happy halloweeny!

we went to a fun family halloween party last night. costumes, yummy food, hay ride... big time fun party! over half of these cuties belong to members of our Sunday School class. Cooper & Corbin won the best duo award for their ninja costumes.
Ahh... so sweet.this party was a blast. here is the beautiful hostess as a peacock, and the best adult costume a bunch of grapes. too fun! we all piled in two trailers and went on a hayride through their neighborhood. the kids came home with buckets of candy. we're gonna make big bucks at the dentist buy back this year! :) I'll let them pick out their favorites first. I'm not the meanest mom, i promise. i might even put some back to make gingerbread houses in December.

today is "storybook character" dress up day at school. Oh, gotta love the polictical correctness of that. we didn't have a storybook to go along with the ninja get up... so they wore parts of costumes we have and went as vampires. fun times for the littles is what it's all about.

and tonight the boys will get to trick or treat in our neigborhood.

had a fun family photo shoot on Saturday that included their family dogs. sneak peek pics coming soon....

chili recipe

I made this chili today. It is really good! crazy amount of ingredients... totally worth it!

1 lb pork shoulder (tamale meat), I used ground pork
1 lb bacon
2 lb stew meat
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 28 oz can tomato sauce
1 bottle beer
1 can beef broth
1 lb course ground chuck
2 lb pork sausage
2 small onions
1 bell pepper
4+ cloves of garlic
1 can green chilis
1 28 oz can chopped tomato, I used rotel
3 tbls chili powder
3 tbls cumin
1 tbls molasses
2-3 tbls chopped fresh cilantro
2 cans beans, I used pinto beans

Grind bacon in food processor, cook until done but not crisp. (My food processor bit the dust, so I chopped up the raw bacon into tiny pieces instead.) Drain and set aside reserving drippings. Dredge stew meat in flour, salt and pepper. Brown in 1-2 tbls drippings. Put tomato sauce, beef broth, beer and stew meat in slow cooker and cook overnight (low) or about 3 hrs on high until tender. Chop onions, green pepper and garlic an saute in 1/2 tbls bacon drippings until soft. Brown remaining meat. Combine all ingredients except cilantro in a large pot and simmer 1 hour, add additional salt and pepper to taste. Add cilantro and additional broth or water if it is too thick before serving. Serve with cheese and sour cream.

Chili cook-off worthy! Not too spicy for the kiddos. If you like your chili spicy, add more chili powder. Enjoy!

today - this week

it's been a good week.
i delivered picture CD's to photography clients. this profession is such a blessing to this momma.
little coop got his first pair of glasses. he rocks 'em... i'm tellin' ya!

i found the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. easy, no fuss recipe... just dump everything in one giant bowl and stir away with a wooden spoon. roll into balls and bake. the boys took some to their two teachers today. :) {recipe below}

i finished editing pictures of this tiny girl this week.
so adorable! those big blue eyes. i wonder if it would work if i started wishing i had a little girl? hmmmm {probably not} i'm pretty blessed with these two cuties.

happy weekending...

chocolate chip cookies
3 sticks of butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
1 TBS vanilla
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
As many chocolate chips as you'd like.


Throw it all together and mix it up.
Bake at 375 for about 8 minutes.
I like flat cookies so I rolled mine into balls and then smooshed them down with my hand.

happy lovely Monday

how was your weekend? ours was the best mix of busy/productive, and relaxing.

early saturday morning we had a tee ball game. the games are so so fun to watch. adam has steppped up to help out coaching their team when he can. i love seeing him out there with all the little guys. they love him! their last two games are this week. we're already planning to sign them up for the spring season. this little cutie was fitted for his glasses on Saturday. he looks so smart! he tried on dozens of frames. and adamently chose these. sunday afternoon i took the boys to a birthday party for a friend from their school. they really enjoyed the pinata.
and i got to enjoy one of adam's perfect margaritas after putting the boys to bed. ahhhhh
our pumpkin filled fall mantle


my brother made some great improvements this weekend! praise God!!! he's onto a new season after 24 days of a super critical state in ICU. he should be moved out of ICU and begin therapy today to strengthen his upper body. he is still a parapalegic from the tragedy, but we are claiming more miracles for his healing!

have a blessed day!

a welcomed fall morning

fall is in the air! windy and cool. highs in the 70's today.
i started a pot of chili cooking as soon i dropped the boys at school.
my favorite cold weather food. mmmmm

i took the little punkins to the pumpkin patch.
it's just a patch on the corner of the street downtown... not the type of pumpkin farm setting i wish we had in central texas. oh well. we take what we get and don't throw a fit. ha!

i had a little photo shoot on Saturday. look at this adorable family! so fun to be a photographer we worked so hard for this tiny ones smile.

feeling so blessed*so grateful for the opportunity*giving God the glory

i'm not sure i like the watermark on my business images. what do you think?

be blessed... i'm off to tackle my to-do's for the day.

friday

can you handle the cuteness of these two all dressed in their tee ball uniforms? i sure can't!
i had the pleasure of taking the team pictures before our game this week. we have such a great group of little guys on our team!
all the boys like batting. cooper especially enjoys playing pitcher or catcher. corbin is pretty good on first base. the batting helmets are huge, and a challenge for the boys to keep on their heads while they run. so funny. when waiting their turn to bat they practice climbing fences and such. they are five after all.


please keep praying for my brother, Ronnie. he is still in a fight for his life.
we love him so much.

happy weekending to all!

tomatillo salsa

This salsa is amazing! Here are the cast of characters:

Raw radish (to taste) dice small
cilantro (to taste)
onions (to taste) we use red onion
tomatillos
jalapeños
avocado
Clean, wash, and boil the tomatillos and jalapeños together - wait till they change color from their natural green color to a tender green. Be aware that the tomatillos will cook faster than the jalapeños.
Blend the tomatillos and jalapeños together. We use the blender. They blend quick so only a turn or two is needed.

In a bowl, pour tomatillo-jalapeños mix, add salt, diced radish, cilantro and onions to taste. Mix everything well. Once you get it to the taste you want, then add the diced avocado and gently mix. Enjoy!!

no place like home

grateful to be home... still uneasy about not being by my brother's side

i want to decorate the house for fall... feels unimportant and silly
i have to keep life going for my little boys. i'm having a hard time pretending i'm not just so sad right now.
i'm exhausted. need to catch up on my sleep. the boys are home from school today for columbus day. maybe tomorrow i will decorate.

i'm depressed. adam says probably a little hungover from all the emotion.

i'm so happy to be home with my honey. i missed all my guys so much.

please keep my brother, Ronnie and his family in your prayers. he has a long long road ahead. and he's not out of the woods yet.

the JOY of the Lord is my strength

my brother and nephew were victims of a random act of violence this past Saturday night in West Texas.
we've been living a horrible nightmare of reality every since.

i am reminded daily that even in the face of tragedy, God is good.
my brother has such a great support system of friends here. we couldn't make it without their love, kindness, presence and prayers.

please keep our family in your prayers.