Random

We had a bit of a busy weekend just past, but I was able to get some fun shots. Maya loves loves loves to pick up acorns from our yard. Her little tricycle basket is FULL of them. Anyway- I was bored so I gave her a basket from the house and had me a little photo shoot!


Ben's band, Three Thieves, participated in a battle of the bands to try and win a spot opening up for the professional Christian band FFH. About 8 bands in the area participated. We had a great day outside listening to music. They did not win, and some crazy teeny bopper band that screeched and well......we were way better! I guess they were trying to make this a youth event and let's face it, the late (very) late 20 somethings just don't make the teeny bopper cut anymore. Ok OK, 30, but who's counting....Not I! Anyway- Maya had a blast dancing around, and hanging out with Grammy and Papa all by herself! PS- Three Thieves should've won. They were the better band if you want to get technical, musical and showmanship....maybe next year!

Recipe for Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes(as requested)

Since there are only three of us and Maya doesn't even eat potatoes, I made a small helping.

4 large baking potatoes
milk
butter
1/2 bar of cream cheese
sr. cream
2 cloves of garlic

Make mashed potatoes as normal, add in your butter and milk.
I used about 1/2 package of cream cheese(softened), but you could use more. I also finished up some sour cream by adding that too. It was maybe about 1/4 cup. Squeeze in garlic cloves.

Place in square baking pan for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Top with French's fried onions(once again optional) about 5 minutes before finished. Enjoy!

Sassy Shoe.....um...Saturday(tee hee hee)

Well, it's supposed to be Sassy Shoe Thursday, but I couldn't resist this!
















Her Crocs came, mine didn't. Something about not in stock. So I ordered them from somewhere else. I did get a free shipping coupon and $10 off my next order though.
***On a side note, made a mean dish of cream cheese mashed potatoes tonight. MMMmmmm!
Maya had fun today collecting acorns. Will post those soon! I love the fall!

One Year....

One year since I started blogging....
One year since I created this life journal....
Happy Anniversary Blog!

Knee socks and Mary Janes..

This is coming to you straight from the garage- unaltered, unplugged, stripped of any digital fixing yet. (Not that there is much to fix) I just couldn't resist a tiny photo op before we got into the car this morning. I wanted to try out that garage lighting on a whim. Um....it's FANTASTIC. You can bet I'm off to find some black fabric and plan a real photo shoot very soon! Loving the
fall!

shameless plug..

You have to visit my husband's blog. His newest post is very sweet!

Weekend happinesses...

Picking fresh tomatoes from the garden.

Playing with cousins while the mommies have tea

Tiny toads and a daddy that loves science

Our 2nd hike for the fall hiking spree(ok- the cute girly that loves to hike)

Coming across a turtle in the middle of our path-
We came across a snake too, but mommy didn't get a picture of him.
She walked away from the snake as fast as her legs could take her.


How was your weekend?

I would say well loved...

This layout has a story behind it. I originally took this picture because I was going to make a layout to submit to Simple Scrapbooks about a treasured heirloom something or other. Didn't make the submission deadline, but I knew I wanted to scrap this photo in a quilt like setting. I was going to do a scraplift of a Tara Whitney favorite of mine I saw in SS a while back ago. Didn't get it done due to studio starting and all......Anyway- a few weeks later I was inspired again by THIS:













(as part of a 30 day creativity project with the tis herself girlies!)

So- here is the finished product. My Raggedy Andy, in all his glory...the journaling reads as follows:
He may look GROSS and GRUNGY, but this rag doll is TIMELESS, CHERISHED and LOVED. He came into my LIFE at birth along with his sister, Raggedy Ann. She was the more independent type and didn’t need me as much. I really took to him. Literally, took him to the store, the movies, the park, the Dr.’s office, sleepovers. He kept me COMPANY during the night, guarding me against the MONSTERS that were hiding in the closet or under the bed. He COMFORTED me when I was sick, sometimes getting in the way, but he understood and took a bath in the laundry with the rest of the RAGS. He suffered through skinned knees and punishments. TEARS stain his face as I cried through broken up high school romances. Yes, I said high school. He has an indentation in his hair that became as SOFT as fur where I would rub my thumb and pointer together to fall ASLEEP. His face has red and black marker LINES on it where I tried to recreate his features after one too many laundry washes. I am not quite sure where his left arm went, but he is still complete to me. Even with all the stuffing coming out he still has his bright red stitched HEART that says I love you. THANKS for being there little guy.

















I wanted to post this on 2Peas, but of course it's the night the site is down.

Dance Class

Today was Maya's very first "legit" dance class. Talk about exciting. I just wish she hadn't woken up with a bit of a runny nose. Oh well- she still was a bundle of cuteness!

I am an Auntie again!

I would like to introduce you to my fresh and new neice Malia.
She was born yesterday morning.
She is daughter to my brother Bryan. Little Malia has two
big brothers. Four year old Dylan and 2 year old Evan.

So lucky...

Just being thankful for all I've got today!