- more like a Carnival in OVERDRIVE from the beginning. Can anyone say .. "Campbell's soup & sandwiches for Friday night dinner???

from start: Josey & I making the flags for the Walk-a-thon
to finish: naps!!!!!!!!!!

"a Halloween-Past post...."

~WARNING~
this is a LONG one... but I want the kiddos to someday see ALL of these good times too!!!

Josey's 1st Halloween 2003:

Josey with our 2 sweet little neighbor girls:
~Morgan & Paisley~
(I remember them always saying "Ms. Ashly can we come over & see what Josey is wearing today?"- they loved all of her pretty clothes!!!!)

(Priss wearing her 1st Tu Tu that I had ever made. I stuffed those tights to make her some LONG ballerina legs)- she just greeted the trick-or-treaters, but she looks SOO PRECIOUS!!!!

Halloween 2004:

(YES.....I took the easy route & bought a costume- she was really into Dumbo & I must say..
she looks really sweet. We took her trick-or-treating for the 1st time & she LOVED it!!!)

Halloween 2005:

(thanks to my MIL Jean who bought me my 1st sewing machine- I made her entire Little Bo Peep outfit complete with a little sheep-bag to hold her treats)

I made this little outfit (with Cooner's help)- here she is headed out to her music class to pass out these little popcorn-ball-ghosts!!!

Halloween 2006:

" Li'l Bride"- complete with high heels (of course), a train, an up-hair-do, a veil, & gloves... This one made me a little sad- she looked SO grown!!! I know that she will make a BEAUTIFUL bride someday.... (there is something about making a wedding veil for your child that makes you cry....)

this is her waiting for her friend to come over & go trick-or-treating with us!!!
(guess she got her patience from me- whoops!!)

this is her forgiving Hannah for being late-
(they were so cute together- holding hands ALL night long)

these were my 1st attempt @ custom overalls (they turned out super cute- complete with a little tail in back that wiggled when she walked... so PRECIOUS!!!!)

p.s. A-man was on the way!!!!!!!!

Halloween 2007 "and then there were 2":

~Ariel & Sebastian~

that year I dressed them alike- they always wore matching brother & sister outfits so I think that ya'll expected it... didn't you???


she was SOOO proud of her costume from our Disney trip- she wanted to wear it again!!!

He really didn't care, but I think he looked absolutely adorable in that little crab suit..

It was a VERY cold Halloween so he went home with his daddy after the club house party & greeted the trick-or-treaters!!! I slipped home to help get him out of his costume... He "drooled" over all the fun costumes- ha ha!!!

We met up with Hannah (another Ariel)- we had no idea that they were both going to be Ariel? They told everyone that they were "twin-sister-Princesses!"!!!

Halloween 2008:

She really wanted to be a Nurse (and I secretly was delighted to make that wish come true..)! I found these princess scrubs @ the uniform shop & they looked perfect- compete with a stethoscope, a badge with her name (MANDATORY), & tons of stickers & bandages (all of which were gone VERY quickly to all the "patients" @ the club house!!)

He got to actually wear something that belonged to his sister (GASP)!!! He had NEVER heard of a "hand-me-down" since ALL of his sister's clothes (including pj's & blankets) were pink & purple!!! I loved this little Dumbo just as much as the 1st time around.

NOTE: this is NOT a padded costume friends-
he is ALL home grown!!!


~My Harris Boys~

o-ya & complete with PINK & PURPLE
hair highlights!!!! "I think every nurse gets her hair done Momma" were her thoughts on why we needed some of these!!!!

We had so much fun last year & I can't wait to see what this year holds??? I will try to post some pics tomorrow after the fun!!!! Hope ya'll have a wonderful Holy-ween!!!

"Thankful Thursdays-ALL about Pumpkins"

Being a Christian is a lot like being a Pumpkin-

God Picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.
Then, He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.
He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc
& then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you
to shine for all the world to see!

Today I am thankful that God chose me out of the patch!!! He tells me that there is a plan for my life (Jer 29:11) & I know that He is with me wherever I go (Heb 13:5)!!! I have GREAT comfort knowing that He is in control & I am NOT!!!

Ashton & I made pumpkin bread yesterday... & the house smelled like the best scented candle that ya'll have ever smelled X 10!!! I couldn't find a recipe so I sorta made one up- oops!!! Joey & Priss have started making Panera pumpkin muffies & Starbuck's pumpkin bread a regular Friday morning breakfast treat!!! I am determined to compete with those bullies + A-man & I want a YUMMY treat too....

~Pumpkin Bread~

step #1 stab (sounds scary but it isn't) your pumpkin ALL over & put it on a large cookie sheet. Bake it @ 350 for about 1 &1/2 hrs (until it sorta caves in) & is mushy to touch with a spoon.

step #2 scoop out the seeds & rinse off for a yummy salty treat later. Next scoop out the pumpkin meat (that is what Cooner calls it??) & put it into your blender to puree it. It can be frozen in bags for later & it tastes just as good!!

step #3 mix 2 cups of fresh pumpkin, 2 cups of sugar, 1 cup of oil, 3 eggs, 1 tsp cinnamon, 2 cups of flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp vanilla, & 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice- ALL together in your mixer.. (I think that is all- I really did make it up??)

step #4 pour it into loaf pans & bake @ 350 for 35 min (or until the center is firm). I also sprinkled some oats & cinnamon on top to make it EXTRA yummy looking (I have NO shame when it comes to trying to impress Joey)....


step #5 make a double batch of cream cheese icing (I told you that I have NO shame) & ice it as you serve it. Finally watch as they practically choke down dinner to get to the yummy smelling dessert cooling on the counter.....

step #6 sit back & let them fight over cleaning up (because I say "he who cleans up gets another loaf of pumpkin bread.." I think that I made my point... Who says you have to go to Panera or Starbucks for YuMmY TrEaTs?????
(Josey insisted on writing names on the loaves- so that her daddy would NOT eat hers... too bad Ashton didn't think of that....- his daddy ate ALL of his own & Ashton's)

this is Ashton thinking-
"huh I wonder if we get to stay in our pj's ALL day today tomorrow too???
I kinda like playing in all of that pumpkin goo!!"