Pumpkin Party Planning

Every year since we've moved into our house we've hosted a pumpkin carving party.  It started as a casual idea and has grown just a bit so the to-do lists are looooong prepping for our friends, old and new, to join us in carving, eating and chatting.

Here's a list of the delicious food that we'll be serving...

Spiced Pumpkin Dip with gingersnaps, cinnamon graham crackers and Honeycrisp slices

Caramel Corn

Chocolate Cake

Ron's Cream Cheese with rice crackers

I also plan to make a TRIPLE batch of my very favorite Veggie Chili.  It features three different beans and fresh dill.  It usually a crowd favorite combined with the toppings bar.

Apparently I have a sweet tooth?  Here's to completing everything on my to-do list...not just the baking!

Catching Up

We've been really lucky the past couple of weeks to have Nate working from home. This includes impromptu play sessions, three shared meals a day and quick trips/errands together.  I have been loving the extra set of hands and adult conversation...BG has just loved being with his Pops.  Here are a few of the highlights from the past couple of weeks...BG stars in all of them, of course.

 

Enjoying pizza on Friday night...I tried a new sauce and he was ALL about it.  Why I didn't use this one to begin with I do not know.  It's my moms recipe that we ate weekly growing up.  The best part is that it makes enough for 3 to 4 pizzas! 

 

All smiles after mealtime.  This child loves to eat.

 

A manly stop at HD...why do boys love projects so much?  Nate created at least two or three more for himself while we wandered around the store.

 

It's getting chilly on our morning walks...as in mid-60's...perfect weather for bundling up!

Our little bookworm will sit for the longest time "reading" to himself.  Even in the most awkward places like this he finds a way to curl up with a good book. 

 

Music class is always a favorite mid-week treat.

Before and After

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that I love a good before and after shot...especially if it's a dramatic one!  For us, this is dramatic...or traumatic...one of the two!  This past weekend Nate finally let me convince him to chop down the trees that blocked our front entrance.  And by convinced he said he'd only do it if our realtor approved of it as well.  So I emailed her right away and she agreed, the large pines had to go...they were not only hogging our natural light but they were literally growing into the hand rails! 

 

Here's a shot of my lumberjack in action.  After he cut this tree down a snake came slithering out of the pile.  What did my hubster do?  Why he did what any other lumberjack would do.  Requested a Tupperware with a lid.  Caught the snake in said Tupperware.  And released the darn thing in the woods across the street. 

 

I provided the Tupperware.  And the screams from inside the house.  With the door locked.

 

It's not the craziest makeover ever...but it makes a HUGE difference for us!

 

 

 

From the front porch looking out you can see a more drastic difference.

 

 

The lumberjack was even given a double rainbow on Sunday for his efforts. :)

 

5 on Friday

Another Friday is here!  Linking up with April again this week for 5 on Friday...

one

 

We are loving these chips lately.  My bestie on twitter (aka Steve Martin aka he has no idea who I am) recently tweeted a photo of himself snacking while on a tour bus.  On my last trip to Costco I saw the package and just decided to trust in his taste buds.  So glad that I did - Yum O!

two

 

I made a special trip to Trader Joe's for pumpkin this week.  The clerk was quite confused as to why any normal person could possibly need EIGHT cans of pumpkin - thankfully I didn't buy the full dozen I had planned on!  Can't wait to start using them up by making Sampson's favorite treats, barkolanterns, Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal (I use apples and bananas in ours) and of course Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins.

 

 

 

three

 

One of my new mama-friends planned a trip to Hall's Pumpkin Patch and invited us along.  We were happy to join in the fun on such a beautiful day...BG had a great time staring at his baby friends and taking a hayride!

 

 

four

 

I participated (via instagram) in One Big Truth.  Several inspiring messages to read and learn from!

five

 

On one of our morning walks this week BG actually needed a sweater and hat!  (Yes, those are fleece Santa pj's too...he's so long that he has to wear 12 month pj's - so the jammies we had for Christmas are already in his nightly rotation!)  It was a chilly 62 degrees and cloudy but by the end of the walk he was just in his pj's. It was fun to finally put him in one of my mom's knit creations!



 

 

 

 

Outdoor Lighting...

While we were home in Cincinnati my brother was kind enough to take some pictures of BG.  Love this sweet baby's face in the natural light.

He loves fresh tomato slices...

Clapping for more maters...

Sheer disappointment...

 

Thank you Uncle Andy!

 

Big House

We're actually in Ann Arbor today for Homecoming.  BG has already experienced The Big House during the season opener.  Here's hoping that he still loves his Baby Banz, talking to our neighbors and most importantly watching our boys in blue!!!

Five on Friday - TV Style

I'm linking up with April for 5 on Friday.  This week I'm going to focus on some of my favorite tv shows.  We cancelled cable a few months ago but that hasn't stopped me from watching!!! 

Here are the five shows that I look forward to each week...

Five.

 

I'm sure that most of you who enjoy this show as much as we do, however, you're probably watching as fans of Leslie and Ron.  In this house we're Team Tom.  I'm not sure if it's Aziz's allegiance to the Carolina's or just his pure comedic charm but we love watching him!  That being said, we also have a soft spot for poor Jerry...

Four.

Although I'm not on board with the new DC storyline, I still adore Castle.  Hopefully they'll get back to "the usual" format soon!

Three.

Oh how I wish I could belt out a country song like the fabulous folks on Nashville do.  Although I like to believe that Tami returns to her normal life with Coach Taylor when Nashville isn't shooting.  Anyone else still love Friday Night Lights??

Two.

I wish I really knew the Braverman's.  Aside from the obvious reasons that I love this show (the perfect mix of dramedy) I am so proud that a fellow Perrysburg High graduate stars on it!  Way to go, Joel!!!!  Who is your favorite character?  I'm constantly torn between Camille and Joel...she's always so calm and collected and he is the epitomy of a perfect SAHDad. 

 

 

One.

 

It's baaaaaaaaaaaack!!! 

 

Please tell me that you love Olivia Pope...and despise Mellie Grant as much as I do!!!