Happy Halloween!

Captain America, Ariel, Batman and Boo (from Monsters Inc)

AB loved trick or treating this year.  She walked almost the whole time...actually I take that back she skipped.  Jax has always been a big fan.

Tales of a "home room mom"

You know at the beginning of the year when they send out the form that is asking you to volunteer at school as well as "check here" if you want to be the home room mom? Of course, I'll volunteer in the class to cut 5,000 circles and print 10,000 copies. I'm not even scared of the double sided copies..watch yourself I'm a pro now.. What what! I digress... Back to the home room mom part..That title seems scary to me but I went for it ..On this sheet I wrote "I would do it if no one else could". Duh?! Apparently EVERYONE and their dogs know not to do that cuz guess who got home room mom. Oh yeah-you know it.

I love to entertain and have parties so I really don't mind. I just can't believe out of 23 sets of parents I am the only one who volunteered. There are only 2 class parties to plan.. No big deal. First grade parents are still pretty involved so I've had a lot of help. 

Here's my first party...

                    First, a parade around the school.

Next, games!  This one was "Roll a Jack-o-Lantern".  Excuse the fuzzy phone pics..there is only so much a mom can do.

Another game- Feel in the bag and guess what it is? Pumpkin teeth?  Witch Warts?  Fingers?

No hands do-nut eating contest...no allergies in this class HOLA!

                            The Mummy Wrap.

                              What is that I feel?

                              The class photo. A bunch of teethless monsters...so cute!

Fam'dam'ily.

This year my grandpa turns 90..yes, 90. That's old y'all. It didn't dawn on me how old that actually is until we were writing it on the birthday cake. Wow. It was really important to my dad to take the three kids back to Texas to celebrate Papaw! We obliged and I ain't gonna lie I was less than excited about rooming with 3 dudes for the weekend. Let me tell you-scary!!!

Crazy Coons we once were and still are...at least some of us. I was in bed each night at 11pm ..the rest.. Yeah not so much. 

Besides the fact while I tried to sleep on the plane while my brothers pluck my nose hairs, or besides the fact they took me to a scandalous bar one night (Redneck Heaven-except replace the hot girls on the show with some uuuugly gross hoochie mamas..go ahead google that shit), or besides the fact I woke up to farts everyday...

I mean those were small issues I guess. We had a good time, a nice party for Papaw, we were very well fed..no meals to be missed in Texas.

The not so cool part was the part that getting old SUCKS! My grandparents are getting to the end of their time.. It's time to move them to assisted living as they can not care for themselves anymore. Seeing them this way sucks...it was hard for us and even harder for my dad. It was definitely a reality check-cherish your family because life is short...even if you make it to 90 plus years. 

October baby!

Awe Fall how I love the! And more than Fall I love these guys more! I could eat 'em with a spoon!

7th Heaven.

Buddy made out pretty dang good for his big day!

 Updated room decor!  Da BOYS!

 The CEC baby!

 Twinkies...this happens with them WAY to often.  Either mom and I need to stop shopping together (not gonna happen) or they need to quit with the"memos".

Big dawg bike thanks to Mimi and Papi!  

The little guy who's not so little.

Happy Birthday to my favorite little guy ever!  The little guy that is not so little anymore.

The little guy that still at 7 years old sees his mom with lipstick on and wants her to kiss his hand leaving a lipstick kiss so he can have it for his day.

The little guy who gets a cowlick while sleeping and wants me to hair spray it that way so he can tell his friends he went surfing last night.

The little guy who is the LOUDEST in the movie theater- with his loud laughs and quotes of what to come next. Embarrassing..maybe a little.

The little guy that insist on wearing Cowboys gear to school spirit day even though he says people are going to say mean things to him...stand up for what you love kid!

The little guy that knows every song on the radio..being christian, country or that other stuff. 

The little guy who thinks he is very grown up but still very much a softy. 

The little guy who loves sports and really has a knack for it but doesn't care to play on a team.. Would rather take a break-dancing class (thanks Boo/Pops for classes).

The little guy that who adores his sister and always takes good care if her. She's feisty...but he rarely snaps back.

The little guy who looks up to his daddy ...he's a "little Corey"...a little wond up but just a tender heart.

The little guy who is friends with everyone...boys, girls, big, little. He's social.

The little guy that loves his family...from the oldest Papi to the youngest Hannah...he's a lover!

The little guy who is so stinkin handsome..even with a snaggle tooth!

The little guy that I told last night "lets just stay up all night so you don't turn 7" to which he replied as he put his arm around me "not gonna happen Mom, not gonna happen".

The little guy that made a very sad day (9/11) a very happy one from here on out. 

Happy Birthday to my lil buddy! I love you more than words can tell.

Here's some pics of his day so far...

                                Donuts of course...

                       Balloons from the avalanche..

                   School buddies- Meadow, Jacie, Jax, Ethan

Meal Swap.

I had the idea a few months ago to get some friends together and meal swap. Two of us did it together and it was awesome so we invited more to join. Man, 8 different meals in your freezer every 3-4 weeks is super awesome!

This is how we do it. There are 4 of us as more than that would be too hectic in my opinion...cooking more than 8 meals would be too overwhelming. Each of us choose 2 recipes and make 4 of each. You keep one of each for yourself and you give each of the others 2. 

If you are overwhelmed and trying to simplify-start a meal swap. As long as you can remember to take one of the freezer in the morning it works like a charm. That's 8 less meals you have to plan. And even cooler is that often they are not anything you have ever tried and different than the same ol same ol. 

It does take about 2 hours for me to get my meals made. Most times my recipes will make more and i have 9-10 meals.. extra is always bonus. I often use those for families with new babies, or just someone in need... or just one more for us. Typically, we set a time to meet at someone's house or a park and we get to swapping. 

Most meals we have swapped are recipes we have found on Pinterest and the Internet is full of them too. 

Happy Swapping!