Spooking and my little man child...

We have had a week around here at Harris House....  First we got Spooked then went out SpOoKiNg ourselves :)  If you want to know ALL about that check out this {post}.  Spooking is one of my very favorite things that our neighborhood does & I'm pretty sure we'll keep up the tradition even if we ever move!  Then add in the.... recital practices, Fall festivals, Walkathon's, soccer, & all the other things that make our life CrAzY!!!!! 

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{the get-aways are my favorite part... next to the shopping and making super cute Spook treats & then deciding who to Spook....  I guess I LOVE it all!!!!}

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Tonight we are meeting up some our favorite friends.  They are treasures to us- ALL of them!  My A-man adores the boys to a degree that I cannot convey with mere words.  Let's just say he prays for them nightly and honestly considers them more like brothers than friends.  We try to get our families together regularly for supper & to just hang out...  I know how the boys are so I sent Catherine this text last night & it cracks me up......  A-man already had most of the things on the list packed {and a few other "essentials"}.  Boys and - guns & knives......  heaven help us all!!!!

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And please keep my friend Jenny in your prayers.  She just lost her mom very expectantly...  I am trying to help her go through her mom's things & I feel like she is living the nightmare that I can't even speak out loud!  My eyes have been full of tears all week & poor Joey doesn't quite know how to handle me.  I know that Poppy is in heaven right now, but selfishly I can't help wanting her back here for Jenny and the kiddos...... 

the ways to your man's heart....

are not the worst things to know!  I {like many of you I'm sure} juggle the ever present balance of children, work, housework, church, CHILDREN, and then our marriage seems to sorta fall in last.  Why is it that the blessing that I thank Jesus for the most, is the very thing that I neglect?  I'm convicted today NOT because I am NOT the perfect wife {that's an entirely different post}, but because I am NOT the wife that I know that God has called me to be most of the time.  If you knew that your tone and your mood could sway your husband from glee to anguish wouldn't you answer the phone differently when he called on his way home?  And perhaps you would bite your tongue when he forgot something and actually NOT be forthright with ALL of the gory details of ALL the bad behavior of the world as he pulls off his neck tie.......  Today I read this {post} from Life in Grace.  I have never even me the woman but love her wise words on her blog about marriage.  Often times teachers get the better education than their pupils or so I believe as I am training up these babes of mine.  As I sing and point out the fruits of the spirit, I see that I too have a lot to work on.  A friend of mine wrote me the sweetest kindest note asking me to "mentor" her as a new bride.  Me mentor???  It scared me half out of my mind to think that #1 I'm old enough to be a mentor {when did that happen} & #2 that someone has been watching me.... But it also makes me want to be the kind of bride that knows the ways to her man's heart. 

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Also- last night his meeting went great!  The food was a hit & although nobody commented on the clean floors... the empty plates made my heart smile!  Afterwards my Joey brought in the dishes and the crock pot and said the sweetest thing.  He said- "I was easy to love".  It's funny how much power the tongue has "the power of life and death".  In that instant, all was right in the world!  And I wanted desperately to be "easy to love" more often.   Which reminds me of the title to the post- my man loves food.  Which in turn has made me want to cook more... which will in turn make him happier.... see the pattern??  I'm making homemade veggie soup tonight {my Grandma Sissy's recipe- you will LOVE it}.  Although I use a crock pot and she would have never owned such a beast- ha!  I hope this encourages you to find the way to your man's heart....  

1lb stew beef

1 large bag of frozen veggies

1 32oz can diced tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

1 can french onion soup

1 package beefy onion soup mix

2-4 red potatoes diced {add in about 2 hrs before serving}

2 tablespoons of sugar

**optional** 1 cup fresh kale ~diced deceptively to look like parsley :)

**simmer on low all day until you want to dive right on in yourself**

{serve with crusty bread & leftover cinnamon rolls}

man fiddles...

Tonight- my hubby is having a little meeting at the old Harris Homestead....  I'm not sure if they will appreciate the freshly swished toilets or crisp hand towels {did I mention that I'm way more of a Martha than a Mary?}??  But I'm certain they'll take a liking to Cooner's cinnamon roll recipe- YUMMY!

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The A-man & I rolled them out- he is quite the little baker boy :) and all the while sang this..

Paddycake Paddycake baker's man make us some rolls as fast as you can.......

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Next we put 'em in the pan!

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and had 3 left over... coincidence?  I think not!

{Prissy, A-man, & Joey sampled the batch- and gave them 6 thumbs up :) }

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Then we marked them with some cream cheese icing!

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{my little helper}

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And... I'm making a crock pot dip that the Bunco girls LOVE!

~1 lb hamburger cooked & drained~

~1 package Bass hot sausage cooked & drained~

~1 package Velveeta cheese cubed~

~1 jar chunky salsa~

~1/2 cup water~

Put all the above ingredients into the crockpot {with a liner if you care anything about yourself} and melt it on low.  Then just keep in on the "warm" setting. & serve it with Tortilla chips  The boys are gonna love it too- I'm sure!!!

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p.s.  I read this somewhere not long ago-

"What if today you only had what you thanked God for yesterday?"

It has made me SO much more happy to praise the One who pours out the blessings!!!

"we don't even have to try, it's always a good time.."

{now y'all are gonna be singing that ALL day long and thinking of me- he he}.  We took a trip home to Indiana & had a blast!!  Although in packing for our extending trip... I forgot my camera so I have just a few phone pics from our trip :(  I {heart} Indiana in the Fall & we look forward to our trip every year.  This year was not unlike our other trips filled with yummy food, constant entertaining, wonderful hospitality, & just plain old fun!!!  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to- Grandma Harris for opening up her house to us, cooking for us, for the fun treats, for watching the kiddos for us, and everything else that you can possibly imagine! Uncle Jeff, Aunt Carol, Tyler , & Allison- for fitting us in on your crazy schedule, playing Legos, giving knee/pony rides, crafting, & tons more!  Uncle Jamie, Aunt Michelle, & Paige- for also fitting us in {y'all have crazy work schedules too}, making yummy cookies that I will share very soon, introducing us to  the "Good Morning" song that was promptly down-loaded and is played around the clock around here!  Cooner & Papaw- for the super fun Apple Festival afternoon & Parade, the always sweet hospitality, for making our favorites {at all hours}, for checking your blood sugar {Cooner} whenever I asked you, & for letting me relax!  Alicia- for the extra tickets at the Apple Fest- my kiddos sung your praises ALL day long!!  Uncle Travis, Tucker, & Jaylee- for the salon day- SO FUN, introducing A-man to BB guns......, the baseball tips, the sleepovers, and just loving on my kiddos!  Mrs. Robinette- for the super fun airplane toys- they were a huge hit {my kiddos think you hung the moon & I tend to agree}!  Uncle Michael & Aunt Peggy- for taking the time to come down & see us {y'all are welcome down here anytime:) }! Aunt Kristy, Corbin, & sweet baby Avery- for just being the best friend a gal could ask for  & opening up your home like the sister I never had! 

Allison & Prissy

{these gals are 2 hot chics}

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Tyler & A-man

{and 2 of the sweetest guys I know}

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Prissy & Jaylee

{these 2 remind me of sisters- so precious}

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Uncle Travis & A-man

{I have no words....}

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me & Avery

{she smells SO good, and her little tooshy fits right in your hand- I didn't want to share her with anyone else.... 

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Prissy with Avery

{... but the Priss made me!}

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{A-man & his BFF at the airport}

  THANK GOODNESS for my phone or we would have had NO memories from our trip!  I love how much he loves his Daddy & how his little arm just automatically goes right around his leg when they walk together :)  

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THANKS again Hoosiers!

  We {heart} Y'all!!!

picture day...

Tomorrow is picture day.....  I died laughing when Prissy told me that her class almost had their pics taken today instead of tomorrow {they split up the school into 2 days}.  The photographer had some extra time and wanted to squeeze in another group.... only the 4th grade girls {one in particular- he he} protested.   Needless-to-say... they didn't dare get the girls done today :)  Prissy is FINALLY embracing her curly hair and even wanted me to roll it tonight.... 

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It SO reminds me of these days......  I mean isn't she the cutest little thing y'all have ever seen?  YES!  She was... and IS!!!!!!

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I found this one of the 2 of my sweet babes on Prissy's kindergarten picture day.  I can't believe that was 4 {gasp} years ago.....

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And speaking of my little handsome man- he needs very little primping to achieve his cute-as-can-be looks!  He's a darling and I want to squeeze him every time he walks by- SO I DO!!

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread..

Last night my little A-man and I made this......  Y'all it was sinfully delicious!!!!  I let him stir in ALL of the ingredients {a stretch for this Momma I assure you}.  Joey and Prissy were at ballet and the boy and I moved mountains while they were away.  I sheared his little head of hair- "you are welcome Cooner" :)  Then he jumped in the bath & we headed to the kitchen.  Here is our recipe- it makes 2 loafs & I popped one in the freezer last night.... and got it back out this morning!  It is that GOOD!!!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1-1/2 cups canola oil
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) milk chocolate chips {we "accidentally" added an entire bag of Ghirardelli morsels- ha ha} 

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes

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... and as if pumpkin, chocolate, and 60 degree weather couldn't get any better?  I whipped up a batch of Cooner's cream cheese icing... and pulled a Paula Dean & dunked ever bite it the sinful stuff!!  Heaven I tell you.........  and the others agreed.  BEST PUMPKIN BREAD EVER!!!!

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While the bread was in the oven... the A-man made these!  They are back by popular demand 3 years and counting.... **Dollar tree pumpkins with Mr. Potato Head pieces**

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And on the way home... we stopped by a consignment shop and picked up this little ocean old print for $2.00.  I have high hopes to do a gallery wall of beach/ocean prints in the living room someday.  This is my 1st one!!

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This morning I made her look a little more "Harris" like.   I couldn't love her anymore!!! 

 I hope y'all are having a great day too.....

this weeks ins and outs...

This week... we've been having some Jedi training {almost every night- it's starting to feel like Fall here in NC}.  My little guy started soccer!  I missed it but his daddy said he did great:)  And my sweet little ballerina auditioned for a part in CPAC's winter production of the Grinch:)  I fixed her hair into a ballet bun before I left for work {about 5:20}- she is me y'all!!!!  I packed their soccer and ballet bags, put them by the door, then went up to kiss them goodbye {they had a sleepover on Friday night}.  She popped her little head up and with one eye open asked me to fix her hair....  so I did!!

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And..  in between drop offs and pick ups and practices and house construction and attic overhauling {p.s.  I need help purging- someone a little less emotionally attached than Cooner and someone a little MORE emotionally attached than Joey..... anyone??}....  I bought a table!  Yes I realize that I need my head examined, but there is no time- ha ha.  I thought it would be the prefect Lego table for you-know-who!  But where to put it???  I started with it in the living room- TOO big TOO messy & all together TOO much for this type A Momma to handle right now..... So I moved it into the most logical place - A-man's room!  He adores it and can't believe that he is allowed to leave battle out and ready for his daddy ALL the time :)

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But.... I had to move his club chair into the guest room.  I love a splash of dark with all of the white, but I still need to tweak the wall art and pillows a bit... {sorry these pics are so dark- I took these late}

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And... when I moved the club chair in... the armoire had to go out.  Into the???  Dining room of course- the only room that could handle such a feat!  And that meant moving the table the other direction and buffet.  I'm loving the new space though, but who knew that a $10 table could be such trouble???  

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O-ya and the Fall weather has made the kiddos crave the Fall decoration.  

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So... we put them up and these little guys too!!!