Amateur attempt

My feeble attempt to capture my handsome boys was a success! The caboose was a hit and they had so much fun figuring out where to sit or stand, making my job so easy! This caboose is right here in our little town, part of a little historical depot museum. It has been restored just recently making it a perfect backdrop for their pictures and a fun place to play! Here are just a few of the moments captured.

POP!

So proud of Lane and his science fair project. He will present it to the judges tomorrow. He is excited! We wish him luck! An update will follow tomorrow evening. By the way Orville Redenbacher's pops more popcorn if you are interested!

Sweet to my soul

I love this time of year for so many reason, but most importantly convention. My soul and my spirit are in need of renewing! But I also love baking for convention. This year we are going to be with my parents and my brother and his family at Mt. Peak. Special days are in store! These are just some of the goodies I am baking this weekend to take.

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Squares

courtesy of :

www.causeilikefood.blogspot.com

Ingredients:
1 16-ounce package Nutter Butter cookies, crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
7 & 1/2 ounces peanut butter cups (about 25 miniature cups), coarsely chopped
4 ounces Butterfinger candy bars (about 7 small candy bars), coarsely chopped
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup honey-roasted peanuts

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 13″x 9″pan with aluminum foil, allowing it to extend over edges of pan. Grease/spray foil.
Combine crushed cookies and butter. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 6-8 minutes.
Combine condensed milk, peanut butter, and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Set aside.
Sprinkle chopped candy bars, chocolate morsels, and peanuts over crust. Drizzle condensed milk mixture over toppings.
Bake for 25-27 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack. Using foil, lift out of pan. Peel foil away, and cut into bars.Optional: Top with chocolate and vanilla sprinkles.
Makes 28 small or 18 larger bars.

Best dressed!

the boys at Texarkana convention Saturday morning! What wonderful days we enjoyed!

Blessed

I feel so honored to be their mother! Two perfect blessings!

Today's thought

This quote has been with me all day.....I want to start making a list of all the little things that mean something to me now. Then one day I can look back and remember these precious little moments.

festive

my mantle

splurge at Hobby Lobby

hurricane vase idea from Pinterest

pumpkins the boys made in preschool

...Welcome Autumn...

The season I love best.......because it means: convention, apples, cooler weather, fires in the fireplace, colorful leaves, mums and kale, pumpkins and gourds, and relief from allergies!

School days

School is off and running for the boys and I. Our first day back was last Monday. Bryce is in 2nd grade and Lane is in 3rd! I am teaching 5th grade English Language Arts this year and so far it has been a nice change from 2nd grade. I didn't request a change, but it was what I needed to do to keep a job at the school. I can move back to 2nd grade next year if I wish or stay in 5th. For now I am enjoying the student's independence and ability to have an educated conversation! Don't get me wrong I LOVED teaching 2nd grade!! This is a new adventure!

Happy 9th Birthday Lane!

This handsome ladd was a babe in arms nine years ago tonight! Our first born and perfect in everyway...the poster baby for Gerber! He has changed and grown up, but he is still my first born and special in everyway! Nine more years will mean college and reality....I hope these next nine don't go by so quickly! I feel so blessed and honored to be the mother to two young boys, they are precious gifts!

Happy Birthday Lane!

We love you!

Photo courtesy of Kristen S. Photography
Summer 2011
Just one of the many gorgeous pictures captured by My dear friend!!

New car smell

We have been looking for quite some time now for a bigger SUV, but not the super-sized kind. No offense I just don't need the big I have been driving a cross-over SUV for 5 year now, but just wanted a little more space to separate the boys and haul things as well. This is what fit us best! I am very happy!

Acadia Denali

Out of the mouth of Bryce.....

If you have followed our blog for anytime you know that Bryce has a quirky twisted way of thinking about just about everything! Recently he has been on a roll! Here are just a few we can remember...I try to write them down in his baby book, but I have had to add a page to keep up!

......On our trip to San Antonio we saw vultures on the side of the rode near some roadkill. I told him they were scavengers or decomposers, they eat dead or dying things. He responded with "They are like the vacuum cleaners of the world, cleaning things up!" Yes, son so true!

......He came running up to me at the pool last week limping, I asked him what was wrong. He said "I have one of those horses in my feet, you know what I am talking about?" I did, a Charlie Horse I said! YES! That one he said!

.......He asked Jay to make gumbo this week, he loves his daddy's gumbo. As we sat at the table and he proceeded to devour his bowl of gumbo he remarked with these words " This stuff is so good I am going to marry it!" That must be some awesome stuff! It is delicious.

Love this boy's creative thinking! He would sure make a good writer or comedian, either way he makes our world interesting and comical!

San Antonio: Alamo and Riverwalk

The boys were very intrigued by the story of the Alamo and enjoyed looking at the different artifacts and displays there. Then we walk the Riverwalk area and enjoy some good ole' Mexican food and even got serenaded by a small Mexican mariachi band! The boys requested the Chicken Dance!

Texas x 2! Two Texas flags in the picture!



Looking in the well on the grounds of the Alamo.

The eyes of Texas are upon you!

Old Glory waving high atop the building!

This picture captures the magic of the Riverwalk.

the typical sound of San Antonio

The River Center

We ate for the very first time at the Rainforest Cafe. What a fun experience!

San Antonio: Natural Bridges Caverns

Our 3rd day we toured the caves....a wee bit cooler, but oh so humid! We took 2 tours and all together we climbed an estimated 30 story building all the way up and all the way down. We got our exercise and it was breathtaking to boot!

The Natural Bridge

an element of nature.....eeww



Our first tour in the first cavern called Bear Pit.





Cave draperies...yes that is their name.

These were called soda straws....the longest one in this cavern is 14 ft.

Diamond river....it just sparkled!

Pin cushion...very rare formation.

Cave bacon......

and an egg to go with it! (called a fried egg)

San Antonio: Sea World

One of our favorite places.........

2 lobsters fighting

UP close and personal....look at those teeth! Eek!

Feeding the dolphins.....I'd love to swim with them..such awesome creatures.

Momma and her new pup.

seal pups

The BIGGEST walrus I have ever seen!

And of course you can't go to Sea World without seeing Shamu!