pumpkins and port-a-potties

We made our 2^nd annual trip to Walden Farms. It was fun to take pictures because we got several that were similar to last year for comparison purposes (see below :))

We also discovered that Taylor is deathly afraid to pee in a port-a-potty. Actually, she sort of has a fit in any bathroom that is not extremely clean or if we attempt to have her go outside. Not sure how to get past this one...today we had to put a diaper on her so she could pee.

This was the best family picture we got...ignore squinty eyes and the fact that no kids are looking at the camera.

too yummy not to share

I am not a big fan of pumpkin, but Mark LOVES it. I made pumpkin pancakes for his birthday and needed to find something to do with the leftover pumpkin. Enter pumpkin cookies. Tay helped me make these and to my surprise, they were actually really yummy!

Iced Pumpkin Cookies (source)  
Ingredients: 

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup of butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool cookies, then drizzle glaze with fork.
4. To Make Glaze: Combine confectioners' sugar, milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add milk as needed, to achieve drizzling consistency.

One Less Weekend

Most of you know this past weekend was a pretty big one for us. We had a huge benefit concert and silent auction fundraiser for our adoption.

I also planned a little somethin’ somethin’ for Mark on the side. Mark turned the BIG 30 earlier this month, so on Friday we had a little surprise party for him. Nothing too big, his parents came in from Ohio and my family came over. I have a hard time keeping anything from him, so I was pretty impressed with myself for keeping this a secret for the past 5 months. 

Tay sort of got in to one of the cookies...according to her "I just needed to taste it".

Before I give an overview of the concert…let me take you back. Over the past few weeks, Mark and I began to become discouraged about the benefit concert and silent auction. We kept talking to people who were not going to be able to make it the event. It felt like we were getting one blow after another. We both got to a pretty low place. But it took us getting there to remember the real reason we were putting on this benefit. It was not to fill up an auditorium or have an event that looked good. It was to raise money to bring our baby home and glorify God in the process. Once we came to a place where we remembered that, our expectations changed, and we were able to see all of the great things that God had already done to make this benefit a success.

The benefit was great! We don’t have the final numbers yet, but we raised around $6,000!!! Praise the Lord! We could not have pulled it off without the help and support from friends and family. We are SO appreciative of all who volunteered their time and energy to help us pull this off.  We were overwhelmed with the support we felt. LOVE you guys!

 

The bands were amazing! 

getting crazy in the kitchen

Some of you may know that I have a slight OCD issue when it comes to cleanliness, especially in the kitchen.

A few weeks back, a friend posted some pictures of her boys painting in the kitchen. It was a MESS, but it looked like too much fun not to try.

So this morning, I broke out all the sheets I could find, covered the floor as best I could, and let the kids go crazy. Tay mostly painted herself and Noah mostly tried to eat the paint, but I am calling that a success! I might even try it again…

Switch Up

Let me be honest…it has been a LONG couple of weeks. We have had so many ups and downs surrounding the benefit concert and silent auction. I never know what to expect.

As difficult as these past 2 weeks have been, they have gotten me to a place where I realize that I cannot be in control ALL the time. I have learned some hard lessons about putting my trust in God.

One of the artists scheduled to play for the benefit concert found out last minute that she is no longer able to be there. We were so disappointed.

BUT God is faithful and He has provided us with another artist to fill her spot and we are SO EXCITED. Her name is Jenna Davis and you can listen to her music here. I know you will love her!!

Hope to see you on Saturday!

Congratulations Britt and Forrest!

This past weekend, we went to my cousin’s wedding. It was at an old farm house and was absolutely beautiful.

I brought my camera in hopes of getting some super cute pictures of the kids. They were all dressed up and the little girl cousins were matching (thanks Grandmom :)). The farm house had such lovely places to capture some great pictures. But did I get any….of course not! As hard as I tried, my little subjects (all 5 and under) were just not cooperating. I wonder why? Don’t your little kids do super cute poses for the camera when you ask? Geesh!