I LOVE Fall!

Fall colors, pumpkins, fleeces, a month devoted to thankfulness...I really do LOVE Fall! The kids and I spent our morning at the Arboretum's Mommy 'n Me Mondays last week and had a great time. It was colder than usual as fall had briefly arrived in Dallas, but we still had a blast running around together. All three kids loved the pumpkins, the hay maze and Kindermusik.

Hanging out in the pumpkin house:

Can't believe this baby boy is already 21 months old! Really can't believe he cooperated in this photo op!
Ella and Will had a blast running through the hay maze (or so they call it).The big kids climbing on the pumpkins:

Ella and Cal dancing during Kindermusik. I wonder who's leading who?

A rare shot of Will, the boy who would rank having his picture taken pretty close to getting a flu shot. He is straining his neck muscles by saying "cheese" so loudly. I love pics of this handsome boy!Ella loved the petting zoo and brushing the sheep:

Cal is ready to be done. I think he was half asleep when this picture was taken. Love those sleepy eyes!

Abbie's Army

As most of you probably know, Michael's mom Abbie was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She has a long fight ahead of her but we all know that she will BEAT the cancer and we all will see God moving through this new season in our family! While we would have never chosen her to go through this, we know that she is a strong woman with deep faith in Jesus and will continue to glorify Him no matter her circumstance!

We are getting a fun team together called Abbie's Army to walk in Austin's Race for the Cure. Here is a link to Abbie's Army. If any of you are in Austin on Sunday, November 2nd, come out and walk with us. It should be a great time! You can also make donations to the fight for the Cure at this site. Please continue to pray for our sweet Mom and Grammie as she will soon begin her chemotherapy. Pray that she feels well enough to join us at the Race.

The support for Abbie has been tremendous and means so much to all of us. Thank you for your encouraging words and prayers!

Three and a HALF!!!

Will has been anxiously awaiting this day. Why, you ask? Well, today is the day that his response to the ever popular question, "How old are you?" changes. Starting today, he gets to answer that he's "3 and a HALF". He is so proud! So to celebrate, we stuck a candle in his after-gymnastics cookie and Ella and I sang "Happy half-Birthday to You".

In honor of his 3 1/2 birthday, he humored me by answering these questions:
Favorite Food: Hamburger with cheese and no pickles

Favorite Restaurant: Nick 'n Willys

Favorite Playmate: Eli

Favorite place to play: the "school park"

Favorite toy: my bike

Favorite song: the Wheels on the Bus

Not your typical Meatloaf Recipe

Not sure why I'm posting this, but it's a recipe that is so easy with ingredients I always have on hand anyway. I've never been a fan of meatloaf but this one is actually pretty good. My kids love this stuff so just thought I'd share it:

2 slices whole wheat bread-toasted and cubed
1 egg, slightly beaten
medium onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 T parsley flakes
1 T dijon mustard
2 t worcestershire
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup ketchup

Saute onion and garlic in 1 T olive oil until tender. Cool. Mix egg, onion & garlic, milk, parmesan, parsley, mustard, worcestershire, salt & pepper, and bread cubes. Mix well.

Crumble beef over mixture and mix together.

Spray 13x9 glass dish with nonstick spray. Form meat into loaf 2-3 inches high. Pour ketchup over loaf and spread evenly.

bake 1 hr, 15mins at 325.

That's it! It really is surprisingly good!