Thanksgiving dressings...

Our Thanksgiving table...

enjoy...we did! love ya mean it! Stephanie

thankful hearts..beat here..

Good Monday morning! This photo was taken by my daughter in the days before Thanksgiving. isn't it lovely? We had a fun and warm Thanksgiving with family and ate til we could no more..I will post photos if I can figure out my daughters little camera..we pulled out old family videos and had some good laughs and skiped(dont know if I spelled that right) family in S.C. We did crafts and received our Christmas mugs from Grandma and Grandpa filled with hot cocoa and candy..even my nieces boyfriends got one this year! So much fun!!!! The day after feasting I ended up sick though..until today..feeling a bit better and have high hope of getting a productive week in..can you believe we are on our way to Christmas? Time to get the Christmas decor out and get busy...thanks for stopping by! love ya mean it! Stephanie

looking pretty while you bake!

Hey.... if we are gonna be baking..its time to make some cute aprons...if you dont bake but you sew....this would make great gifts for friends who do bake ..go here to grab these patterns and more!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Love ya mean it! Stephanie

This means.. Thanksgiving is this week!

Ok here is my most FAVORITE fall recipe..you better make it..cuz its good!

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip

Cookie part:

1 1/2 c. butter, softened

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c. molasses

4 c. all purpose flour

4 t. baking soda

2 t. ground cinnamon

1 t. each ground ginger and cloves

1t. salt

Pumpkin Dip:

1 package (8oz) of cream cheese, softened

2 c. pumpkin pie filling

2 c. confectioner's sugar

1/2 to 1 t. ground cinnamon

1/4 to 1/2 t.ground ginger

Directions:

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add molasses; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. chill overnight.

Shape into 1/2 in. balls; roll in sugar. place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375* for 6 minutes or until edges begin to brown. cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

For Dip: beat cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Add pumpkin pie mix; beat well. Add sugar, cinnamon and ginger; beat until smooth. serve with cookies. store leftover dip in refrigerator. yield; about 20 dozen and 3 cups dip.

The cookies are like little chips that you dip and it is a special treat. Enjoy! Thanks for stopping by! love ya mean it! Stephanie

from taste of home

o my dear..

Dear little black dress...I am still in love with you and I know your worried about this week and all the competition your gonna have for my affections..but I am devoted to you still and will keep my grazing to a minimum this year..last year I suffered for you. But, this year, I must be good to both of us so I don't become discouraged and give up all together..so in regards to this week you will always be on my mind even as I lift..... the Thanksgiving fork..love ya mean it! Stephanie

I still say "gross me out the door"

I washed bedding today...for my boys..their room was starting to reek and the sour smell made me feel that it was time to venture in....to their room..I'm not gonna lie..I went in there three times...to look around..trying to talk myself into digging in..the first time to really check to see if it was indeed still a bedroom and not a rank end of a dirty garbage bin..yep..it was indeed a bedroom..barley..I looked around and left..I went into my quiet living room and sat on the couch and bit my nail...could it be done? Maybe I should just make them do it...but who am I kidding? They live in there.. what the rip do they care? I sat for a minute and wandered over by the door and peeked in again..awww maaaaan! Pure, unadulterated, disgust came from my lips, I say! What is wrong with these boys? What are their wives gonna say about me? How am I gonna defend myself? Maybe they won't say anything..yeah... right. I know their gonna rat me out! I have got to sit down! Out I go... to the quiet couch, to dwell on my future as a mother in law....I'm a little more inspired now..as I hate to think I will have to face daughter in laws with questions about my parenting skills and how I raise such well adjusted sons...hmmm..oh. sorry. I was daydreaming a bit at the end there..."Well, I better have a look" I say to myself and I walk with purpose this time..to the door..what are you crazy? It looks like it needs caution tape and masks to enter..good thing I love them..I started by throwing myself under the bed..no sense putting off inevitably the worst part! yep...just like I thought... a million and one rolled up socks..all filthy and rank...well, that got me and I kept going only to realize, they have been sleeping on the mattress and not sheets..oh, isn't that nice? poor things...I rip off the blankets that are rolled up and tossed off the side and hanging haphazardly all over the "room" I use that term loosely here..for now...I spent the rest of the day going through art work, pellet guns and Lego's..and decided it was time to hit Walmart and get some cheep, cheep, fitted sheets..I don't use flat sheets on kids beds..as you can see they barley use blankets properly. New pillows, pillow cases and clean bedding.. I waited..holding my breath for them to arrive home..the youngest came in dumped his bag and went to his room........he came back and threw his little body into my arms and grabbed me by the shoulders like my grandpa use to do when he had something VERY important to tell me and said.."Mom, thank you sooooo much!" Oh, it was nothing..really. I just bopped in there and picked it up a bit..I look over to my other son. The fifteen year old...you know, the one who I am letting risk my life for three days a week at drivers ed? Yeah, he said (not even looking at me)"Yeah, it's ok."...Excuse me!?!?! So, I took out the guilt stick and wrapped him along side the head with it.. I said "What?! I spent the whole day in that stinking mess! I had to take a shower when I got done in there! I had talks in my head with your wife all day and I'm exhausted! ( silence) "Mom, it looks good, I like it"..fine then. I think to myself. I'm a good mom. So, There.

thanks for stopping by! love ya! mean it! Stephanie
imageflickr

I wonder..

Happy Monday! I am glad it is Monday... because on three days during each week, I get the terrifying experience of drivers education. I get to ride along with my son as he learns. I get to pray daily and kiss the ground when we make it there and everywhere we go. I wonder why I have to get in the car and not the instructor who is going to undo everything I am teaching him and scold me for bad habits I have picked up..I wonder why I get to be the one who grabs the door handle for dear life and quickly says.. good! yes! your doing good! very good! Just put your brake on a little sooner next time....I am having a time with the whole thing as I know freedom is exciting for him...but I am watching him grow into another chapter and it makes my heart twinge a bit...driving means such different things to each of us..he is moving forward and I'm trying to put on the brakes...slamming them sometimes and gently touching them at others..I'm learning as I go too..and wondering...how did I get so blessed? I love it! Thanks for stopping by! love ya mean it! Stephanie
image flickr