Pumpkin Bread for my Pumpkins

Pumpkin Pie Bread

Ingredients

1 Can (15 oz.) Pumpkin Puree

2/3 Cup Milk

1 Cup Vegetable Oil (or Canola)

4 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 1/2 Cups Sugar

3 1/2 Cups Flour

2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 1/2 tsp. Salt

2 Tablespoons Pumpkin Pie Spice

Decorating Sugar Sprinkles (if desired)

Directions

1.  Preheat Oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 loaf pans or 4 mini loaves

2.  In standing Mixer bowl fitted with paddle attachment mix Pumpkin, Milk, Eggs, Vanilla, Oil & Sugar on medium until well blended.

3.  In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients.  Slowly mix into Pumpkin mixture until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans and sprinkle with Decorating Sugar (if desired, I did).

4.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50-70 minutes depending on loaf size or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serve with Butter!!! Yummy.....

Valentines Chocolate covered Pretzels

VALENTINES CHOCOLATE COVERED PRETZELS

To start you need Snyders Pretzel Sticks (I used the small ones), Wiltons Chocolate Melts (other colors to drizzle if you want), Sprinkles..

Melt the chocolate in 30 second intervals in the microwave (stirring in between)

Dip the Pretzels in the melted chocolate and immediately sprinkle with candies

lay out to cool on Wax Paper

After they cool, place them in Pretzel Rod size treat bags (trimmed down if using small pretzels) and assemble Valentine card with ribbon

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

Her Shadow

He is always

in her

Shadow!

He Adores 

her!

He follows

her

Around!

He has

So 

Much

Fun with

Her!

Saying Good-Bye to our Sweet Dog Tyson

Our Sweet dog Tyson was born on October 23, 2003 in Midland, Michigan and we brought him home  on December 13th 2003 my husbands 30th Birthday (later ill share why this is so symbolic)....over the next 8years we had so many great memories with him I couldn't possibly list them all here:  most involved a tennis ball because that made him happiest!  We woke up on what seemed to be a  Manic Monday Normal Monday morning and I noticed (after the morning chaos had stopped and M was at school) that he couldn't bare any weight on his back left leg and he was 'dragging' it around.  I shrugged it off as an injury but decided I better take him into the vet....this is where the 'shock' part comes.  The Vet did an exam on him (of course I'm looking at him with doubt as to why on earth is he is feeling his neck/armpits/stomach??....Hello we are here for a 'hurt' leg)  He then looks up from his exam and says to me "this doesn't look good?" I'm thinking of course it doesn't because he hurt his leg not his neck.....and what came out of his mouth next was something I was not ready to hear:  Biopsy, Lymphoma, Cancer,Options,Quality of life (you get the sad drift).  Of course all I can hear is the word Death (and the music from Alec's game he is quietly playing on the ipod..thank God) .  So off he went to have his Biopsy done one of the mass in his neck and the other of the mass in the back of his bad leg.  This was on a Monday and by Wednesday Morning we had the final results and the dreaded diagnosis of Lymphoma (T cell type) which has a 20 week survival rate (not knowing how far into it he already was)....it was aggressive......he was in Pain.....he was tired, sometimes didn't eat.....he still couldn't walk or climb the stairs....which meant his quality of life was NOT GOOD!  We opted to not do Chemotherapy for him (for several reasons, not just financial) and On November 17th Andy and I took him to the Vet and gave him the Peace that he deserved....he went very quietly and peacefully surrounded by two people who LOVED him dearly.  This was by far one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make and hardest thing to do (as a married couple), watching my husband carry him up and down the stairs so he could sleep beside our bed where he did every night in the 8yrs we owned him was heartbreaking ,almost as heartbreaking as watching your husband cry everytime he looked at him, almost as heartbreaking as watching him not be able to climb the stairs and be near his family that he so loved and always had to be within 2 ft. of....the days leading up to his death were filled with tears, doubt and ultimately grief...We felt Robbed.....the kids took it much better than Andy and I did, Which was nice....We pretty much just left if at "Tyson is now in Heaven" (What a Mystery in itself for kids to wrap their heads around).  We still talk about him and miss him dearly, we are not ready for a Puppy anytime soon (there will never be another sweet Tyson).

So several weeks pass before we receive the final bill from the Vet and I let several more weeks pass before I finally get up enough courage to go in and pay the bill....It of course was as traumatic as I  had anticipated (should of mailed it) and I was shocked when she said "I think his ashes just came in (we had him privately cremated)"  she goes into the back room and brings out a bag with his earn/ashes inside and plops it on the counter:  Andy's 38th Birthday!  So I leave there, not really realizing the symbolic nature of what just had occurred and called Andy to tell him I paid the bill and got his ashes.....He then puts it all together and says "Wow...we brought him home on my 30th Birthday and we are handed his ashes on my 38th Birthday...Happy Birthday to me"  ((insert sarcasm))...So there you have it.  Just like that we lost our little Buddy, but are very grateful for the years that we had with him.  He loved life, he loved the kids, he loved laying under the table at dinner, he loved going Up North to the cabin and jumping off the dock, he loved his tennis ball, he loved walks, he loved to bark at people walking by our house, he loved everyone.......he was loved!

We will forever Miss You Big T

More fun Cake Pops

Merry.Cuteness

These are Rudolph & Candy Cane bark Cake Pops we made during Christmas Break!!

Gingerbread Marshmallows

Gingerbread Marshmallows dipped in melted dark chocolate, dried on wax paper and then toothpick dipped in melted dark chocolate to make the buttons!  Yummy, package in pretzel 2x10 bags!

Snowmen Cake Pops

Turkey Cake Pops

Letting Go

Letting go of things that are comfortable to you is hard.  Letting go of things that hold sentimental value is even harder.....but we did both! We got rid of our old couch that was physically tore up by the kids and we broke down and bought a new one.  Our new one arrived last week and we put our old one out at the curb (which pained me) it sat at the curb for almost 24 hrs before it disappeared....I think the exact text from my husband read "the old couch walked away just before lunch, this is all that's left" and he sent me a picture of a piece of the stuffing from the cushion that the kids had tore the fabric on.  Like I said it was sad to let it go but we just had to.  That was probably THE MOST comfortable couch we will ever own, we are already complaining about the new one and have even looked into the return policy (25% restocking fee, what a crock), so we need to just let it go.

It was a two piece L shaped sectional, even Alec is sad about letting it go....a couple times that day I found him outside sitting at the curb with the couch.  He loved jumping on it and jumping off of it and jumping behind it (you get the drift he just plain loved it  loved jumping on it).  We have a "No Jumping" law on the new one (I'll let you know how that's working out another day).

M said her goodbyes too, she sat out there for awhile playing with a stick and singing and dancing.  I remember nursing her as a baby on that couch (in fact I remember having to sleep on that couch the last 10 overdue days of my pregnancy with her) she spit up on it, we napped on it, she learned how to walk along it.......  I could go on and on and it just seems so wrong to be so darn attached to a couch, but obviously we are (especially my husband).  So we said our goodbyes and we are letting go.  We will have fond memories of you "Old Couch".....yes it was even around when we started dating!

Mommy Guilt

Alec started a new daycare today (we have had an amazing summer babysitter) So I of course had a big 'ol dose of 'Mommy Guilt' to swallow.....even though its part-time, the guilt isn't any less.  He had a fantastic first day, they said he was 'Good' and gave him all smiley faces on his little progress report (what more can a working mother ask for???)  and by the looks of this, they WORE him out!!!

We found him passed out on our bed at 9pm half way through a DVR episode of "Rescue Heroes" this is so unusual for him! Sweet little Buddy........Love HIM!!!

And HER!!!

SMILE

I remember my SMILE when I found out my name was changing to Mommy.....

I remember dreaming into your eyes and wondering what your first SMILE would look like.......

I couldn't wait for that first SMILE......

I remember Daddy's SMILE when you finally did SMILE.......

I remember all your little SMILES......

I know how to make you SMILE.......

I usually know why you have No SMILE.....

I know that teared up SMILE  I had when I sent you off to Kindergarten......

I SMILE as I watch you Dance, Score a Goal, Swim or act Silly......

I've caught myself with a SMILE just because of something you said........

You make me SMILE.....

Tonight your SMILE changed.......

Like you, it's a good SMILE......

To think you lost your third tooth, made me cry  SMILE......

We all Love your new SMILE.....

Recent Conversations

Kids have a funny way of making you want to scream laugh......

We went Up North this weekend, just me and the girls (and kids) and on the way home I had this conversation with Macy...

Macy "Mom are we in Michigan yet??"

Me "Honey, we never left Michigan....we just went Up North"

Macy  " Oh, Up North is still in Michigan?"

Me  "Yes Honey its still Michigan, and remind we when we get home to give you a Geography lesson"

Macy  "Whats a 'Guy-jog-raffy' lesson?'

Me  "I am going to show you a map of Michigan and show you the different places we go"

Macy  "OK,  are we there yet..... this is taking Forever"

Remind me to have a lesson on 'Patience' too!

Now for the Boy version of a recent conversation.....

Alec  "Mommy can you tie this blanket around me?"

Me  "Sure what are you going to be Honey?"

Alec  "I'm getting Married"

Me  "Oh, that's fun....Who are you Marrying?"

Alec  "You Mommy"

Love HIM

You Two Melt my Heart........XOXOXOXOXO

This little Cat....

This little Cat has been keeping me running all Summer, going here, going there, this play date, that play date, the Pool, the Park, the Zoo, the bike rides, the sidewalk chalk, the coloring, the camps, Reading her online books.......she on occasion has even had the nerve to complain she is bored!!  She is definitely ready to go back to school (which she asks about every other day "how many days until school starts?").....I love this busy little Cat!!

She is a Beautiful little Cat 

Like Father Like Son

I think its every Father's Dream to watch their Son Play

with the Tonka Trucks they grew up 

playing with

"Take Me Out to the Ball Park"

Today we took the kids to their first major league baseball game.....The Detroit Tigers vs California Angels  we had fantastic seats (8 rows behind home plate) and we all had a great time.  We told them yesterday that we were taking them to a game, so all day today they were asking "is it time to go yet?"

It was time and it was hot, thankfully a big cloud blew over us after the 4th ining and we didn't have the sun beating down on us any longer (not that it stopped us from smiling or anything).  

I love my family and I love that the kids are getting to an age where we can do things together instead of always leaving them home for fear they won't behave (not that they always behave or anything) but either way its nice!  The kids got to ride the tiger carousel and eat peanuts and hotdogs and drink lemonade.....Life is good today!

Arrrrr......too bad they lost 5-1

A Best Friend

A "Best Friend" is someone you trust, someone you can laugh, cry and have fun with.  A "Best Friend" is someone you never loose touch with even as the years go on and the lives get busier.  A "Best Friend" is someone you've shared death, birth and everything in between with.  A "Best Friend" is someone you can not talk to for months and still just pick right up where you left off with.  A "Best Friend" knows some of your secrets and trusts you with hers.......This is my Best Friend!

 

We had a Fabulous day at the beach together the other day with our kids, yes its so hard to believe that we are allowed to be Mothers, but we are.  Obviously doing a pretty good job at it too, look how happy these "Best Friends" are.....

My "Best Friend" and I have been having fun together since we were in Junior High....We have had some pretty wild  amazing experiences together through High School, College, Marriage and Motherhood....I wouldn't have it any other way!  Sitting on the beach watching our kids play while we laughed and reminisced about how old young we were, well it was the BEST!!  

Tie Die

This Past weekend we Tie Die'd Tshirts with all the kids (Tennessee Cousins included).....Yes it was Fun, but Yes it was a lot of work!!  Not a small child kind of project if you know what I mean.

The end result was some pretty cool looking Tie-Die T-Shirts and you should of seen the excitement as we cut the rubber bands and rinsed out each child's T-Shirt..... Well worth it!  

"At North"

We spent the last week Up North at my Aunt Patti's cabin....or as Alec calls is "At North"!!! He absolutely looooooves it Up North, he loves everything about it (swimming,fishing,eating,playing,swinging,gator riding, boat riding, 'nature walking', chicken visiting, family & friends loving).   We had the most amazing weather and the most amazing times.....

These Boys had some quality time together doing the father-son things Boys do.....Alec's all time favorite daddy activity is a "Foyer Ride" aka: Four Wheeler Ride.  They even saw some wildlife and went fishing.....another favorite for Alec.

Macy finally after 6 years got up enough nerve to go tubing with her cousin Aiden....We took it slow, at first they were unsure, but soon Aiden was acting bored and Macy was loosening the grip!

She is becoming very confident in the water and can swim independently yet still loves the security of a life jacket (which is fine by me)......She also loves jumping off the dock with a raft.

In summary it was an Amazing Vacation "At North"

Spinach Salad and a Strike!

I made this yummy Spinach salad the other day and it was delicious!  So I must share the recipe...

Spinach Salad

One bag of prewashed Baby Spinach
1/2 Red Onion sliced
1 Avocado cubed
1 Tomato chopped
1 Package of Blue Cheese (i think about 4oz)
Chopped Crispy bacon
Sweet Catalina or Ranch Salad dressing


A STRIKE:   We took the whole family bowling the other day, It was Alecs first bowling experience (well except for that one time we took our baby to the bowling alley....LOL) and he was pretty excited to say the least.... he chose a green ball (his favorite color) and he almost got a strike.  Macy was a natural at bowling she even beat me (something I'm not proud of) I usually at least break a 100, but for some reason could not get it together!  In fact everyone was joking that I should bowl on the kiddie lanes with the 'bumpers'...Oh Well!  Good times had by all, especially these two cuties!

STRIKE

BALL HOARDING

"You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"

At least that's what I always tell the kids when they are throwing a fit about: what color bowl they want or what character they want on their glass or what kind of yogurt or what kind of valentines they think they are buying.....However, I'm not sure that I take my own advice.  In fact I probably have a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude, among other things. So the other morning when I'd had it with A for waking me up for like the 3rd time wanting to crawl in our bed and kick me for hours on end until he falls asleep  and then only minutes later to have M walk upstairs and says 'Good Morning Mommy',  I said to myself  "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"......but indeed I did want to throw a fit and sort of did.  I tend to whine about my sleep deprivation, yet when given the chance to 'sleep in' or take a nap, I don't! (I want to do the other 10,000 things I also am missing out on since joining the motherhood scene).

 So I am my own worst enemy, and will have to take what I get;  its just recently that I realized its the 'don't throw a fit' part that I need to work on!  So enough on my whining sleep deprivation soapbox, lets talk about dinner/lunch/snack whatever you want to call this creation I made today.....

Chinese Lo-Mein Noodles (my made up version): You need these 3 types of Oils and some sugar and soy sauce for the seasoning part.

I boil 2 bags of KA ME Chinese noodles (egg noodles or original) and set cooked noodles aside while I finely chop Julienne 2 large carrots, 2 celery stalks and one whole bunch of green onions (cut the whole green onion up).   Heat the 3 different oils up in a wok or large saute pan: about 1/3 C of each oil (toasted sesame/Almond or Peanut Oil/Wok oil) once heated add 3 Tab. soy sauce and 3 Tab. Sugar and 2 cloves minced garlic to sauce and add all veggies.......stir fry for a few minutes then turn off heat, add noodles and a large pack of bean sprouts and ENJOY!!  keep in mind I like to make up recipes so I probably added a little more of the oil than I guesstimated...if it needs more oil I would go with the Wok Oil since it has the most flavor, and also adjust soy sauce and sugar as needed.  You can also add pieces of shrimp, chicken or ham to make it a whole meal instead of just a side dish....Kid approved too!

Have a good night everyone, this Mama is tired!