Happy Halloween!!!

I am one of those people that really love Halloween! I like it because you get to dress up, you get candy, you get to decorate, you get to make caramel popcorn balls and licorice popcorn balls!
Just a few of my favorite things about Halloween.

Photos from google images - from Martha Stewart

My mom every year would make popcorn balls and I really try to carry on this tradition. Gma Holt used to make popcorn balls too, her recipe is the ONE I like to use the best, it is simple and easy. I think it only calls for like four ingredients. I don't have the recipe with me because I'm at work/school but I will post it later tonight.

This weekend we are going to Bozeman, staying over night in a hotel and then going to the Cats game on Saturday. I'm so excited. The kids and I look forward to weekends away soo much! Mostly because we are always stuck at home, while D is on the road. He would prefer more time at home but it is such a treat for all of us to stay in a hotel!

Do you always dress up? I haven't the past few years but maybe I might dress up tomorrow for school/work...I haven't decided yet.
E is going to a Glamor Witch...pretty cute!
T is getting a little older and doesn't LOVE dressing up but I think him and his friend are going to be football players and wear their Cat Jersey's....sounds good to me!

I hope to be able to control myself with the candy and only enjoy a few caramel popcorn balls! Yum!!!!
Here are a few pictures from halloween past.

E - Halloween 2008

T - Halloween 2008

Isn't this costume so cute! Maybe I'll dress-up like a cowboy tomorrow! Bring my horse and all (stick horse that is). :-)

Have a Happy Halloween! Let your inner-child come out and have fun!

Wonderful Weekend - at home

I had the best weekend. It started off on Friday I had a PChef party for my friend/coworker Jami. The party was huge! We had about 18 people there, my house isn't small but that many ladies in my "living room" it looked small. Jami is just beginning her pchef career and I wanted to get her started with a bang. The theme of the party was "Kick-off"...she had football plates/napkins and a little chip/dip holder in the shape of a football, it was really cute. She got some great leads and about 4 more parties from it. Yahoo and BIG shout out to all my ladies that came! Thanks!!!

Then Saturday I rose nice and early (8:30am - ha ha, I love sleeping in on Saturdays) and started making cookies for the local Fall Festival of Food. It was a fundraiser for the local PAWHS and Elks. I entered in my Gma Helen's Gingersnaps and they won 2nd prize! yahoo!!! I love those cookies. I also entered in chocolate chip cookies, taco soup and homemade cornbread but they didn't win anything. After the judging we went back up for the taste testing ....HOLY there was tons of food to taste, it was great fun.

Sunday was a day of rest, we napped, ate and got in a little backyard football game too. I think T and I lost but Dave is a total cheater and we should have won.

Here's to relaxing weekends!
Have a great week.

Here are a few pictures I didn't post of our Fun Time at Pumpkin Sunday at GKohrs Ranch.

E, T & T - at the GK Ranch

T in the Stall

E - making a crafty leaf

T - looking enthusiastic AS EVER! He loved it there. :-) Ok, he only like certain aspects of Pumpkin Sunday!

T - on the Stilts (this was a highlight)


T - Look at him GO!

Great link

I found this link when I was searching for the perfect Hawaiian Haystack recipe. Well, NOT only did I find the perfect recipe for dinner but I also found this fantastic website. I hope you enjoy it too. (Click on Hawaiian Haystacks or this for the link). This link has so many great ideas for food storage, preparing meals for your family for a month and just great meal ideas in general. Enjoy!

Hawaiian Haystacks

Chicken Gravy:

1lb, 1 Pint with broth, or 2 Cups Chopped Chicken

2-10.75oz Cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Cup Sour Cream

2 Cups Milk

Dash of Garlic Powder if desired

Dash of Pepper if desired

If using uncooked chicken, combine the chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream and spices. Cook until chicken is tender and the sauce screams, "Irresistable" when you open the lid for a peek. If you are using canned chicken it is even more simple; toss it all in a pot and heat it until it is bubbly good.Cook enough rice for your family.

When cooking white rice, remember the 1+2=3 rule. One cup of rice plus two cups of water equals three cups of rice. I plan on 1-1 1/2 cups of cooked rice for each family member.

While the rice is cooking, shred the cheese and set out your choice of toppings smorgasbord style. When the rice is done allow each family member to build their own Haystack. Rice, gravy, and then toppings...lots of toppings!

Shredded Cheese

Pineapple

Mandarin Oranges

Olives

Celery

Onions

Chopped Tomatoes

Peas

Nuts

Chow Mein Noodles

Shredded Coconut

Sunflower Seeds

Raisins

DON'T BE A CHICKEN, PILE IT ON!

Recipe courtesy of Kneafulthingsnow

Pumpkins or Punkins

Pumpkin Sunday @ Grant Kohr's Ranch
October 2009

Last week for FHE the kids and I carved their pumpkins! It was so much fun. I haven't done it with the kids for the past couple years, have been busy doing school work etc. and so I just kind have left it up to Dave to do those sort of activities. But this year D was busy with school board issues and so I took the initiative and kept up busy all night with pumpkin carving!

Can you guess what T's is?

E let me help her, cuz between the two of us..I figured I could handle the "knife" better than her but that isn't say much!

Isn't her face priceless?! She is such a riot!!!

Yesterday we went to Pumpkin Sunday at the Grant Kohr's Ranch in D.L. It was GREAT fun. There were so many people there. We went on a hay/straw ride, E made a candle and another leaf crafty project...the kids played games and checked out some of the sights of the ranch. T and D worked on the roping skills (made skills, at that) on the roping dummies. T is getting to that age where doing "little" kid things are NOT that cool. aRGh, I'm entering the stage of teenagehood!

E - post Hayride


E - making a candle

T - on the hayride, doesn't he look like he is having a GRAND time?! :-)

I am loving this fall weather we are having now. Today is rainy and dreary, which makes me want to be at home doing.....stuff around the house!

How lucky Am I?.............and Thankful

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving and here I sit at work! At least the school could have celebrated Columbus Day but yet again, I have to work.

If I were boss of the world, which I dream about often, I would declare no working on your Birthday or any holidays! :-)

Speaking of Birthdays, I celebrated my 35th birthday on Friday. I love birthday, I love having birthday's on Friday too....it was a great day. My co-workers spoiled me. Jami had a bouquet of flowers and diet coke waiting for me on my desk, first thing friday morning! How lucky am I?
My friend Dana gave me a bag full of goodies, homemade knitted dishrags, red dishtowels (cuz she knows my love for red), and a red metal water bottle! Again, HOW lucky am I?
My friend Cassi brought me HOMEMADE pumpkin chocolate chip cookies YUM!
Emmy made me a a bracelet and Tenny made me a homemade shelf to put some candles on! I love it, it very rustic looking..I will take pictures of it....again HOW lucky am I?

Here is a picture of my birthday flowers.
HOW lucky am I?
Aren't they beautiful!

Friday was my birthday - I cannot believe that I am 35.....like numbers really don't mean that much to me...I firmly believe it is only how you feel...but come on people.....35! Next year will be another story.....I will be closer to40! I'm OK, with being 35 cuz I'm still really in my 30's and closer to 30...right? I found my drivers license from just after I had Tennyson and I realized I have aged! I do not look 22 anymore.....now that makes me sad. But really I act like I'm 22 right? :-)

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving and I would love to be home....hanging out with my family....but here I sit at work! I still like to celebrate Canadian Holidays even though I'm not there. I made a real turkey dinner last night and it was delicious. We had turkey breast, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing (or dressing as we call it in Canada), gravy, pickles, and pumpkin pie. I even took a picture of my pumpkin pie. Thanks to mom for making the crust while she was here last week...I froze it and it came in really handy! NOBODIES crust even comes close to my moms!

Here is my homemade pumpkin pie....(thanks Mom for the crust). It was delicious!

In honor of Thanksgiving
I am Thankful for
~my family (all of them)
~ health
~ my friends
~my job
~food
~freedom
~Tennyson
~Emmy
~Dave (and his passion to do what is right...always).
I love my family and am so thankful that we are happy and healthy.

It truly feels like thanksgiving (American that is)....it is sooooooooooooooo cold. It was 3 degrees/-16 celcius this morning. That is too dang cold for the beginning/middle of October!
Whereever you are, whatever you do.....enjoy the day and HOW lucky are you?

Footyfootball star

Tennyson has enjoyed his first year of Jr. High football this year...his last game is tomorrow and he reminded me his last practice is tonight. The season was way too short but we enjoyed it none the less!
Here are some pics of the BIG HitMan (like we call 'em).
What he lacks in size, he makes up in heart.

He is #30




Lining up on defense!


In Dillon




In Deer Lodge





Final score - D.L. 42 - Butte 6

From summmer.........to......winter!

Just when I thought summer was way too short.....September hit us with record high temperatures and we enjoyed 70's and 80 degree weather all month! What a treat! But now it seems we have gone right from summer to winter. I do love summer however it does seems short in Montana but fall completely seemed to pass us by this year!

Fall if you are still out there........crawl your way out......don't run and hide......I promise to come find you! I won't give up hope if you don't!
I'm still looking forward to cool crisp morning and fresh fall afternoons.....NOT frost morning and night. AND Old Man Winter, if you are listening, when the time is right...come back for a visit...just NOT now!

On a "lighter note". :-) I took these pictures this morning, how beautiful is this?
I do love where I live. I just love the snow line on the Mount Powell, I had to capture it. I'm not a photographer and do not claim to be but enjoy the scenery and love Deer Lodge, MT & Mt. Powell.

Mt. Powell, October 2009

Look at that snow line

My attempt at some scenery pictures. I figure if you can't be here to enjoy, I better share!