Ahem...

Asher and McKlayne have a thing or two they'd like to say...

Do you have two minutes?



So...will you help us? Our goal is to raise $300 to buy 30 mosquito nets so 30 children (and their parents) can sleep in peace.  If so, go to our fundraising page.

Thanks for watching!

UPDATE: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT! You are amazing!  We reached our goal (and actually surpassed it by 3 nets) in under 24 hours!  Praise God!  If you feel led, we'd love to encourage you to keep giving! There are so MANY children who we can help.  We have until Dec. 1 to continue to raise money....so that's still a whole month!  Even if you can just do $5, maybe someone else can only do $5 and that's 1 net between two people!  Thank you again! Your eagerness to give so generously is humbling!

Pregnancy #3: Week 24/25

I have grown a LOT in the last few weeks:

I'm not sure how to title these posts anymore...I am getting confused.  I am a FULL 24 weeks pregnant but in my 25th week..so what should I be saying? That, Lord willing, I only have 15-ish weeks left!? CRAZY!

Pregnancy Highlights for the Week:

How Far Along: 24/25 weeks(?) Hmmm...let's go with 25...although, I'm not sure I am wanting to rush any of this along...I still haven't REALLY thought about how different my life is going to be with THREE kids.

Fruit/Veggie: Size of a rutabaga (13.5 inches, 1.5 lbs)

Baby changes: Baby is beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Best Moment this week: Seeing my kids dress up for Halloween and come alive in their characters...more of that to come!

Gender: lately I have been feeling BOY...almost everyone has still been telling me girl, but I just have this "feeling" that it's a boy...which, remember, means nothing really since I was wrong with my other two pregnancies :)

Movement: Baby is still moving a lot. Charlie felt the baby move around 21 weeks for the first time.

Food Cravings: string cheese, fruit, Mel's chicken salad (hint, hint)

Sleep: I didn't get much sleep last week from all the sewing (6 stuffed monkeys-maybe I'll show those one day, plus 2 Halloween costumes) so when I am sleeping...I am not waking up for even a moment.  It is sound, peaceful sleep.

What I am looking forward to: getting started on Christmas gifts!  We're having a "handmade" Christmas this year, so I'm hoping to have all our gifts done by December 1.

Symptoms: My feet are GROWING again! (Not swelling...yet...growing...)  I think that my feet did this with Asher (maybe that's why I'm thinking boy? but they were DEFINITELY swollen with him, too) but I can't remember if they did that with McKlayne or not.  I started out before babies wearing a 7.5-8 in shoes....now...I'm approaching the 8.5-9 margin.  What gigantic size are my feet going to be once I am DONE birthing babies?  Has this happened to anyone else?  (Someone told me their feet shrunk back...mine did not after Asher...)

Our version of the Warhol Dress

Last year after Halloween I bought 4 women's t-shirts that we're clearanced 80% off at Target.  I knew that my sister and I could make some cute Halloween dresses for our girls out of them.  (Poor boys, just aren't as fun to sew for!)  When I was in Boerne last week, my sis came down and brought her serger with her so we could get busy.  We used Dana's FREE Warhol Pattern to make the girl's dresses.  

These were the simplest dresses I've ever made.  Of course the first one took us about 1 1/2-2 hours to make, but the next morning we completed 3 more in that same amount of time, once we actually knew what we were doing.  (Ave, who has dubbed herself the non-crafty sewer, even helped in the dress making process!  It is our mission to teach her one day, folks!)


You don't HAVE to have a serger...you can just use a regular ol' sewing machine.  The serger just makes it sturdier.

McKlayne (our once horrid picture taker) has become quite the little camera ham in the last couple weeks.  Let's hope this sticks...

After I'd taken her picture, she said, "Take one with me, Momma...."  How could I resist that bossy little thing?

I will add pics of my niece's dresses once my sisters send theirs to me.  We didn't get a cousin pic of them all together!

(Let me know if you make one for little girl in your life!!)

Want to see what we've been up to?

Sorry...no time for belly shots/pregnancy updates.  We've been busy little bees around here.

A couple nights ago, I saw this on a blog.  Have you ever heard of 'Booing"?  I hadn't.  We decided it would be a fun tradition to implement.  If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know how much we just LOVE Halloween!

And, I'm always up for something creative or crafty to do with my kids.  Especially something that serves to bless others.  I want my kids to know how much it is always more of a blessing to give than to receive.  My hope is that one day this will translate to Gospel-ministry in their lives.

So, I fell in love with this idea...and totally replicated it!  (You can replicate it, too, that's why I'm passing it along!)  It was really simple and cheap to do since I already had most of the supplies.  To make 4 different buckets to give to friends, it cost me $12.  You don't have to make multiple, just start with one if you'd like! I just thought it would be fun to get this tradition hopping between our friends/neighbors.  Cindy also has just used a cone, before, too.

I grabbed my girl and we went to get a few supplies (the buckets, M&M's, and taco coupons) while I put the boys to work tracing and cutting the mask template.  (I got the jack-o-lantern buckets from Target for $1 each.)

Cindy was so generous to share all of her ideas and hard work. The black cat mask template is here.  I also found the idea for these cookies on her site, under the Halloween archives, as well.

Then we got to work decorating the masks for our little goodies.

Fortunately, Asher and McKlayne also adore all things artsy-craftsy.

Even Big Daddy was in on it.  While the glitter glue was drying the kids took a bath.

Then we filled the jars.

  

McKlayne pretty much just struck the glass with a spoon and sang jingle bells the whole time.  She is quite the little singer these days.

Asher was happy (and very quick) to help rescue any stray M&M's.

All the printables and instructions to create these M&M cookies are here.  (Thanks, Amy, for sharing! You are so talented.)

I love that the recipients of these jars are supposed to mix up them up with their hands.  How fun for kids!

You need a quart size (32 oz) jar for these.  I would recommend the wide-mouth lids if you have the option...especially if kids are helping fill them.  It gets messy.  (I had two of each.)  The lid toppers are McKlayne's favorite part.  Any time she sees these she says, "Oh, I love that little birdie!  He's so cute!"

And this is my favorite part.  Maybe because I'm a mom and this means FREE lunch (or dinner) for the recipients.  Did you know that Taco Cabana has been offering these Tac-o-Treat coupon books the last several years for Halloween?  For $1, you receive 5 free coupons for bean and cheese tacos!  So, it's a great alternative to candy...or, if you're like me, you go buy $10 worth and have a ton of lunches/snacks when we're out and about/dinners "made" for the month of November.  You can redeem these the whole month of November.

Cindy posted the poem she wrote on her blog.  I changed just the last couple lines:

Am I jack or a cat that has come to say “BOO”?

All dressed up with treats for you!

Please fill me up with treats galore

And take me to your friends front door!

Sit me down, then push the bell!

Run real quick so no one can tell.

I need to move from friend to friend,

Before Halloween comes to an end!

So, let’s get busy and let the “booing” begin!

If you want to download this, since I had to make it on the computer, it's already in a 4/page pdf file here. (Hit refresh if you don't see it the first time.)

So...don't you want to make some?  It can be simple.  It can just be candy.  There is still plenty of time!  We just started ours last night.  And we're delivering them this evening.  (I am pretty sure that the families that we're taking them to don't read our blog..or at least regularly, anyway.)

If you decide to start the "booing" in your neighborhood/amongst your friends, then let me know! Or, if you get "boo-ed" let me know that, too!

Friday Funnies

McKlayne and I were driving in a "scary part" of downtown Bryan.  A man with a red bandanna on his head and huge hoop earrings pulled up beside us....just staring as he's hanging out his window.

I sped up so we didn't have to be right next to each other on the street.  (He was creeping me out.)

In the most excited voice, McKlayne said, "Look, Mommy, a pirate!!"

*************

We were leaving the park last week and Asher was telling his friends goodbye.  He kissed Taylor Joy on the cheek as he gave her a hug (not quite sure how Pastor Allen will feel about that one...) and, not to be left out, Beckett insisted on a kiss, also.  Reluctantly, Asher gave him one.  Except it was on the mouth.

As we were walking home, Asher said, "Beckett, gave me a watermelon kiss.....I can't believe it."

Me: Oh yeah...what's a watermelon kiss?

A: You know, a really juicy one.

************

We were sitting at the table eating breakfast.

I stretched and said, "Ohhh man, I am tired!!"

McKlayne: You not tired, Mommy.  You Tirby.

(I love hearing her say "Tirby"...)

Pregnancy #3: Week 20

(Don't mind the pit stains...I'd just finished Crossfit. And, I seem to have a lot of those these days, even though the weather is cooler.)

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 20 weeks 

My baby is: the length of a banana...6.5 inches, 10.5 ounces

Baby changes: He weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion.

Best Moment this week: We have had many "best" moments this week because of the nice weather!!  We've been taking complete advantage and have spent much of our time outdoors this week.  My favorite moment was probably the picnic we took to the Polo Fields...more on that later!

Gender: Before this week, I've been feeling "girl" (although, my feelings mean absolutely nothing b/c I was wrong with both of my others) but the crazy pregnancy dreams have really taken off and I dreamed that we had a VERY, hairy little BOY.  Even hairer than our "little Monkey" McKlayne.  (McKlayne was SO hairy when she was born...furry ears, hair on her forehead and her back...Charlie and I were definitely a little concerned at first...but, she lost it all...the body hair, anyway!)

Movement: Movement has been increasing...I can still only feel it all internally, though.

Food Craving: Salads. Cereal and Salsa.

What I miss: that I can't wear my regular jeans and capris in this weather! I love Fall clothes...maternity clothes?  Not so much!

Sleep: CRAZY pregnancy dreams....did any of you women experience those?

What I am looking forward to: getting started on Halloween costumes so I can start on Christmas gifts!

Symptoms: No complaints!

Summer of Celebrations (Part IV): Ashley's Wedding Shower

My sweet sister-in-law, Ashley, got married this summer. So, at the end of June, we threw a wedding shower for her at Chelsea's house. (Ash, do you have the pics of all us from your shower? If so, bring them next week!) Chelsea and I only took pics before the guests arrived, after that, we were too busy visiting with people...so, all I have for now are these of the details:

Her wedding colors were black and white and she'd have damask on most of her wedding decor, so we continued on with that theme for the "black and white" dessert bar and damask details.

I made this wreath using this tutorial with her soon-to-be new last initial! (I could not find the plates anywhere, but then found out they were from a craft store in Utah.) I used this damask one instead from Hobby Lobby. And, instead of using vinyl, I just printed out the "H" on white paper and modge-podged it to the plate.

I wish we had a closer shot of the fabric flowers because they turned out super cute. This tutorial was our inspiration. The smaller flowers were from the "twisted flowers". We used this tutorial for the large flower.

On to the food.

I appointed Chelsea to make the Oreo balls and Chocolate Covered Strawberries. I said that frosting anything was a gift,remember? And I don't have that gift.

Oreo balls

1 pkg. of Oreo cookies, crushed

8 oz. cream cheese

1 pkg. white chocolate/chocolate

Mix crushed oreos and cream cheese. Roll into balls. Chill for 1 hour. Melt chocolate, dip ball in chocolate. Let cool on wax paper. (It takes about 15 minutes for chocolate to harden.) I put some chocolate (opposite of what I dipped them in) in a plastic bag and cut off the corner to drizzle over the top when they were all done. (optional)

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Dirt Cake

8oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup margarine, softened

2 small pkg. of vanilla pudding

3 1/2 cups of milk

12 oz. Cool Whip, thawed

20 oz. package of Oreo cookies

Mix cream cheese, margarine, and powdered sugar. Set aside. In another bowl mix pudding and milk, set aside 5 minutes, add cool whip and cream cheese mixture.

Put Oreo cookies in the food processor and mix until crumbs are fine. (save a few sprinkles for the top)

Layer in bowl: oreo, pudding, oreo, pudding (I usually just look and see how much instead of measuring). If you want you can save some cool whip for the top. Either way sprinkle some Oreo crumbs on top.

Cool before serving.

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White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies (here)

Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies

2 cups flour

3/4 cup baking Cocoa

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 sticks of softened butter

2/3 cup of brown sugar

2/3 cups of sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chunks. Drop onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for about 10 minutes or until centers are set but still soft at 350°.

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Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

1 small pkg. vanilla pudding

1 small pkg. chocolate pudding

1 1/4 c. water

1/2 c. oil

(plus the next 3 ingredients.)

Mix together the above ingredients. Add 4 eggs, then 1 1/2 c. chocolate chips, and 8 oz. sour cream.

Heat oven to 350°. Pour all into a greased bunt pan. Cook 50-60 minutes.

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(Not pictured but so yummy. SO. YUMMY. that I made two and debated about whether to eat one whole pie by myself before the shower. I seriously thought of excuses about how I could have showed up with just one pie. I was totally ready to blame it on the pregnancy "cravings" since they were real this time, then I remembered that I didn't want to gain 50 lbs like I did with Asher, so I resisted and brought the second pie...uneaten.)

Aunt Susan's Famous French Silk Chocolate Pie

Ingredients for a 10-inch pan:

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 sticks butter

2 tsp. vanilla

4 eggs

3 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

9-inch pan:

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

3 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

PLUS

1 (9- or 10-inch) pie crust, baked and cooled

whipped cream

Cream butters and sugar until light and fluffy. Add cooled chocolate and vanilla. Mix well. Add eggs one at a time. Beat 5 minutes after each egg. Put in any crust you like. Chill well. Store in refrigerator.