EWWWW Pumpkin Guts

Time to carve the pumpkins.

Emily doesn't mind cleaning out the pumpkins.

Jake is not so fond of the task.

The kids choose a design, and Rowdy lends a hand...

and in no time....

We have MASTERPIECES.

Stay tuned for the photos of Halloween night.

Bake Sale Success!

What a great day for a bake sale! What a great success it was!

Sold out of Gooey Butter cookies, Cake balls and Dunkable brownies in a big hurry.

Just about had a cat fight over the last few plates of cake balls.

Had a huge variety of cookies, cupcakes, candy, fudge and various other goodies.

Sold most of the cartons of milk (I was afraid I would come home with 100 cartons).

The cheerleaders had a good time, the fans enjoyed the treats, and we made a nice profit for the end of the season banquet.

Thank you to all the parents who donated their time and baking talents.

A special thank you to my co-hearts who helped me run the sale. You made it fun.

And a heartfelt thank you to my family for the late hours you kept helping me bake last night and for tolerating my crabby mood while preparing for this event. I love you !

40 Things for Which I am Thankful !

Today I celebrate a birthday. I am not the type of person who makes a big to-do over my birthday. It has always been- just another day.
I make a big to-do when it is my children's or my husband's birthday...but I never really celebrate my birthday. I don't think it is because I hate birthdays, or because I can't face another birthday. For me- it is just something that happens. Nothing to get too excited about...or too upset about.
Maybe that is why I find it so curious that some people keep asking me if I am ok and if I am depressed about my birthday.
Should I be?
I mean... I know that the number keeps increasing, and that some people think I should be in mourning and hang black balloons... but... I have LOTS to be thankful for. I have lots to love and LOTS to "chaulk up to" in my 40 years.
Here is just 40 to name a few!

40 Things for which I am Thankful !
1. My husband and my children.... for them I am thankful.

2. My Friends- You know who you are. You make things fun.

even when they aren't !
3. God in my life.
4.My home. It is just our size and overflowing with love.
5.Seasons.

6.Stability in my life!
7.My family- I miss them so much .

8. My camera !

9. My job (some people don't have one...and I do actually enjoy it)

10. CHEESECAKE

11. Electric blankets on cold mornings

12. The feeling of CONTENTMENT.

13. My scrapbooks

14. Our pets (although I have to remind myself to be thankful for them much of the time)

15. Delivery food ( what did we do before pizza/Chinese delivery)

16. Playing in the rain

17. Summers off of school/work

18.Family vacations

19. medical miracles (heart surgeons)

20. Hair dye

21. Computers (when I can make them do what I want)

22. Photographs of the ones I love

23. Laughter (especially the kind I share with my best friends at work- they know just how to make me snort)

24. Lazy days

25. Democracy (while we still have it)

26. My marriage- I can't imagine life without US.

27. Paint. A fresh coat of paint makes everything feel NEW

28. Our Health

29. Family dinners full of laughter

30. Books.

31. TV/Movies that make me laugh/cry.

32. Sunday afternoons

33. Pillows

34. Hugs and kisses

35. Nyquil & Tylenol PM

36. Music

37. Organization (although I lack it much of the time)

38. On-line bill pay

39. MEMORIES

40. MY BIRTHDAY !!!

Today I celebrate and embrace MY BIRTHDAY!

Thankful!

Feels like football weather to me !

We had a busy weekend. Football games filled both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I can't say that we won our games, but the cheerleaders were AWESOME !

There is something about sitting on the sidelines all bundled up in a hooded sweatshirt and a blanket. Drinking watered down hot chocolate and cheering for your team.

I love fall. And football is definately part of fall!

Jake had a good time too. He found some friends from school and had a great game of 2-hand touch!

They make us proud !

Well, yesterday was the ever frightful Parent-Teacher conferences. I know my kids are good students and I believe they are well behaved (at least at school)... but... I still get nervous at conference time.

Jake's conference was first. His teacher had nothing but nice things to say about him. She said his grades are excellent (straight A's). She boasted that is Missouri Achievement Scores were outstanding. His teacher said he is a joy to have in her class. The one comment that made me the most proud was when she told us how KIND he is to the other students. She said he is always the first one to encourage a classmate when they are struggling and the first to congratulate them when they succeed. His teacher was impressed with this quality...so am I.

Emily's conferences were next. She has 7 teachers this year. One after another offered compliments about her grades (straight A's). Her math teacher begged her to join the math club, her science teacher said he would love to have her in EVERY one of his classes. Everyone had wonderful things to say about Emily. The most impressive to me was a comment that her literature teacher made... she said she found Emily to be very wise. She said no matter what the discussion in class she can count on Emily to offer WISE and insightful views to the class. Many times she stated that Emily is wise beyond her years. My daughter beamed with pride...so did I.

It is obvious that Rowdy and I are both proud of our children's academics, but the things that make us the most proud are the outstanding human qualities that they share. They are growing up to be amazing people. I feel blessed to know them and to love them.

And in the beginning.....

Well, here I go. I am excited and nervous about the idea of having my own blog. I have to be perfectly honest, until about a month or so ago I had no idea the purpose for a personal blog. A very special friend of mine at work sent me an invite to view her blog. I thought it was awesome. I found myself checking it every day and looking forward to her next post. Well,

they say imitation is the fondest form of flattery.... so I decided to copy her. (Thank you Sara)

I wanted to be able to share our lives with family and friends . I am not sure how it will go, but I am excited about the possibilities.