FYI...

On our way to feeling better...after a couple nasty colds, a throat/eye/ear infection, and then the icing on the illness cake...Influenza B...we are FINALLY starting to feel better.





Flu shots for this family next year...yes-sir-ee.

Pumpkin Patch - 2010

If you're not in the mood for A LOT of pictures, this is not going to be the post for you! We had a GREAT time at the pumpkin patch today! We started off the day with some sausage, egg and cheese breakfast muffins (recipe soon!). The kids HATED them. LOL! I don't know why? They were delicious! Even Adam liked them and he hates eggs. They rocked. I think the boys just woke up in a mood.

But, promises of a trip to the pumpkin patch lifted everyone's moods. We packed up and headed out with Grandma (my mom) to the Berryland Farm. They were tentative when we first got out of the truck, but it didn't take them long at all to warm up to the fun and activities!

Luc, Mikey and Benji...


Checking out the haybale fort! They LOVED this thing!



Time for a trip into the corn maze!!!!




More photo fun!


Ring and Bean Bag toss!




They also had arts & crafts areas and face painting! FUN!

Duck races...they loved this!


Then it was time for the (mildly) haunted hayride!


And a pumpkin hunting adventure! (This is Mikey with my mom!!)




Wish Will, McKenzie and Adam had been along...next year, for sure!


And last, but not least...hanging out with the smallest of my best friends. <3


After such a busy day we all zonked out for an afternoon nap! Bliss! I made pea soup for dinner (recipe later) and now it's almost bedtime!

Had a great day! Hope everyone else did as well!

xoxo

M&M Game

I grew up in a town that has a FIERCE football rivalry with the town I live in now. Every year, the “M&M Game” takes place between our neighboring towns…the oldest Interstate rivalry in High School Football History. It’s a BIG deal. I BLEED Maroon & Gold…you have to be FROM here to truly understand how deep our loyalties lie.

When I purchased my house, and moved to the enemy neighboring town, I didn’t think about football. My kids are little…what difference does it make? Well…it does. This morning, I dressed my elementary school aged boys in PURPLE (I’m gagging as I type) and sent them off to school for their pep rally. **heavy sigh**

This is NOT going to work…LOL! Is it sad that I’m considering open-enrolling them into a different school district? Haha! (Ok, kidding…sorta.)

I’m actually not GOING to the game this year. (Boo!) My brother, who is a senior this year, decided to quit football (DOUBLE boo!!) but I was there last year, all decked out in my Maroon gear cheering on the team with my family! (The games are better the year’s they play in my home town anyway! We have a far superior field…I think most folks from the other town would agree, to be honest.) BUT, tomorrow at work, we get to dress up to show our support for our home teams, so I will be here in my Maroon & Gold, loving on my “home” team in spirit!

Check me out...last year with my "little" brother!! (We won!)

And in high school...that's me...second from the right. U Rah Rah. :) (The cheerleading pic is actually from the Detroit Lions old stadium where we played and WON our State Championship game!)

A few (ok, maybe like 10) years ago, my Grandparents told me about an old tradition of the West End bar (which has since been torn down, (by my dad, actually) and replaced) making split pea soup and serving all of the bar patrons after the Saturday day-game. That tradition is sadly, long gone but in honor of it, this weekend I will be making Split Pea soup (so watch for that recipe!) My kids and I will be taking a trip to the pumpkin patch so that will be a yummy, warm lunch to come home to. More on that later!

Ciao,

Homemade Donuts - SUPER easy recipe!

Not much makes my kids happier than DONUTS for breakfast. But seriously...who feels like getting up and running to the store bright and early? Not this girl!

Thus, you can understand my excitement when I came across this SUPER easy recipe for homemade donuts! My kids were STOKED (as was momma...not gonna lie!)

We paired ours with a Danimals Crush Cup yogurt and breakfast was complete!

1. Open a can of southern style biscuits. (Do NOT use the "flaky" kind with the layers!) I just used a generic brand.

2. Using a cap from a 2 liter bottle (or any other small round something you may have) cut a hole out of the middle of each donut. Don't throw that extra dough away!! Fry it up for donut holes! YUMMY!



3. Heat oil in a skillet until "hot enough" (LOL...how helpful am I right now? Sorry!) Cook donuts on one side for about a minute.



4. Flip and cook on the other side about a minute. (I slightly undercooked mine on accident so they were doughy in the middle...icky.)



5. Remove from oil and place on paper towel. Blot to remove oil.

6. While still warm, dredge in a plate of sugar. (Next time we're going to try homemade icing and sprinkles!!)



7. FEAST!


(Edited to add: For the record, my wall isn't filthy! That's spots on the camera lens. I forgot to touch them up in this photo! LOL!)

Try it out! You won't be sorry...TRUST me!!

Linking up...blog hopping!!




Here, too!!







And HERE!






Got stuff to do?? Check out 10 in 10!

Project: Cookie Monster - Week 1

I tried this once before and failed miserably, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Right? Right!

I am embarking on a personal project to make a different cookie recipe every week for a year! How fun to have a cookie jar full of delicious cookies (and what a great way to add recipes to my arsenal)! My kids have named our experiment: PROJECT COOKIE MONSTER :)

We started off tonight...it was Mikey's week to help...with, quite literally, the BEST chocolate chip cookie I've EVER had. I am not exaggerating folks. These are perfect. They are soft all the way through...amazing flavor...just dense enough...ahhh...cookie bliss!

I started off with this base recipe: here.

I altered it though, per recommendations of reviewers on AllRecipes, and to fit our own personal tastes.

Without further ado...the one and only chocolate chip cookie recipe I will ever use for as long as I shall live. LOL!
BEST ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 stick salted butter
1/2 stick (1/2 cup) butter flavored Crisco shortening
1 (3.5 oz. box) vanilla instant pudding mix
2 eggs
1 and a half tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
2 and a quarter c. all-purpose flour
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Partially melt butter.
3. Cream butter, shortening and sugars together.



4. Add pudding mix and eggs.
5. Incorporate flour and baking soda...mix well.
6. Fold in chocolate chips.



7. Place by rounded tablespoon full onto cookie sheet. (These cookies shouldn't spread much so fill up your cookie sheet!)
8. Bake 10 minutes at 375...as soon as you start to see light brown on the edges, take them out. Remove to rack (or, like I did, a brown paper bag) to cool.



9. Enjoy the heck out of the best cookie you've ever had!

I am linking Project Cookie Monster up at the DIY Show Off Project Parade! Check them out: here for a TON of great projects!

And also at Skip to My Lou. Check the great stuff out here:

And at Tatertots and Jello! Go HERE...quick!

Stop back next week for Project Cookie Monster - Week 2...I think we're going with an Oreo knock-off! Yummy!

Stuff and Things.

Well, I took the plunge...yesterday, I had my tubes tied! Yes...I know it's cheaper, easier, smoother recovery, etc. for the man just to get the snip, BUT, from what I know of guys and their balls...no way was I going to try to force the man to let someone near his with a scissors! LOL!

So, I did it. Surgery went okay, recovery is going smoothly I suppose. I'm sore...bruised and ready to feel back to normal, but enjoying my week off of work and getting to spend more time with the kids. OH, how I wish I could be a stay at home mom...some day!!

So I made beef stew today...yummy! (Recipe: here ), have been taking care of a sick Luc (poor buddy has a bad headache that has woken him up crying several times...I hope he isn't a migraine sufferer like my brother, mom and I...), and just making the most of my time at home. (As much as I can anyway...I'm pretty slow moving with the soreness.)

I got a MOBY wrap today though! I'm still learning how to wrap/tie it but even with my painful incisions, I could comfortably wear Benji...AMAZING! I wish I had one of these for all my kids...or even had one earlier with Benj. I've been having a really hard time lately coming to terms, not so much with the fact that I won't have any more kids, but more with the fact that I won't ever have an 8 week old again...or a 9 week old...or a 10 week old...if that makes sense? I am hating having to go back to work, so I am trying to cherish every second I can with Benj as a baby...and having the Moby wrap will allow me to still be productive while keeping him close to me when I am home. :)

Anywho...some quick pics to share...

Veggies ready for sauteing...and a bowl of beef stew! (Seriously, check out the recipe! So delish!)



And me snuggled up with my boy! <3



xoxo

Getting into the swing of things...and a recipe!

Slowly, but surely, we are getting back into the swing of things. The boys are enjoying school, and I am happy with their new teachers, so that's awesome. We're doing our annual "fall cleaning' (opposite our spring cleaning) and spent the last two days going through every item of clothing in the house and sorting things to throw away, put away and give away. It was a big undertaking but I'm glad it's done.

I'm back to work full time and although I will say I SO wish I could be home with my buddy, I am relieved to have my paycheck coming in again.

My photography season is winding down...a few more sessions I'm looking forward to and then I expect things will be pretty slow until Spring...so it goes. :)

My boys Luc and Mike go to their dads every other week. It's something new we started recently and it's going ok. There have been snags but I'm trying to give it time...we'll see what happens, I guess. This weekend was my weekend with them, and I have been trying to make them fun breakfasts on their weekends here...just because. :)

Yesterday we had delicious, gooey cinnamon rolls, and this morning I made easy-peasy "Half-Homemade Chocolate Croissants" !! I saw this idea HERE last week...check out her blog. It's awesome!

This was super easy and super delicious!!

All you need is a can of Pillsbury crescent rolls (I used the jumbo "Big and Flaky" version) and a jar of Nutella (mmm!!!)



Unroll the crescent rolls and spread a dollop of Nutella on each...



Roll 'em up loosely and place on your baking sheet. Bake per package directions.



Yummmmmmmy!!!!!!!!!!!



See? Mikey approves!! (Luc wasn't as impressed...)



Dirty Face=Job Well done on Mom's part!!


I have an actual croissant recipe I want to try eventually but until then, this is quick, easy and delicious! Works for me!!

xoxo

3/4's of my Buddies...

Just wanted to share some new pics of 3 of my 4 boys...

Luc and Mikey


And again...


Luc...


Mike...


And brand new from this morning...Mr. Benji. His onesie says "Mommy Thinks I'm Cool". Yes, Benji...I sure do! :)


I hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day weekend! I, for one, intend to enjoy mine immensely as it is my last weekend before my return to work after maternity leave. **sigh** :(

Talk soon!
xoxo