life....

chicken soup in the crock-pot. homemade bread in the oven. sweatshirts.the "clean" smell of homemade laundry soap. little hands helping mama shape the pie crust for the pumpkin pie baking in the oven.snuggles under quilts and Beatrix Potter before naps. mama does their "makeup". playing tractors with Andrew.phone calls from my baby.watching the leaves fall. Inhaling the smell of apple pie candles.working on christmas gifts.watching Anne of Green Gables. curling up with THE Good Book and a cup of hot tea. Praying......quiet uninterrupted time with my Savior. ahhhh....so blessed.

Our breakfast this morning....

Fruity Oatmeal Cookie Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups any flavor fruit jam

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

Combine the butter, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and rolled oats. Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the preserves over the top and sprinkle with the remaining crumb mixture, gently pressing crumbs into jam.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting.

*These are really yummy, even though I only had 1/2 of one. I am trying to cut back on the sweets. :( But, the kids loved them and they were easy to make)

Happy First of October!!!

~Julie

memories made..

Just writing this for our online journal (no pictures, sorry, I left the camera in the car) :(

Kids, this morning your Dad woke up and decided that we would go to Beaver's Bend for a picnic lunch, to play on the slides and swings and to take a nature walk. Dad made deviled eggs, sweet tea and we stopped at Pruett's for some fried chicken and salad fixings. We also took our peanut butter brownies from last night. All of you really seemed to enjoy the lunch and thought that was the greatest! Then, Daddy took you to swing and slide and you just went over and over again, upside down on the slide and swinging as fast as you could go while Drew watched you and giggled!! Then, we walked through the nature center and down to the creek where you took off your shoes and socks and splashed in the water, Lily sat completely down and got soaked!!

We then drove around and looked at Mike and Renee's cabin and other pretty cabins up there. We had a lot of fun and Daddy decided that Mama and Daddy need to book a cabin and stay for the night without you!! Mama loves you dearly, kids, but that is something I am really looking forward to!! Time alone with your wonderful Dad. :)

What a wonderful day we had and I will forever keep these memories close to my heart. Maybe by writing it down, I can help you do the same. Next time we do this and Daddy promised it will be soon, I will make sure to get the camera out of the car and take LOTS of pictures...

Thank you, God, for wonderful gorgeous Fall days and warm memories made.

~Julie~

Welcome, Fall......

I am loving this weather. It's cold here, today, and by cold where we live, it's around 68 degrees...I know that is summer for some of you but it's cold here! I am sitting in my flannel pj's and we are having chili for supper tonight! It's in the crock pot. Can't wait.

Yesterday, we put out our fall decorations and I will post pictures as soon as I get a chance to take some. I have my pumpkin pie candles burning and our pumpkins and scarecrows out on the front porch. And, today when we get home from P.E., we are going to make some paper scarecrows...I absolutely love Fall and I wait on it all.year.long!!

This Sunday will be the 12th anniversary of the day Charlie and I met and I am just in awe of how much God has done in both of our lives since then and how he has made two separate lives into one. What a glorious God we serve!!

I am doing a couple of things I want to post on soon. I am reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan and I am learning so much from that book so I will share some of my notes with you soon and if you haven't read it, YOU MUST!!! Also, some decorating ideas and the answer to Chris' question as to how I changed the font on my blog and some other bloggy questions but I am not sure exactly when I will be able to post these. Just stay tuned!

For now, I am off to fold one last load of laundry, try to do about 30 minutes of school and then we are off to P.E....praying I won't be late today!! :)

Have a great Fall day!!

~Julie~

Fun Fall Stuff...

Here are a few ideas for all of you Mom's!! Some cute crafts for Fall and some other ideas. I will add more as I get time, right now I have to post this really quick and then start school and then it's off to do errands....ah, a day in the life!

Here you go:

Fall Crafts

My favorite pumpkin bread recipe

and, our favorite (somewhat healthy) cookies:

Julie's Logwoods cookies: (called this because it's Charlie's coworkers most requested cookie) :)

2 sticks butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. white sugar
2 eggs
1 T. (that's Tablespoon) vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup a.p. flour
1/4 tsp.salt
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups coconut
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped walnuts

In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla beating after each addition. In a seperate smaller bowl, combine the dry ingredients and slowly add to the creamed mixture. Next, add the coconut, choc. chips and nuts just until combined. Place on ungreased cookie sheets (I line mine with parchment paper) and bake at 35o for app. 12 minutes or until lightly brown.

There you go! Hope someone can use these and enjoy them this Fall! (now, off to start my crazy day!)

~Love~
Julie

You've been Boo'd....Part 2

The phantom ghost has come to town,
To leave you some goodies, I see you have found.
His wish is for participation for all,
so continue this greeting, the "phantom" call.
Make 2 treats, 2 phantom's and 2 notes like this.
Deliver them to neighbors who may have been missed.
Don't let them see you, be sneaky, be quick.
Your neighbors are sure to enjoy this Halloween trick!
Post this Phantom Ghost where it can be seen,
And leave it on a window or door until Halloween.
This will scare other phantoms who may wish to visit.
We want to spread the treats so all will get it.
You have only one day to act - so be quick!
Leave them at doors where the Phantom hasn't hit.
Deliver at dark when there is no light......
Ring the doorbell and run out of sight!
And last, but not least, come join the season,
It's all to be neighborly and no other reason.
Be cool, have fun, and remember don't be seen........
Let's share in the fun of Halloween!

Some more ideas for boo'ing!! Click here to view the M&M's website with cute BOO signs & poems that you can print out! They also have some fun recipes that would work well. Also, I thought about making these to go along with the cookies! or just these,They are super yummy and easy! =)

And, my sister mailed me some really cute scarecrows that we colored, cut out & pasted together! I need to post pictures and I will try to do that soon! That was a lot of fun & the girls loved it! Why not make some and put them in your BOO bags? The kids will love to do it & the grandparents and family, especially, will love to get artwork from your child! How fun! =)

A few more ideas:

Popcorn Balls

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Cute Scarecrow doorknob hanger

Paper Scarecrows

Halloween Treat Bags

*And lots of other crafts on this site; check them out!!!!

HAVE FUN & HAPPY BOO'ING!!!!! =)

You've been Boo'd...

INGREDIENTS

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup shortening (I use the butter crisco and it is soooooooo good in these!)

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups candy-coated milk chocolate pieces(M&M's)

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, mix sugar, eggs, shortening, and vanilla thoroughly. Add flour, salt, and baking soda to creamed mixture. Blend well. Add 3/4 cup of M&M candies. Drop dough by teaspoonful onto cookie sheet. Slightly push a few candies on top of each dough ball with remaining candies. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 9 to 11 minutes, to your liking.

A friendly ghost has come your way

To wish for you a wonderful day

.He left a small gift and something sweet

Never heard him come cause he's light on his feet.

You must be light on your feet too,

Cause this is what you have to do:

Choose two friends, and choose them well.

Now this is a secret, you musn't tell.

Copy this poem, and the sign twice,

If you do it by hand, make sure it looks nice.

Take a couple of gift bags down from the shelf

,Or a plain paper bag, you can design yourself.

Fill them with sweets, and a gift of your choice.

Leave em' on your friends porch,without any noise.

Hang this sign on your door, for all ghosts to see.

They'll know you've been "BOO-D", and will leave you be.

This is only a game, to have a little fun

,Let's see how far it goes, before the month's done.

Now you have 24 hrs. to visit your friends.Please don't be the cause of our games early end.
Happy Haunting!

I don't know how many of you know about this but it is a fun little activity that we participated in when I worked at our local elementary school back way before I had my kids. It is fun for me because I like any excuse to do some baking! =) This year, I am going to try and do this for some church friends and some family on both sides. But I can't tell you exactly who because that will ruin the surprise! =) These cookies are a GREAT way sweet treat to put in your BOO bags or baskets! So, feel free to try this idea! Pass it along, HAVE FUN & start a new tradition in your neighborhood or family or church (we in NO WAY celebrate or promote evil and I would have nothing to do with anything that did; just want to clarify that point!) This is just a FUN way to reach out to people!! =) Have fun & Happy Fall!!!! (You can use the poem above or the one printed on the link I gave you at the beginning of this post!)

HAPPY FALL!!!!!!!!!!!

*I will probably do a part 2 of this post because I will find more cute crafts & yummy treats that would be awesome for this; I always do! =)

Love,

Julie