Dogsitting

We are dog sitting right now for some friends. We are watching two dachshunds. The kids (I think) think they are theirs to keep. So, I try to keep reminding them that they are only staying at our house for a week. Tyson especially loves them!



Almost falling asleep with his new found friends.


Hugs for the Kewpie and Tinker.


More hugs. He just loves them and was telling me tonight when they go home we are going to get three dogs.

My Wreaths

I have been working on these wreaths for a LONG time. I was actually hoping to post these pictures back on the same day that I did the pumpkin cookies. But, it took me a lot longer to make them than I anticipated. It was around 12 hours of labor, but they only cost me $7. I am not sure if this is the finished product or if I am going to add some more ribbon or red berries. But, I wanted to have them hanging on the front doors instead of still sitting inside. (For you curious minds...they are made by taking Sweet Gum Maple Tree's seed pods and sticking them into a straw wreath.)

Six dozen, plus 5

On Saturday, the kids and I made a double batch of pumpkin cookies...well, I guess I did most of it. Luke loves pumpkin cookies...and I would have to say that they are pretty GOOD!!

Pumpkin Cookies:

3 1/2 cups flour
2 1/3 cups oats
1 3/4 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 1/2 t. salt
1 3/4 cup butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 3/4 cup brown sugar
15 oz. pumpkin
2 eggs
1 3/4 t. vanilla
1 1/3 cup raisins (I use chocolate chips instead)

Beat butter and sugars together. Add Pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla.
Mix in flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Stir in raisins (or chocolate chips).
Bake at 350 for 14-16 minutes.
ENJOY!!!

Keely

Keely is such a joy. She loves to dress up. (She is wearing Grandma's boots here.)

Flowers

I LOVE flowers. Luke started singing with Rescue again and his first concert was last week. They sang at a Portland Youth for Christ dinner...and then he got to bring me a center piece home. I could have fresh flowers in the house all the time!!1

Three Days of Halloween

So, we were busy last week with three Halloween events. And, as you probably would guess, Tyson and Keely loved them!!

To start the week out we made Halloween sugar cookies.

Tyson just had to have his picture taken because I took Keely's. But, the reason I had taken Keely's was because she looked like this:


Our first Halloween event was at church. Our church had a family fun night. And, the kids got to play games and got candy for playing.



I got better and better as the week went on at making Keely's curls look good and getting her crown to stay on better. (I just had to learn how long it takes for her hair to air dry when in curlers. She hates the blow dryer!)


Getting ready for Halloween event #2. These pictures were taken before we went to Premier Sport and Fitness' Halloween night (in the Kid's Club where I work).






AND THEN FOR THE BIG BIG DAY. I think, no, I know that we had been waiting for Halloween for more than 2 months. Tyson had gotten his costume back in August and was eagerly anticipating Halloween.


Cheese!


Eating a little pizza before the trek out to find candy.


Taking pics before heading out...but Braden and Kenzie aren't in this picture.

Trick or treating was fun. It was actually warmish with NO rain!! Keely had a blast. She was actually almost always the one leading onto the next house. She would say, "a treat." Forget about the TRICK, she just wanted a treat! Tyson HAD to ring all the door bells. No desire for him to let anyone else ring the door bells.
I think after the night...I have decided that next year we will try to figure out something that we can all dress up as together. I think that will be fun!! We will see if that happens.