4:45 A.M Wake-Up Calls

Amanda has been waking up around 4:45 a.m. every morning for at least the past week. I decided to use the extra time to start watching some DVD's. I have hardly seen any movies in the past 4 years, so the Red Box has been my new best friend. Here are a few that I have watched and my, unbiased and movie critic-esque, ratings!

"B" Pretty cute movie. It kept my attention. I like any movie that has Christmas caroling and a cute love story!

"C-" I had high expectations for this one. It disappointed but maybe it's because I was folding laundry, baking peach cobbler, and watching a baby all at the same time.

"B-" I had no expectations for this movie at all. I sort of just rented it for background noise, but it was actually kind of cute!

"A" This is my favorite of all the movies that I have watched so far. What do you expect? It's got Matthew McConaughey and it's a love story!

"B+" This movie was good. It held my attention most of the time and has beautiful scenery. (It takes place mostly in Alaska!)

"A-" This movie is like the movie BIG with Tom Hanks only in reverse. Zac Efron is so talented and super cute!

November in Texas

We sat outside tonight at our new picnic table (thank you Grandma) on our patio and had homemade bean soup for dinner. I hate the hot Texas summers but I absolutely love our fall and winter seasons. It was about 65 degrees outside. We all had on short sleeves, except Amanda, and the soup was just enough to keep us warm. After we ate Adam pushed Olivia on her swing and I sat there thinking...life is good.

Bean Soup

2 cans pinto beans

1 can black beans

1 can kidney beans

1 can diced tomatoes

1/2 onion sauteed

1/2 cup cilantro chopped (I like more, add as much as you like!)

3 slices of bacon cooked and chopped

dash of garlic powder

salt & pepper to taste

*I also add 3 tbsp Pinto Bean Seasoning made by Fiesta Brand Seasonings

Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Great with corn bread!

Love! Love! Love!

Fall Festival

Getting ready to go to the festival...

Mrs. Jenifer and her class

Strawberry Shortcake and Bob the Builder (a.k.a Olivia and Brannon)

Brooklyn, Liv, and Leah

Decorating her treat sack...

SCORE! Bean Bag Toss

Olivia's school had a fall festival for the children last Friday. It was similar to a carnival. The kids went as a class from booth to booth where they played games and won prizes. They had a popcorn ball walk (similar to a cake walk), a duck pond, bean bag toss, dig for prizes, spin art, tatoos, and cookie decorating. The kids had a great time and won lots of "spooktacular" prizes.

I worked the dig for prizes booth. They had a huge box filled with dried pinto beans and prizes and candy were buried inside. The kids took a plastic scoop and got to dig until they uncovered a prize.

I think Olivia liked the bean bag toss the best. She walked up and threw her bag in the slot on the first try. (Each child got 5 chances to make it in, though they all got a prize no matter what!) It was so much fun to meet all of Olivia's classmates and some parents too!

Halloween

I just downloaded more than 100 pictures from the last few days. I am going to be sharing pictures of Fall and Halloween until Christmas! Well, maybe! The above is the most important, the costumes! Here are my little strawberry girls...berry girl and shortcake. More to come!

Girls! Girls! Girls!

Olivia and her cousin Campbell

Happy Fall

We had to hit up 2 pumpkin patches before we could find an "acceptable" pumpkin. We were a little late to the first patch and the pumpkins were picked over, muddy, and rotten. Luckily there was another patch down the road and we were able to choose the perfect pumpkin!