Thanksgiving in California

Here we are at San Onofre beach! The kids were so happy to see the ocean again! It was Allie's first beach trip!

Our New House

It looks like a house now and we are getting anxious and very excited!

Allie's New Chair

Here is Allie in her Bumbo! She is alot happier now that she can sit up by herself! How funny is this thing? I love it because Allie always wants to be in the same room with me so now she can sit in the kitchen and watch me cook! Marlie was over playing and wanted me to take a picture of her, Allie Rose, and Ariel! So funny!
Beautiful and Bald: I wonder if our little rosebud will ever grow hair!

My Little Ballerina

Sydee loves her ballet class! Here she is in her new ballet outfit practicing to her recital video. She is always so excited to go to ballet. Miss Jamie, her teacher, told me that Sydney is always so happy to be there and tries so hard! She is so graceful!

Allie's New Trick

Allie learned how to stick her tongue out and spit this past week. We are so proud!

Go RED!

Don't forget to shop Product Red at the gap for the holidays and you can save a life- and look really cute! Yes, 50% profits go to medicate children with AIDS in Africa.
Do the RED thing! Converse, Sprint, and Apple also have Red products! I love it!!!

Marlie Cam

Tonight Greg, Sarah, Chad, and I took the kids to Baskin-Robbins with Nana's gift certificates. In this pictures the kids are all saying "Thank you Nana"! The kids had a blast and so did I! They had my favorite flavor tonight- german chocolate cake- so I got two scoops. Look how happy I am!(below) Check out the pictures that MARLIE took, yes Marlie snuck the camera from Sarah and started shooting! We were laughing so hard! The following pictures are from the Marlie cam! They're actually very good! Ha Ha Ha!

Favorite Allie Rose Pictures

My Favorite Fall Recipes

Pumpkin Waffles

recipe from Jackie

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

3 beaten eggs

1 3/4 cups milk

3/4 cups mashed pumpkin

brown sugar (to taste)

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup chopped nuts

In large bowl mix flour, baking powder, and spices.

In another bowl mix eggs, milk, pumpkin, sugar, and oil.

Combine two mixtures. Stir in nuts. Cook in waffle iron.

Broccoli Wild Rice Soup

(this is so fast and so good!)

1 pkg. (6 ounces) chicken and wild rice mix

5 cups water

1 pkg (10 ounces) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed

1 medium carrot,shredded

2 tsp dried minced onion

1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 pkg. (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed

1/4 cup slivered almonds, opt.

In a large saucepan, combine rice, contents of seasoning packet and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring once.

Stir in broccoli, carrot, and onion. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in soup and cream cheese. Cook and stir until cheese is melted. Stir in almonds if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Apple Dip

(easy, yummy appetizer)

1 block cream cheese,softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 medium tart apples, cut into chunks

Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in mixing bowl. Serve with apples. Yum!

Cranberry Salad

(I had this salad at a Bunko once and fell in love with it!)

1 pkg. white marshmellows

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 and 1/2 cups sugar

2 (8 oz.) cans canned pineapple

2 bags whole cranberries

1 16 oz. cool whip

Chop cranberries in blender, add sugar. Dissolve. Drain pineapple and add to cranberry mix. Add walnuts and marshmellows, and fold in cool whip. Spread in 9x13 pan. Chill in refrigerator 24 hours before serving.

Halloween

Halloween was so much fun this year! I didn't post Halloween pictures here b/c I already emailed them through Snapfish. I hope you were able to see them!

Saturday November 11th

Today Greg, Sarah, Chad, and I took the kids to an advanced screening of the new animated film Happy Feet! It was so good! The music and dancing is so adorable and it is hilarious! The kids had so much fun. Even the boys sat through it, and Allie too! Sydney and Marlie are getting to be such good friends. They were holding hands while standing in line for the movie. So sweet!

October Highlights- At the Pumpkin Patch

Fall is my very favorite season!

The anticipation of the holidays is almost better than the real thing!

This year we will be in California for Thanksgiving and Houston for Christmas!

We can't wait to see you all!