2 easy

I made a super easy 2 ingredient pumpkin recipe this afternoon. All you need is a can of pumpkin and yellow cake mix. Stir together thoroughly and plop on a pan like you were making large cookies. Cook about 15-20 minutes until fork comes out clean. Super easy, low fat/low cal treat. Only about 100 calories per pumpkin cake cookie, but still really yummy. We added a little bit of whip cream on top. All the boys liked em at our house :).

Crave Halloween Party

We had our annual Crave Halloween Party tonight at church and it was a blast as usual.  Some super creative and fun costumes.

Josh and I went as Nerds.  Homemade costumes turned out well and only cost about 10 bucks to make.  Took forever to do the painting though.  Had the nutrition facts/label on the back that read....Ingredients: A smoking hot husband and wife who love God and love Crave!  We took 3rd place :)

Loofah ladies - McKenzie, Kelsey, and Kendall

Katie was a baked potato complete with butter on her head

The whole Scooby Doo gang showed up

Apparently I didn't take enough pictures - but there was also Wayne's World characters, a jellyfish, gypsies, M C Hammer and groupie (Ryan and Lori's costume), homecoming queen, cheerleaders, space girl? and a group of six students dressed as old people - freakin hilarious!! (Took home top honors)  They were so realistic in their costume, presentation, and old people chatter.  I actually had a couple students ask what was up with the senior citizens and told them they were costumes. Ha!  That's how good they were.  I didn't even know what students they were until I asked!

We also did a pumpkin decorating contest and top honors went to a pig, with a lion runner up and a Marilyn Monroe look-alike taking a close third. 

A great night :)

My poor Brody!

Guilt is never a fun feeling, but I must say mommy guilt has to be the worst! I always miss Brody and hate having to leave him at school, but today made that feeling increase exponentially(Josh's favorite big word by the way). At about 1:15 I hear on the radio that I need to go to Brody's room because he fell and has a laceration on his head. As I get to his room my poor baby just holds me as I look at a gushing cut on his eyebrow. Numb with emotion I attempt to call Josh but he doesn't answer. I carry him in my arms and tell my class I have to go and drop them off in the 4 year old room. I decided to go to the highland hospital since I was only 3 minutes away. I was very apprehensive but everyone was wonderful!
The cut was too large to put on glue or strips so we had to do the traditional stitches. They didn't want to put him under, so they strapped him down in an indian like papoose to attempt to immobilize him. Ha! Brody is a fighter. Still took 5 people to hold him down/still and oh my was he screaming. So upset and mad and so hard for me. Kept looking at me with big sad blue eyes screaming mommy, mommy! He cried the whole time and I was good and only cried 75 percent of the time :). They asked me if I wanted to leave but wanted to be with him. At least Josh got there right after they strapped him down and I called a mere 16 times.  Apparently lawnmowers are loud and hard to hear a phone ring ;)  Thankfully Josh didn't cry. 5 stitches or so later, not sure couldn't bear to watch anymore, and he was done. Then Brods downed a smoothie from full to empty in 5.2 seconds and the world was good again. Now praying for a quick recovery, no scars, and no stitch pulling curiosity.

All patched up with the numbing medicine

Glad it's over!!

Obsession?

I'm not sure if Brody will ever need glasses - hopefully not, but if so don't think he'll mind.  He is obsessed with them and loves to put them on.  Proof is in the pics..............

My Sweet Geek!!

Crazy fam joins him in the joy of wearing glasses

So happy in his shades!

Organize, organize, organize...

Feel like the last couple weeks have been all about organizing and more organizing.  We have had a yard sale, made 2 trips to goodwill, and cleaned out all the closets.  I love to be organized, but hate the process of getting there. 
One huge help in the process was getting Mema Busch's old kitchen cabinets (She is doing some major renovation and is totally redoing her living room and kitchen) and putting them in the garage.  So much great space!  We are on our way to being as organized as we were pre-kid, well almost..not sure this is really possible.  Toys and having kids kind of mess up that hope :)

New cabinets = Great garage organization

Silverware drawer makes a great holder for all the craft/school supplies

Still figuring out what to use all the cabinets for...but the possibilities are endless!!

It's a bird, it's a plane....

It's Landon's shark kite!  It was super windy and Landon flew his kite for the first time all by himself.  It kept him occupied for over 30 minutes!  I am loving the age of 4 and the independence that it brings! :)

Parker's Party

Landon's friend Parker just turned 5 and had a superhero party at the Game - now called the Sports Academy.  The two have only really known each other a couple months, but have really hit it off.  They were best buds from the start walking arm in arm at Wal-Mart and Landon even gave his offering money to him at church because he was singing so good.  He told me they didn't pass around the basket, so he should do something nice with it and gave it to Parker.  Too funny!!

Birthday Boy

Superheroes in their decorated capes

 Lining up to run in and rescue all the bombs.

The best part of the party was when the boys received super powers from a glowing bracelet and had to capture bombs (balloons) from all over the play structure.  Parker's dad Jeff is an awesome DJ and started blaring the Mission Impossible Theme Music as the superheroes were running capturing all the "bombs" to diffuse.  This sweet little girl started bawling when the music turned on and all these crazy masked guys came charging in.  Pretty funny and pathetic!!  Landon of course had a blast.  Happy Birthday Parker!!

Apple Picking

We recently went apple picking at Mills Apple Farm with all the grandparents.  It was an absolutely perfect Fall day and we had a great time!

Landon and Max have a swingin' good time!

Brody loved the "hen" play pen

"Old Man" Papa relaxing on the bench

Mema and the Brodman

Daddy and Pops

Mema Maggos and Max

Landon picking apples

Brody is the master of the "cheese" right now

"APPLES!!!" yells Brody all day.

Love how the shadows show three generations of boys :)

Mrs. Erin's Pre-K Class

At the end of last March I had a job opportunity arise and decided to take a position teaching at Bright Beginnings Preschool in Highland.  Transitioning into working again has definitely been a challenge after being at home for over four years, but I am so thankful that my boys get to come to work with me and I am able to use my God-given talent of teaching.  The kids in my class are so sweet and really are fun to have in class - especially this little guy Landon - he is so stinkin' cute and smart.  Love that kid! :)
I have had some challenges adapting to working in a type B facility when I am so ridiculously type A!!!, but I have learned to not sweat the small stuff and feel like God is using me to help improve things along the way.  Every Thursday I have implemented a Thankful Thursday program where we sing fun, worship songs and learn a biblical principle or bible story.  I also started a ticket incentive program where the kids earn tickets for good behavior and then get to trade them in weekly to buy a prize at our ticket store.  The kids love it and get so excited!!  We have some pretty legit prizes that probably helps - full size barbies, lego sets, games, cars, art stuff, etc.  There's some cool stuff!

My class - silly life-size portraits we created

Landon's creation :)

Monthly calendar with patterns

Class Rules

Fall Artwork

Melted Crayon leaves