Fall is officially here!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year!  It is the start to football, birthday, and holiday season around here, and I just love all the celebrating that goes on!  I love to bake...not cook...just bake, and fall is when all my best recipes make their way to our table.  Okay, so I take that cooking thing back...I love to cook when it's cold outside.  I make some mean soups and chilis!

I have derailed...back to the baking thing...

Fall means pumpkin.  And pumpkin is my FAVE ingredient in my baking this time of year.  It really gets me giddy thinking of all the wonderful dishes that can be made with this amazing gourd!  Today kicked off the pumpkin-packed baking season, starting with this amazing recipe...

Pumpkin Bars
I got this recipe from a sweet friend several years ago.  It is so yummy and super moist!

2 C pumpkin
2 C white sugar
1 C veg oil
4 eggs
2 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon

Stir together pumpkin, eggs, sugar, and oil. Sift in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Pour on a lightly greased large cookie sheet with sides (jelly roll pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, don't over bake. Cool on rack before frosting.
 NOTE: Different pan can be used, but I have found that it doesn't bake evenly. If you choose to use a different pan, check it often.

For the frosting:
3 oz cream cheese, softened (NOT warm)
1 tbsp milk
3/4 C butter, softened (NOT warm)
1 3/4 C powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla
(I 1.5 times this recipe because we like extra frosting!)

Cream together cream cheese, milk, vanilla, and butter.  Stir in powdered sugar.  Beat with mixer until smooth.  Frost cooled bars and refrigerate until cool and chilled.

This is another of my favorite pumpkin recipes...

Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle
There are many variations on this recipe, but this is by far my favorite (partly from a recipe I found online and partly from trial and error with many other recipes)

Pumpkin layer:
8 oz cream cheese, softened (NOT in the microwave)
1/2 tsp salt
1 C packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp ground cinnamon
15 oz pumpkin (1 can)

Package of gingersnaps, crushed
Toffee pieces, crushed (I buy crushed Heath you can find where the choc chips are!)

In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese for pumpkin layer until soft and smooth. Add sugar, brown sugar, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and pumpkin. Beat until smooth. Place half of crushed gingersnaps into trifle bowl. Cover with half of pumpkin mixture. Add remaining half of crushed gingernsaps.


 Cheesecake layer:
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 C packed brown sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 C heavy whipping cream (I never said these were healthy!)

In another bowl, beat the remaining cream cheese until smooth.  Add the remaining brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla.  Beat until well mixed, about two minutes on high.  Pour over the second gingersnap layer.  Garnish with toffee pieces.

Enjoy friends!  I know I will!  ;D

short people

They are simply amazing me this week!  I am certain a change in attitude and behavior on my part is the reason, however, it's still awesome!  Seriously thinking about baking a cake tomorrow for my short people to celebrate our week!

Cameron has memorized 1 Timothy 4:9-13!  It is the K5 motto... This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.  Command and teach these things.  Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.  WOW!  We worked on this together, and I am amazed at Cameron's natural ability to memorize!  He is now on to the next passage...it is longer!  K5 is a much heavier study than Cam is used to, but he is embracing it and is so excited!  I love to see him fired up about these things!  {K5 is the discipleship program at our church for 5th graders.}

Miss Carleigh has made great strides in her morning routine.  She has a very hard time getting up in the morning and getting herself dressed and ready for school without a lot of prodding.  We sat down and talked about it, and I promised her no more prodding.  BUT...she would accept the natural consequences that came with dawdling...even if that meant she had to wear her jammies to school or go with messy hair.  Since then, she has woken with a smile on her face and has obeyed each command the first time with very little redirection!  YAY for her!  {This is HUGE my friends!}

Bri is fully potty-trained...both #1 and #2.  She still struggles a little with the latter, but we are working on it.  I practically threw her a party yesterday when she went all by herself (#2, that is.)

Caleb has been in rare form...super fantastic great terrific attitude!  The praise has been free-flowing for this because it is a very big deal!

Bella is a happy camper.  All smiles most of the day (meltdowns are few!)

Bayleigh...well...she's just her usual little dollface self!  She's always waving bye bye.  I ADORE watching her interact with her siblings...especially Cameron!  Those two are peas in a pod!  She makes him happy and he makes her happy!  LOVE it!

I have cool kids.

focusing update

About a year ago, we got a new mattress...a memory foam one.  Immediately, it made me hot all night long, but it was bearable because I knew that would come to an end once Bayleigh was born.  I wasn't prepared for the ginourmous indentation that would be made by my body in the mattress, however.  And now, the impression is causing my back to hurt, and I don't sleep comfortably...ever.  I have endured several months of feeling this way until we finally decided to make good on the mattress warranty and have it replaced.  Hallelujah!  But until the new mattress arrives, I am sleep-deprived.  Sleep-deprived and hungry doesn't make for a good mommy, wife, or student.  I had a hard time concentrating in class on Monday, and my fuse has definitely been a little short.

Well...fasting isn't easy.  In a way, I feel as if I have failed...if it weren't for the near immediate answers I received.  I had a really good first day, as I spent a great deal of time praying.  I have definitely felt divine prompting over the last couple of days. And I have seen it manifesting in my family as well...in both good and bad ways.  I'm convinced it has been more the attitude of prayer than the day of fasting...after all, I didn't get too far past the feeling of hunger!  I am committed to prayer until I can devote myself to fasting once again.  Praying for tomorrow to be that day!

Thank you friends for your support!

focusing

Recently, I met with two wise and Godly women who speak volumes into my life on a regular basis.  I am quite certain they do not know how much impact they have on me.  We were talking over breakfast about our families, and I mentioned some of the burdens I have been carrying regarding my family over the past couple of months.  I explained to them that I was not hearing from the Lord on these matters, and that I was frustrated because I have been asking Him to guide me....and....nothing.  Very matter-of-factly, one of them tells me I must fast.  Huh?  I have known people who fast, and I have read a great deal about fasting, but I have never done it myself.  I have really never felt a great calling to do so either.  So, for the past week since the ladies and I met, I have been praying further...the same prayer asking for guidance.  Still nothing.  Still frustrated.  BUT...I have been further burdened to fast.  Tomorrow starts day 1.  Since I am new to this, I will not be doing the no food or drink fast (which is quite dangerous anyway), but instead, I will be eating only fruit and drinking water.  The purpose is to gain clarity and focus so that I can love my family on purpose and be all that I am intended to be.  In addition, I desire to be in intentional prayer for each member of my family.  I am anxious.  What if I do this, and I hear nothing still?  I will be here in a day or two to post an update.

Lord, take away my fear and give me a spirit of peace and understanding.

cowboy football

So...if you know my family well, you already know that my husband has a thing for Cowboy football.  No, not Dallas Cowboys {although I am certain they run a close second}...OSU Cowboys.  We have had the privilege of being able to buy season tickets for the past few seasons, and I can only think of a few games that Chris has missed since we have been married.  I haven't always been a fan of college football...or football in general I suppose.  My former husband and his family are pretty big OU fans, so I would gather with them and even wear the now forbidden crimson.  I enjoyed the social gathering involved, but never got into the games...or the sport itself for that matter.  I can't quite tell you when that changed for me.  But now...I won't miss a game either.  This year, I will be able to attend all home games except for two...thanks to my sister and my cousin getting married.  Seriously...who gets married on a Saturday in the fall?  Sheesh.  That's game day!

ANYWAY...this weekend, Miss Carleigh graced us with her presence at the tailgate and game, and it was a blast.  She was so excited to join us and have the spotlight all to herself!  I'm sure she couldn't tell you much about the game, but she sure had fun!  She ate tons of junk, walked all over campus with me, got her face painted, and visited the ladies bathrooms a bajillion times!  I loved having her along.  Here are a few pics from our day...

Me and my girl...I love her so much!

Showing her guns

GO POKES

Me and hubs...doesn't he look great?

He lost a ton of weight this spring and summer!

Kevin and Britt

She's an OU grad and OU pom alum...

but she claims us and supports the Pokes

{except during Bedlam of course!}

things I am learning...

Give.
Grace over grudge.
Tell the truth...even when it hurts or gets you into trouble.
Stay married.
Don't be a bully.
Tell your family each day how much you love them.
We are not promised tomorrow.  Do it today.
Be open-minded.
There are two sides to every story; when you hear one, don't assume you know the other.
Don't gossip or listen to gossip.
Keep your garden weeded.
A clean house isn't as important as the relationships with the people who live in it.
Exercise.
Act like a kid with your kids.
Choose joy.
Drink lots of water.
Yelling at someone in anger is never justifiable.
Apologize when you hurt someone.
Band-Aids make it feel better, even when you're not bleeding.
Sing, even if you're really bad at it.
Bake yummy treats often...and then eat them right away.
Babies eat everything.
Be good at giving the Heimlich (remember babies eat everything!)
When you have kids, you become good at identifying rashes.
Never let what someone else says about you determine your worth.
Find something good in everyone.
Pray.  Pray.  Pray.
Be really good at one thing.
Life is a gift, not a right.
Rules are for everyone.  Not just for the people who choose to follow them.
Be grateful.
Really understand that life isn't always fair.
Sometimes, the grass IS greener on the other side; just don't take the shortcut to get there.

growing up

I can not believe it has been nearly a month since I last posted!  WOW!  The time has been filled with getting the older four kiddos started in school and me starting back to school as well.  What a great year it is going to be all the way around!  All four of the kids got fantastic teachers, but I can't imagine otherwise at their amazing school!  We are so blessed to live in the district we do!

Each year on the first day of school, I take pictures of the kids on our front steps.  We have now lived in this house for three years, so I have had the chance to take pictures of them at the beginning of FOUR different school years in the same place!  What a great way to see how much they have grown.  Just check it out ...

So, there is a patch of mortar on the brick at Cam's ear in the first picture. In the second picture, the patch is just below his shoulder. Caleb and I calculated that Cameron had grown 4 bricks in 3 years!

2nd and 5th grades

Caleb has grown 3 bricks.

Kindergarten and 3rd grade

Carleigh has grown just under 3 bricks.

pre-K and 2nd grade

Bella was only 15 months old and just learning to walk when the older kids started school in 2007 (this is her the day they started school),

but she began the tradition of getting her picture taken this year!

She's taller than Carleigh was when she started pre-K!

So fun to see how they have grown!