{our Holiday highlights...}

We are back from our wonderful trip up north.... We had an amazing time! We came back & have hit the ground running since- YIKES! But I have to show y'all a few highlights really quickly-

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First stop- Cooner & Papaw's. We celebrated Thanksgiving with my parents this year. Cooner had a table set for kings! She & Prissy put these @ every setting.

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I cracked up once I heard what the A-man had asked his sister to write for him... "I am thankful for... Star Wars Legos!"

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"I was thankful for...." this PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE {from Martha Stewart's website} & my salvation & family too of course. Joey, Prissy, Travis, Tucker, Sysun, Abbie, Jaylee, Kelly, & I ALL agreed it was the single BEST dessert that we have EVER tasted!!!! The double batch was gone in less than 24 hrs!!!!!!

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Cooner picked these greens on Thanksgiving- they were amazing!!

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The A-man & Tuck shot some hoops for hrs at the gym- THANK YOU Uncle Michael! {and Aunt Peggy you are my our prayers!!}

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Next up- Grandma Harris'. We were warmly welcomed with chili & treats- YUMMY!!! Then the ROOK began... Jeff, Jean, Joey, & Jamie table talking like you have never heard before- ha ha!!

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And somewhere in between- we got a new wookie for the A-man, a Glee Album- SO FUN!, some crafts, some clothes, & some new fun things for Prissy's- Lanie, Lucy, & Lizzy. I cracked up when I heard her unpacked talking to her girls about "sharing their new things"- what a fantastic little mother!!!!!!!!!

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and dare I say some new legos.... THANK YOU Uncle Jeff & Tyler for helping the A-man put his new ship together!!!!

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And Prissy & Allisonny got to spend some girl time together crafting & hanging out!!

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And I got spoiled by a little girl who wanted me a lot... and I LOVED every single minute of it! YES my sweet little Paige was my little BFF the whole trip. I secretly planned the whole thing- getting her a wand & putting on top her gift to lure her in..... it worked perfectly. HURRY down her to see you Aunt Ashly little one- I MISS YOU!!!!!!!

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Of course what Muncie trip would be complete without a pony ride or 10 from Uncle Jeff? I'm pretty sure I know what he wants needs for his b-day next month.... pain killers & a back adjustment- ha ha. THANK YOU all so much for everything!!!

{turkey treats}

We are gearing up for some fun Turkey stuff this week..... Last night was Prissy's "Taste of Thanksgiving"- precious! And today the A-man is having his class party {I do so LOVE parties}. We made these little guys! They have been taste tested... and they are adored by ALL!!!!!!

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~Here is what you need~

Rice Krispies, marshmallows, white icing, sucker sticks, candy corn, & chocolate- I mean really.... how could they be anything but wonderful??? YUM!!

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First- make a batch of rice crispies & mold them into balls. Then put them on wax paper & pop them into the fridge to set (about 10 minutes).

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Next dip them into chocolate (I just microwaved some chocolate chips in a bowl for about 1 minute & swirled the ball in it) Then I added the details- tail feathers & eyes. I wish I had some other fun things to add to them.... but that's the beauty of 4 yr olds! They LOVE anything sweet!!!

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Finally... wrap them up tight, tie a little bow around their necks, & pray for the President's pardon- ha ha!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

{late... b-day wishes!!!}

Happy

Birthday

Aunt Michelle!!!

we love you!!!!

{holy sheet....}

..... y'all know I love to re-purpose things & sheets are my FAVORITE. They are perfectly worn in = soft, versatile = ours are all white, & you always have them on hand = clearance sales!! When the holes come- that's when the magic happens! This week I used up the rest of the one I used for the ruffle lamp shades. Remember them? Here is how I made them {lampshade tutorial}.

**I am just now realizing the title of this post may be a tiny bit inappropriate??? Sorry!**

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I moved the "real" curtain from the office into the dining room.... and needed a quick fix. I decided to try a sheet? Cooner has made a blue million- so I knew it was possible. It turned out pretty great considering it was already hemmed on 2 sides & it was $FREE$. Joey thought it was "genius". This coming from a man who once asked me {2 days into our marriage} if I knew anyone who could sew a button on his shirt.....

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And because I LOVE wrapping gifts... I added some leftovers from the sheet to some gifts. I knew that my sweet Prissy would appreciate it... and she did!!!

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I love the look of this crib sheet scrap that I used for my sofa pillows last summer. This one is for the A-man... he was not as impressed- ha ha!

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p.s. THANK YOU for your sweet comments & e-mails about our Christmas pictures!! I ordered our cards- yeah!!! And if you are looking... check out Costco- their prices are amazing!!!

{someone help me.....}

So..... the girls & I ran away to the beach last weekend! We had a blast, but did so MISS our sweet friends Michelle & Jodi B. They had really good excuses THIS YEAR, but I'm sure they'll tag along next year. We shopped & ate & shopped & laughed, then shopped some more- SO FUN!!!!!!! Then we came home to our lives that interestingly enough just keep right on going even without us..... I attempted {pause & sigh here} to take our Christmas card picture last night. After an hour of begging, pleading, & bribing.... this is all I have to show for it! Now with that being said, I do have about 1000 of Prissy that I would frame in a minute, but the 2 together- NOT so much. I need your help in choosing the best one......

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#1

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#2

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{not really a choice, but isn't she precious!!!!}

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#3

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#4

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{another non-card-contender picture... but I love her little 8 yr old ways}

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#5

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#6

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{again- not really a choice.... this was my breaking point! But they do look pretty cute now {a day later :) }

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p.s. Jodi PLEASE come & take my kiddos pictures soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I don't think you make nearly enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{11-11-11...}

means 2 VERY important things to me!

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#1 It is Veteran's Day & being that I'm WAY patriotic it's a BIG deal to me. Daddy served in Vietnam, both of my Grandfather's served along with countless other family & friends. We as Americans have MUCH to be thankful so today... tell a Veteran "thank you!". In my family, Cooner thought it very important for me to know each of the armed forces theme songs. We would sing @ the Legion for the Veterans & I can remember them standing, saluting, & crying during their song... I had no idea then what they had been through, but now as an adult I can try to imagine....

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THANK YOU Daddy for leaving your peaceful little Bloomfield to make it safe for Cooner & Travis, & me..... You are a HERO to me today & EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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and #2 today is my hunky husband's b-day & y'all know how I hate to throw parties- ha ha!!! And being the sweet little wife I am {or at least want to be...}; I've have been running around here crazy this morning.

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He loves pumpkin & ANYTHING chocolate... and since the office did cake yesterday.... We are making pumpkin brownies. I saw this recipe {only with a cake mix} & wanted to try it out. And since we have 1/2 a cake in the fridge.... why not??? Just mix 1 can of pumpkin {gasp- not real?} & one box of brownies- that's ALL. Bake for 35 minutes @ 350... We tried them... they are TO-DIE-FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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And since Christmas last year when my MIL got us this incredibly wonderful blanket, affectionately referred to as "the wookie" yes another Star Wars reference.... We ALL want to use it EVERY night. And just guess what I found @ TJ Maxx this week.... yep another Wookie in blue- yeah!!!!! I they let him open it up last night so he they could use it. We have a few more surprises up our sleeves tonight.. including a Custom Lego Capt. Rex mini figure that I'm pretty sure may make me WIFE-OF-THE-YEAR & if not that, at the very least MOTHER-OF-ALL-TIME! Joey has been watching one on eBay for weeks... You see- I have a husband that says he's into Lego's for our son.... but after 13 yrs together- he can't fool me. He loves them too!! I'm SO glad that he got a little boy to play with- although I know he wouldn't have minded another full face of make-up wearin' or tea party-lovin' little girl.

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The kiddos & I are fancy-ing-up the dining room; complete with pin the candle on the b-day cake & place cards from Prissy! And a delightful centerpiece made of Legos & puff balls from my other trusty assistant!!!!

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HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

SWEET

JOEY!!!!

{"H" snacks....}

Today, as I juggled 2 backpacks, my OJ, my purse, & the leaf blower.... Oh I'm so glad you asked about the leaf blower:). I have no use or time for our little vacuum to clean out the car with these days #1 it is PATHETIC, #2 it has to be plugged in, #3 it takes way TOO long. So, I have started {and by started I mean TODAY} using the leaf blower instead! Genius right? Well sorta... only I'd re-think the cute scarf {that got caught in the motor of the blower this am} & perhaps use both hands next time....... None-the-less we made it ON TIME & with "H" snacks for the A-man's class. Aren't these little "Harvest Pumpkins" the cutest little things ever!!! My MIL gave us a little Kraft foods book with the idea.

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all you need is:

circus peanuts & something for the stem {I cut up a gummy Yoda- A-man had a little problem with that at first.... but quickly agreed that it was for the "good of the republic"- ha ha}

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just smoosh mold one together then draw the little pumpkin details with a knife

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VERY cute & VERY easy!!!!

{the class LOVED them... & Prissy has requested some too........}

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p.s. I really s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d on the whole "H" snack thing. I had originally thought of taking Hummus & Honey grahams.... but that didn't set well with the A-man. So... we went with

"Harvest Pumpkins", "Hersey" chocolate dipped pretzel rods, & mini "Hotdogs"! When I quizzed him on what to call his treats this morning he just kept saying, "Hu Hu pumpkins, Hu Hu pretzels, & Hu Hu piggies in blankets"- YIKES!!!! As y'all can see I am gonna need your help with "M" week.............................

{tonight...}

... I {in an effort to win my hubby back over with food} made this. Homemade pizza SO makes me long for London! We can take down 2 pizzas now- for better or worse???

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.... and can y'all believe that our little garden is still yielding lettuce? It is- & the kiddos are eating it up as fast as it can grow- thank you Papaw for setting it out for us!!!!!!

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But.... what I really REALLY want is some of Cooner's pumpkin pie {the real kind NOT from the can- I know that sounds bratty but don't judge until you try it- There is NO comparison!!}. Actually... I just changed my mind. I really just want the one who makes the pies... come over Cooner! I miss you!!!!!!!!!