need some fun halloween projects?

halloween monster cookies by the sweet adventures of sugarbelle

trick or treat ruffle tote by crafty, yummy and funny

frightfully fun frames by eighteen25

happy painted pumpkins by whatever

pumpkin spice cocoa...

so i have a recommendation... this stuff was on sale so i decided to try it. being fall and pumpkin season and all, which by the way, i LOVE! i'm kinda picky when it comes to pumpkin stuff...

pumpkin smash smoothie from jamba juice...not a huge fan
pumpkin pie... huge fan
pumpkin spice fro yo from red mango... it's ok
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies...huge fan

you get the idea...anyway, for those who love chai, but don't want to drink black tea, this is an awesome replacement! just a little milk or cream and you get the creamy spice flavor, it's not to heavy on the pumpkin or chocolate. it's divine!

and here is a recipe for these...YUM... it came from my sweet friend:)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. shortening
2 c. sugar
2 c. pumpkin
4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. raisins or chocolate chips
1 c. nuts

Cream shortening and sugar.  Add pumpkin and eggs; mix well.  Mix in flour, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together.  Mix together well and add vanilla.  Add raisins or chocolate chips and nuts.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes at 375.  Makes about 10 dozen cookies.

ENJOY!

pumpkin patch...

last week was so busy, so forgive me, i'm a little behind on my posts... being in young womens and working with the youth in the church, i was in charge of young women in excellence, that was on tuesday. then, friday rolled around where i was teaching at the relief society's fab friday (super saturday). we made the funky flower pins. i'll share more pics from that later...


and we also had a preschool field trip to the local pumpkin patch, much fun. they had lots to do, including pushing my double stroller through the mud:) it had just rained the day before. but the visit is a fall-must and a field trip so what are you gonna do?! btw these were taken with my iphone, because my nikon battery was dead and i had forgotten to bring a backup battery. slap on the wrist suzy. but they turned out pretty good, thanks apple.

they had a hayride pulled by a tractor...which my girls were not interested in. a big slide, the kind where you sit on burlap sacks. some tire swings...which were the biggest hit! some animals...which my girls liked until the goat tried to nibble their coats, and of course the pumpkin patch...where you get to pick your own pumpkin, which is harder then it sounds with no gloves or clippers and 8 months pregnant:) but needless to say we left with 2 perfect pumpkins! halloween, we are ready for you. i love october. have i mentioned that?! love fall. love halloween.

i'm taking elder ardern's talk from general conference to heart. i love what he said, " love is spelled TIME". our bishop also challenged us recently to spend some undivided time with each child, every week. he gave us a goal of 30 mins with each child/week. where you just say, "i'm am all yours, what do you want to do?"
so saturday i and very fun date with... Amelia...we went to the mall and went shopping! where she got a mini MAC makeover and clothes, and i got some see's truffles and some of these...gray uggs... happy birthday from mom! thanks mom!

lazy cookies

i needed some goodies to give out as 'thank you's' and thought these lazy cookies from joyshope looked delish...peanut butter and chocolate... i sampled a few, they're pretty good:) if you are looking for an easy treat, that even the kids can make, here it is!

happy weekend!

do something good.

i am taking this challenge from joyshope to do something good. and i am giddy:)

jersey knit bracelets

my friend handmade a few of these for me for my birthday and i love them! they are jersey knit bracelets. i found a tutorial here at v and co.

happy making!

it was a good weekend and week...

we spent conference weekend here, and got to listen to the speakers in tranquil nature. it doesn't get better than that. i promise. especially with all the colors!

the fort...

mallows around the campfire...

candyland and popcorn...

cocoa...

dorky dog...

but this one is my fav...

i received these beauties from my sweet ma, pa, brothers and sister for my bday.

these came along with the flowers. mint chocolate truffles. my favorite. yum. the whole box is gone now.

my sister-in-law dropped off this cute bag full of fresh veggies out of her garden. very yummers.

met some friends for a birthday lunch. love them.

the hubby brought home take-out, cheesecake, pumpkin roll by josi kilpack, and a new camera bag, the besty in mustard from jototes for my bday...isn't he the best?!

it's my birthday.

twenty seven.

so far it's been an awesome day.

my good friend drove carpool this morning. thank you.
i treated myself to a cup of warm cocoa. in my pj's. and snuggled on the couch for some extra scripture studying this morning.
my son did his chores. before he left for school. without complaining.
got a letter. just for me. from my brother in the phillipines. love you jake
and it's only 9:22 am!

October 2011 General Conference

we are gearing up for conference weekend! so excited! fall conference is my absolute favorite! i have been waiting and waiting and counting down!
here is a link to print conference packets for the kiddos! thank you sugardoodle.net!! these give my kids something to do so i can actually listen- bless their sweet little hearts:)

also wouldn't be complete with some of these! love me some rhodes rolls cinnamon rolls! just let them rise and then pop them in the oven! then serve with the ooey gooey cream cheese frosting! look for them in your grocer's freezer section!

hope you have a fantastic weekend too!

toy swap and school carnival

this weekend my 6 year old says he wants to see if friends want to trade some toys. he brings me a box of toys that he says he's "too old for"and wants to walk around the neighborhood and see if anyone wants them or wants to trade. so i suggested he make it a party, handout invitations, invite his friends to bring their unwanted toys to trade and have some treats. he likes this. so we have our first "toy swap". and i have to say it was pretty successful.

then is was off to our school fall carnival...
there was face painting, nails, and hair-do's

giant slides and bounce houses...

games where you could earn tickets for prizes...

a little train ride...

a rockwall...

i definitely couldn't keep up with everyone... how do you photograph three plus kids going in all different directions?! please feel free to give me advice.

i had to make a stop, here, of course...

yum! cotton candy. i can't believe i actually got a whole one to myself! my kids were totally not interested in eating. we could barely get them to sit and eat lunch, which we had here also: hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza... not a chance of getting a photo eating.

anyway, all in all an fun weekend. how was yours?