Still Recovering

I'm still trying to recover from the weekend! The older I get, the slower I get. I just don't get as much done as I used to. Sometimes I'm a little too organized for my own good, so it's the little details that seem to slow me down. I've already started making my New Year's resolutions. On the first of the list is to start making Christmas presents in August! I had wanted to make so many different things for so many friends, family and neighbors. Will I get them all done? Probably not....I could pave a road with my good intentions, but where would the road take me?

Here's a picture of a Christmas door hanger I'm working on. Maybe it will be finished in time for Memorial Day.

Nolan was everyplace this weekend. He just started crawling a couple of weeks ago, and this weekend, he pulled himself up for the first time. He was a little surprised with himself, but he did it several times this weekend. Jennifer said he's doing it all the time now. He'll probably be walking by Christmas. Oh how quickly they grow up! Here he is trying to pull himself up on one of my dining room chairs.

Here's on more snow picture. This is looking out our back door. I'm still a little surprised of the snow we received this Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Whew, we did it! We had the All-American Traditional Thanksgiving! I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to pull it off. We had an unexpected cool front coming. We went ahead with all the preparations and kept listening to the weather reports. I started making my list of all things that needed to be done, I sure didn't want to forget anything! I woke up early, checked the weather, yep, the roads were clear. So, with lists in hand, Jennifer and I grabbed our keys and we were off......What? You thought I meant the traditional turkey dinner?? No, I was talking about the traditional after-Thanksgiving shopping! Because of the road conditions, we really weren't sure if we would even be able to go, so we didn't start too early. We were out the door around 7:30 a.m. We had to be back home by 11:00 because the men were leaving for a few days to go on their hunting trip. Even though we only had a few hours, we were able to get a few presents taken care of. We didn't even encounter any rude shoppers.

We also did the traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. We ate way too much! Kellie had made a Hot Milk Cake that was soooo good! Since she has started a blog, maybe I can convince her to make it and take pictures for her blog and then post the recipe. After we all ate, it began to snow. It wasn't heavy, but at least Kaylee got to play in the snow.

Here is Kaylee throwing a snowball at Uncle B.

Notice the palm tree in the background. Snow and palm trees just doesn't seem to go together.



On Saturday we were suppose to get more bad weather, so Jennifer, the kids and I stayed inside all day. It was a great time to take photos of Kaylee and Nolan for Jennifer and Nate's Christmas cards. Want to see them?

Sorry, you'll just have to wait 'til Jennifer gets them in the mail.

Nana Wall

I have the sweetest, most thoughtful husband! A few months ago we decided to enclose our back screened in porch. When we built the house, we knew that one day we would probably enclose the porch for some added room. Well, we sold the hot tub and decided it was time. We weren't sure exactly what we wanted to do, but after some talking with different people, we finally came up with what we wanted. It's called a NanaWall. It's a sliding glass wall with folding French doors. Mike has worked so hard picking up the system, lining up the contractor, having the installer come from Dallas, scheduling the heating and air conditioning company so they can duct the room and.... getting the framer back out to finish the trim. (taking a deep breath) And doing all this so we can use the room for Thanksgiving. My father has been at the house all day with the heating and air people. Tonight, Mike and I will scrub the floors and clean the walls. Hopefully the trim guy will finish it tomorrow without making too big of a mess. It won't be stained and painted, but at least we'll be warm and comfy while we eat our turkey dinner. Isn't my husband the greatest!!!! Okay, as I was writing this blog, Mike was scrubbing and cleaning the floors. Now, he really is the greatest!

This picture doesn't do the wall justice! Click on the NanaWall link above and you can see how it works.

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

If you're digging through all your recipes and looking for something different to make this Thanksgiving, well, I've got the one for you! It's good, no, make that delicious and best of all, it's easy. Here's all you need to make it.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer.

Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased baking pan.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter.


Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and mix well.


Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Cut you a piece, add a little whipping cream and Enjoy!





Yep, that's a very empty plate. Now, here's the recipe. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

PUMPKIN GOOEY BUTTER CAKE

Cake:
1 (18 1/4-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350°

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 X 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well. Spread the pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

Babies are Beautiful

Babies are so much fun! I always enjoy holding newborn babies. I can sit there and just watch them sleeping for hours. With each passing week, they start changing and developing their own personalities. I only have two children and they were as different as night and day. I'm sure if I'd have had seven children each of them would have had their very own, distinct personality. They are all such little miracles of God. When Nolan was born I wrote this little poem about his feet.


Ten wiggly toes, on feet not yet plump
Covered in skin, so soft to the touch
Stretching and kicking, unsure of their purpose
We start out with rhymes, to the market they go
And before you know it, you're on tippy toes
Those first timid steps will bring forth many smiles
As we clap and encourage you each step of the way
Soon you'll be jumping and running with glee
Exploring and playing, not a care in the world
Oh, such a journey you'll take with these feet!


Now, here he is crawling and getting into everything! Before we know it, he'll be taking his first steps on these tiny little feet.



Speaking of babies, I made this burp cloth and baby blanket for a friend of Kellie's this week. I wish I had more time to sew and create. I have several things I'm trying to get completed before Christmas. Maybe next year I'll start sooner!! But, probably not. I always seem to do better with a little pressure.

You've Got Mail!

Don't you love getting packages in the mail??? It's so exciting going to the mailbox, opening the door and having a package in there just for you. Not junk mail or bills, but a package with your name on it! How exciting! Well, that's what happened to me today. Do you want to see what I got? Look, it has my name on it!

Wow, let's see what's inside!

A letter to little old me. Hmmm, what's under the letter?

Isn't this pretty!!! The best part is that I won it while visiting other blogs. Not only do you get to visit some neat sites with great decorating tips and recipes, but you get to meet some really nice people. This came from Francie at The Scented Cottage. If you haven't visited her site, you really need to! She also has a little boutique with some of the prettiest and most unique gift items. I have my eye on a little sugar and creamer set. So go visit her and tell her Cyndy sent you!

Care Package Sent With Love

My brother, Ronald, is taking chemotherapy treatment and we thought he needed a special care package sent his way. Since Daddy just completed his chemo and radiation therapy, we knew of a few things that might be helpful. Daddy developed terrible sores in his throat and since Ronald is having the same three chemo drugs, we thought he needed some herbal green tea in some pretty winter mugs, after all, he does live in Colorado! And since it's cooler up there, we put in some flannel lounge pants, a comfy henley and warm wool socks. Not to mention a fleece throw to keep him snugly and warm. And just in case he gets dry skin, some good lubriderm lotion with an applicator. I know Rebecca is more than willing to put the lotion on him, but every once in a while, the care giver needs a well-deserved break! We also put in a lavender scented neck roll that can be heated or cooled. And a gel mask to soothe his sinuses. Some crossword puzzles, note pads, pencils and erasers. I'm sure he won't really need the erasers with the puzzles, he's pretty good with those, but we sent them just in case. And some great snacks to keep up his strength. The main thing we included was a basket full of LOVE! Each gift was individually wrapped so he could have some fun unwrapping it all. He called and said it arrived just as he came home from his chemo treatment. Perfect timing! Our prayers and blessings are with you, brother!

Weekend Fun

I had a good weekend of babysitting Kaylee and Nolan. Nathan flew out to San Diego to go to the football game with his brothers and father. I think they're going to try to make it a yearly tradition to all meet for a football game each year. Last year they went to a Cowboy's game, this year it's a Charger's game. His two brothers flew in from Alaska and they're staying with his parents there in California. Jennifer had a speech tournament that she had to go to in Dallas, so I was tickled pink when they asked me to come watch the kids. They were so good, I just wish I could have been able to do some things for Jennifer around the house. But with two little ones, there wasn't much time to get a whole lot accomplished. I don't know how single moms do it!!

When Jennifer and Nate were here last weekend, Kaylee had found a dress of Jennifer's when she was in kindergarten. I let her take it back with her and she wore it yesterday so I could take a picture of her in it. It doesn't look too bad considering it's 25 years old!

Now, here's what Jennifer looked like when she was wearing the same dress. I wish the picture was clearer, but after all, it is 25 years old!

What do you see?

A couple of weeks ago Brandon and my Dad went to far west Texas to look at some land my parents have. It's in the middle of nowhere!!! And I do mean nowhere. When my son-in-law asked Daddy where it was or what was out there, Daddy said no trees. Nathan just thought he meant there were no trees around there. Actually there is a town in Texas called Notrees and the land is near that town. I think Daddy got a kick out of seeing Brandon's enthusiasm. Brandon is an avid hunter and where Daddy has always seen the land as worthless, Brandon saw it as paradise. Well, probably not paradise, but at least something with possibilities. While out there they found the well site my Grandfather had drilled in 1958. Nothing much left but a pad, but Brandon did bring me back a memento. This is some home made, rusted tool the roughnecks had made. I have no idea how they used it. When Brandon saw it, he saw a cross and thought it would look great with my cross collection. I have to agree with him!

Papaw or Poppy

Who needs a bouncy house when you've got Papaw? My father has given every one of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren horsey rides on his back. Not bad for an 83 year old man who has just completed chemo treatments and radiation therapy!


Even though every other grandchild has called him Papaw, for some unknown reason, Kaylee has always called him Poppy. I don't think it bothers him one bit!!

Great Weekend

What a great weekend we had! Nate and Jennifer got here Friday night and I couldn't believe how much Nolan had changed since we had seen him in September. It was a great visit. The guys got up early to go hunting and Jennifer and I took the kids shopping. Hmmm, maybe we aren't as smart as the guys. We went to the Christmas Carousel that the Junior League always puts on the same weekend deer hunting starts. It was fun and crowded and we realized maybe we should have found a baby-sitter for the kids. I did get some Christmas presents bought and some great ideas for some other presents. Here are a few pictures of the grand kids. Sorry I don't have any pictures of the hunt, but the deer were not cooperating.

Messy Drawer

I thought I was going to have a nice, relaxing evening tonight. I even ordered a pizza for supper before I left work so I wouldn't have to cook. I was really looking forward to a night of just doing nothing. Now, this might sound boring to you, but a night of doing nothing sounded pretty exciting to me! I asked Mike what he wanted to drink with his pizza and he chose a root beer. I went to my utensil drawer (that has been begging me for weeks to clean and organize it) and tried finding the bottle opener. I ended up having to take most of the stuff out of the drawer just to find it. After finding it, I was in a little hurry and was trying to shove everything back in the drawer when, wouldn't you know it, I knocked the bottle of root beer off the counter. Yes, the full, unopened bottle! What a mess!!!! Needless to say, I spent the evening cleaning the counter, floor, cabinets and yes, I decided it was time to clean the drawer. It may not be perfect, but I can now find the bottle opener. Oh, and get this, Mike was real sweet after I broke the bottle and offered to help clean up the mess. I just said no, it was my fault and I would do it. He then walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out another root beer and twisted off the cap!!!!! Yes, I said twisted off the cap! He could have at least pretended to use the bottle opener after I went to all that trouble!