Spider Web Pumpkin

HAPPY HALLOWEEN everybody :)

Bubba and I totally rocked this pumpkin :)

We're planning on hitting up a "trunk or treat" at my parents church and then back to hand out candy to the kiddos!! I love Halloween! Hope you enjoy your day!

Greek Goddess

So JDub and I were invited to a "costume party" of sorts over the weekend... unfortunately JDub's Grandfather's cancer is back :( So if you have a minute... please say a little prayer for him and the rest of the family. We were able to spend some time with him in the hospital while he was getting treatment :)

But I still ended up working on a costume and wanted to share it :)

I didn't get it totally done...... you can see some strings hanging down cause I didnt get it all hemmed... but not too shabby eh? I wish it was a little warmer and maybe I could wear it tomorrow........ for Halloween!!! I'm looking forward to dressing my boys up and getting some candy :)

3 ingredient Goulash

Ok so I'm pretty sure a friend of mine from high school use to make this goulash and that's where I got the recipe... but I'm not 100% sure on that! My memory has been failing me since I had kids. I use to have such a great memory! Oh the days......  Anywho... here's my favorite goulash. I seriously make it about once a week!!

1 can tomato soup (condensed)
1 box of shells n cheese (I like the Hy-Vee brand... but Velveeta does the job as well)
1 lb ground beef

Start some water to boil.... and cook the shells n cheese as directed. While waiting for the water to come to a boil cook the beef. (sometimes I like to add a little garlic... it adds a nice flavor!) then drain the grease and add the condensed soup to the beef! No water necessary. Then once the macaroni is finished (cheese sauce and all) add the beef and there you go...

Now I realize this kind of looks like barf....... LOL. But I swear its delicious.. I usually have at least 2 helpings :) And the leftovers are good too! And my boys LOVE it! Ok wait.... maybe LOVE is a strong word... they will eat it 9/10 times I make it :)

Women of Faith 2011 Conference

Oh my goodness I just had the privilege of attending the Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul, MN!!! It was sooo much fun. We had a group of 13 women from our church attend. It was very inspiring... kind of like a re-charge for your christian batteries :)

We had fun in the van on the way there... it was a tight squeeze but we managed :) A BIG thanks to a local church who let us borrow the van so we didn't have to rent one or drive in separate cars!

We headed to the Mall of America and Ikea while we were there too!! I really wasn't planning on spending that much money.. but what can you do when you find dresses for $10 and under?! I couldn't pass them up! Here's some pics of the dresses..... you can still see the $7 tag on one :) The two on the left are from H&M, and the maxi-dress was from Macy's :)

Cute huh?!
Ok back to Women of Faith....

We had some wonderful speakers!
Sheila Walsh
Dr. Henry Cloud
Luci Swindoll
Angie Smith
Lisa Harper
Nicole Johnson

They were all pretty funny too! So that was refreshing. I like some good, clean, comedy myself! The Praise Team was really great too. They were all color-coordinated for every performance.

All the speakers had interesting messages. One of my favorites (and for the whole church group as well) was Henry Cloud's on "Necessary Endings" and how to have a happy, fulfilling life, there has to be "death" in certain areas in your walk. We all need to take a close look at our lives and see what areas need "Pruning"....
Just like with roses...
1. they will produce too many buds to sustain
2. some buds are "sick" and will not get any better
3. some buds are "dead" and in the way

It could be a toxic relationship....... it could be your participation in a certain club or group that takes too much time. He also mentioned that happy people are givers. But there is a difference between giving, and being stolen from. I found that to be a really good point. If you are not appreciated for the things you are giving out....... and people are just taking your talents and trust for granted you will be bitter, and in turn unhappy. Therefor take a look at your life... Are you on a road to happiness? If you're spread too thin you need to have some necessary endings in order to enter the next season of your life.

He also mentioned enabling people... and how it needs to stop. Because not only are you not helping these people become fully-functioning adults..... but you are carrying around their needs as your own! Which is too much.... we all should realize we aren't meant to carry around our burdens... but leave them at the cross with God!

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you: he will never let the righteous fall.

I know easier said than done... believe me... but we all need little friendly reminders right?!

Deception vs Devotion

So JDub's out of town this week... not ALL week... just for a few days. Usually I dread when he leaves... but I've been feeling pretty good lately :) And what I mean by that is I've been kinda feeling like a great mom. I know.... I shouldn't brag... but I have to say my temper has been under control... I've been trying to say "yes" more instead of just "no" like I usually do... I make an attempt to stop what I'm doing and play at times even when all I really want to do is clean up, check my email, look at Pinterest... etc!! But yea... I know its NOT all me right.... obviously.... it's God. It's because I know I have people praying for me... me included! It's because JDub reminded me just the other week about how I need to lay off the yelling! Believe you, me..... I need those reminders sometimes! Sure it ticked me off at the time... I wanted to punch him in the face?! Don't we all? haha but here's what's annoying.....

So I was thinking to myself today... ya know... you're doing a great job at remaining calm through everything. Through Ceej waking up at 6:00 am... through him pooping 5 minutes after you just changed his diaper.... through Bubba's tantrum b/c he didn't want to stop watching cartoons to eat breakfast.... Good job handling your temper while Ceej threw his oatmeal bowl across the room and messed up the kitchen floor you JUST cleaned.... Oh wait... duh you're not the reason you're doing so well... you should thank God.

And so I did..... I'm literally in the middle of saying a little prayer of thanks for the patience I've had... for the ability to listen and play and nurture my children.... and while I'm saying that prayer it all goes out the window! Bubba's just sitting there....... NOT eating, (for the millionth time) slapping his brother...... Ceej then starts squealing at the top of his lungs while I ask him to please stop...... when he finally stops squealing Bubba starts in... and then they both squeal while I ask again several times for them to stop and eat....... and finally it gets to me and I scream! Then I wonder to myself...... why is it the second I am praising and thanking God for everything... it all goes wrong?! Why is it that I can't get a break?! Why... and then I think oh yea... its Satan... being a jerk... he hears/sees me all happy and content and thinks here's a challenge........ or maybe not even a challenge but an opportunity.....

I came across this bible study regarding 2 Corinthians 11:3. I really enjoyed it...
Deception vs devotion

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

In conclusion I got my temper under control... and my focus back to thanking God. Sure there are some bumps in the road... but its a good thing God's love is unfailing!!

Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Shaun the Sheep

Can I just tell you I've been mad at Netflix quite a bit lately?! First they got rid of Monsters Inc. on their instant viewing.... (its really hard for a 2 year old to understand how Netflix took the movie away... NOT Mommy......) then they jacked up their prices........ and now they got rid of Word World on their instant too?! You're killing me?! It was so nice to just be like ok... Mommy needs a 20 min break... I'll just start an episode of Word World (Bubba's latest obsession).

But yea they took it off there... I know its probably not Netflix... and PBS or something that did it... but still it was bumming me out. I was looking for other kid-friendly shows and JDub found Shaun the Sheep... the first time he started it I was like WHAT?............... But I have to tell you I love it now. Before I use to kind of turn it on and walk out of the room and get stuff done... and now I find myself snuggling and wanting to watch it with the kids?!

I think the thing I like best is there's no talking... sure there's a lot of "baa'ing" and some mumbling and stuff... but there's no annoying cartoony voices... and Bubba likes to sing along with the theme song which is too cute. It's pretty funny too. You should check it out if you have kiddos :) Or even if you don't! Ha! I highly recommend it!

Quiet Book #1

Ok... so much for input out there people!?! J/k.... I know my mom is just about the only one who reads this... and well she's out of town and prolly NOT checking my blog :)

I did end up doing flaps with numbers on the 2nd to last page :) It took a while to put everything together... and I had to get my seam-ripper out b/c I messed up a couple times.... But here she is!!! Or I guess I should call it a "he" since its more boy-themed than girl :)

I saw this website on Pinterest of course... and wanted to try my hand at it! After browsing around and seeing other peoples' quiet books I pulled some ideas and got started!

I really liked how clean and simple the original inspiration quiet book was... but honestly I got lazy.... so that's why you see alot more puffy paint rather than nice, felt lettering :)



I was going to add a "Vroom Vroom" on there somewhere...
or maybe a little puffy paint house at the end of the road..

So I haven't let the boys play with it that much yet.... I kind of want to save it for church! I'll have to let you know how it goes on Sunday :)

Quiet Book (in progess)

Ok y'all... I NEED YOUR HELP!!! I am currently trying to make my boys a "quiet book" to play with during church.... Here's what I have so far...

And here's where I need the help... I wanted to do a counting theme for the last pages.... but I can't figure out what to do?!

I figured the boys would like sliding the beads back and forth... but they took up a lot of space?! I was almost thinking I could have flaps on the other side with objects on top... and under the flaps would be the number "5" or "4" whatever number was on top... thoughts on that?! I need input please!!!

Thanks :)

Owl decor

Ok so my sis was in town from TN and brought my lil nephew! He's 2 already!? Time sure flies... My boys and he got along just great. They were super cute playing together. I just love eavesdropping on toddler's conversations... its too funny. Well his birthday was in September... but we thought we'd throw him a belated-birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

I saw these cupcakes on Pinterest (surprise, surprise!) and thought they were too cute! So I whipped some. up!

Made with oreos and Reese's Pieces these little guys were a hit! If you can't tell they are suppose to be owls! My sisters thought bats..... but all I can see are those big eyes!










The funny thing was I just said I'd bring cupcakes... I didn't say what kind or anything. Then when I show up it looks like this!

So I guess GMTA! (Great Minds Think Alike!) I was almost thinking if I don't come up with another theme for Ceej's 2nd birthday we might just have to have a "Look WHOOOOO's turning 2!?" Party :) I know this really fits a fall birthday better... but we'll see!

Pinterest finds :)

Oh how I love you Pinterest :) I have found so many fun things on there and I've even taken some time away from it and used the ideas!! Here are a few cute ones...



owls made from toilet paper rolls, construction paper, and markers!



scary treats  made with apple slices, peanut butter, and marshmallows!



So here's the deal on these... they are VERY cute... however when I made them they were ROCK HARD. I mean on the verge of breaking your teeth hard... I found them from nothingbutcountry and she gave me some tips on why they might have turned out that way... I might have to try them again but switch it up to pumpkins next time :)

I almost felt like this guy......

And last but not least.....

I know I've been a little MIA around the blogosphere lately.... I've had family and friends in town!!! It's been a fun week :) Just crazy busy... and I could use a nap.... but all worth it. I am LOVING this weather too.. .it can stick around for a few more weeks :)