HaPpY HaLlOwEeN

Today is Halloween! This isn't my favorite holiday but I do enjoy it! I remember going trick or treating in my neighborhood when I was little and loved it so much! The best part was going home and eating as much candy as my parents would let me that night. My mom is known on her street for giving out the best candy. When I was in college we decided to make treat bags for the kids on the street. We would put toys, candy, cokes, chips, popcorn, etc. in the bags. They loved it! She didn't do the treat bags for a few years but this year she decided to do it again...I went and put the bags together this afternoon. The kids are going to love them this year! We don't do anything too exciting on Halloween, its pretty laid back for us. Last year we carved pumpkins with Clay and Whitney but we didn't have time do that this year. So tonight, Andy and I are going to my uncles house to have dinner and give out candy to trick or treaters. I love passing out candy, since we won't be home I am leaving some candy out for our trick or treaters..with this sign..

I'm sure they won't abide by my sign...but maybe they will. We shall see what is left when we return home. Since we are going to my uncles for dinner he requested that I bring corn dip. I have made this many times and he loves it! So for those of you who have been asking for this recipe and I haven't gotten it to you here it is:

Hot Corn Dip

Ingredients:

1 can of yellow corn

1 can of shoepeg corn

1 can of rotel

1 package of cream cheese

1/2 teaspoon of chili powder

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

Fresh cilantro to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Drain first three ingredients and put in large bowl

3. Soften cream cheese in microwave then add to large bowl

4. Add chili powder, garlic powder, and cilantro to bowl and stir until mixed well

5. Put in baking dish and bake for 30 minutes

Here is the corn dip mixture before baking

In the oven baking...it is so good! I will post pictures later of our trick or treating event with my family! Have a safe and fun time tonight!

Go Hogs!!

Last night the Hogs played Vanderbilt and I finally got to go to a game!! Andy and I don't have season tickets and usually don't attend very many games. My mom was able to get tickets from Tyson and we sat in the Tyson box. Let me just say the box is the only way to go! I do like sitting outside with the fans but when it is chilly I would much rather be in the box. Andy went with some guys from our community group. The game started off slow but the Hogs ended up winning 49-14.

I was so glad I was able to go to a game! Great fun!

Craziness

This week has been crazy! Not only is it the week of Halloween but everything else about this week has just been nuts. I feel like I haven't been able to catch up on anything...my shows, grading papers, doing lesson plans, laundry, etc. Tomorrow is going to be super crazy at school since its the Friday before Halloween. Our students get to dress up in their costumes and we have a small party and a big assembly in the afternoon. It is a fun filled day but let me tell ya I'm worn out by the time its all said and done. My team and I dress up every year...the past few years we have been nurses. This year we decided to try something new. Can you guess what I'm going to be by looking at my pictures??

I bet you figured it out from the very first picture...that's right I'm going to be a cowgirl. I borrowed the belt and shirt from a friend and I went and bought cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. I'm super excited! 

Pumpkin bread

Yesterday I came home from school and found a nice surprise at home!! Andy was already home and he had been cooking!! I knew I smelled something and I asked what he was making and he was cooking the pumpkin we had bought from the pumpkin patch. I was so impressed! He was cooking the pumpkin then going to make homemade pumpkin bread. I was so excited, I couldn't wait to see how it turned out! He is AWESOME!! Not very many husbands like to cook but mine sure does!! Thank goodness because I sure don't! :)

The pumpkin after it had baked

The inside of the pumpkin..we scooped it out and Andy blended it so it was more smooth

The yummy pumpkin...nothing like having homemade pumpkin!

The pumpkin bread!! I haven't tried it yet but I know it will be amazing! Thanks to my awesome husband!

My friend Carly is in town from Little Rock and we are heading to the craft fair today! Have a good Saturday and GO HOGS!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

My friend Amanda made these muffins a few weeks ago and I had to have the recipe. They were so good! The recipe was pretty easy and didn't take a lot of time.

The batter

Before baking

Yummy muffins

Here is the recipe for the muffins:

4 whole eggs

2 cups of sugar

1.5 cups of oil or applesauce

16 ounces of pumpkin puree

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons of baking soda

2 teaspoons of baking power

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of salt

12 oz of chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Mix first 4 ingredients in bowl

2. Mix dry ingredients in bowl

3. When both are mixed well, add dry ingredients to wet ingredients

4. Add half of the chocolate chips to the batter

5. Fill greased muffin pans 2/3 full, add remaining chocolate chips on top of muffins

6. Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Garland, pumpkins, gourds, and more..

Here is another picture of our front door. I finished adding the final touches this past weekend when we got our pumpkins and gourds. Andy went and bought some hay so I elevated some of the pumpkins. I'm pretty excited about how it turned out...

Sick Day

Today, I am at home resting and trying to get over this sinus infection. I started feeling bad on Monday and made it the whole day at school. When I woke up on Tuesday morning...it was ten times worse than on Monday. My head hurt, my throat hurt, coughing like crazy, and stuffed up nose. I decided to go ahead and go to school, but I was going to make a doctor's appointment for after school. As the day went on I felt worse...I started losing my voice. I also started having chest pains every now and then which I have never had before with this infection. I was pretty sure it was a sinus infection. All my kiddos could tell I didn't feel good. One student said, "You sound like a boy!" That made me feel great!! So I decided to take the day off today and relax and get to feeling better. The doctor gave me an antibiotic which I wasn't super happy about..I would have rather had a shot! I hate taking pills and I'm a pretty big baby about it. I usually ask the pharmacist to give me a smaller pill...well I didn't this time and they are pretty big. I know I'm a huge baby!! I have had to cut them in half and take them. Not fun! Andy was so sweet last night...he made his potato soup and it was perfect! I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Pumpkin Pickin Time!!

I have always wanted to go to a pumpkin patch and today that is exactly what we did. This afternoon Andy and I made a trip to Dickey's pumpkin patch in Springdale. We had never been to one before and I was super excited. When we pulled in all I saw was a huge open field with specks of orange and white.

We got a wagon and went lookin for the best pumpkins we could find. We walked up and down several rows until we found some that we liked. When we found one we liked Andy cut it from the vine.

These pumpkins are specifically for making pumpkin pies. We bought two of these and Andy is hoping to make homemade pumpkin pie. We will see how that goes! Andy was in charge of cutting the pumpkins and pulling the wagon...he was such a good sport.

One of our beauties!

Pretty big pumpkin...I overheard a man say that they had a pumpkin that weighed over 100 pounds last year!

All of our pumpkins and gourds!! We had such a great time at the pumpkin patch! We bought all of these for around $26.00. Not too bad!! If you have never been to a pumpkin patch...you must go! It was so much fun! Andy and I will make this a tradition every year!

Kansas City

This past weekend Andy and I went to Kansas City with my parents to watch a NASCAR race. This was my 5th race to go to and Andy's second. We left early on Saturday morning and drove to Kansas City. OF course we had to go shopping! Let me tell ya..Andy was so thrilled about that! He can't stand to shop! I could shop all day. We went to an outdoor mall and went to Dick's Sporting Goods which is by far my favorite sporting goods store. I wish we had one here! Andy did enjoy going in there..he found a bow that he wanted but of course he didn't buy it..he is such a tight wad. We went to the track to pick up our tickets on Saturday afternoon. We went to this other shopping mall after we got our tickets and shopped a little and ate dinner. Andy had been mentioning wanting some cowboy boots. There was a Cavanders in this outlet mall so we went in and he found some!! We bought them and he wanted to wear them to the race...I said No! However, that didn't stop him from wearing them to work on Monday :) Back to the race...we got up early on Sunday and left for the track. It was a very nice track but not as big as the track in Dallas.

View of the track from a distance

The cars doing their practice laps

View of the in-field

Before the race started, we walked around and went to the driver's trailers to look at their merchandise. At the other races, they give a lot of freebies. However, we didn't walk away with very many freebies. My mom was definitely disappointed! We took some pictures at some of the trailers.

Mom and Dad in front of a trailer with the drivers 

Dad all happy in this 2011 Corvette..it was super nice!

Before the race, they had motorcross racers performing tricks on their bikes. It was awesome and nerve wrecking at the same time. I got some really good pictures!

Getting ready to go on the ramp

Flipping in the air

Planning their big finish

Even though my heart was racing and I was so nervous...it was really fun to watch

Time for the races...

Andy and I ready to watch some racing!! Don't we look cute in our aviator sunglasses??

Getting ready for the green flag..the race was fun but not very exciting. I only think its exciting if there is some action (wrecks) and there weren't any. It started off in the 30s that morning and ended up in the 70s. Andy and I both got a little sun! The race lasted for 3 hours and Greg Biffel won! My driver didn't finish well at all...oh well maybe next time. 

I'm lovin...

Last week was a crazy week for me. I had parent teacher conferences all week and an in-service on Friday. It was just a long week! My kiddos were a little wild and crazy! Last Wednesday, I had a bad day at school. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I sent Andy a text saying how much I needed a break and wanted to leave school right then! He said that he loved me and to hang in there! I made it through the day and was so glad to get home and relax that night.  All this to say....earlier in the week I had gone to see my dad at the jewelry store and found this cross necklace that I loved! I didn't buy it because I knew I didn't have enough allowance money...yes Andy has me on a budget. Boy does it stink!! So I just said to dad to not sell it and I could get it soon! Well...I had told Andy about the necklace and that I really liked it. On Wednesday...he had gone to see dad and bought the cross necklace for me because I had a bad day. I need to have bad days more often!! I was so surprised and excited when he brought it home all wrapped!!! I have worn it everyday! He definitely spoils me and I love him so much!

I had a hard time taking a picture so this was the best one I could get