Lazy Labor Day

We had a lazy Labor Day weekend. Hallie is not a child who plays by herself. The words I'm bored are frequent to her lips. This weekend was no exception but after scavenging through the cabinets she found some old paint from a discarded craft project and leftover poster board and she was happy! Hallie has always loved to draw, paint etc...

Bless her heart, she had to make do with old makeup brushes and q-tips for paintbrushes 

 She wanted to share her creation 

That afternoon Hallie shocked us by spending hours in her room by herself!! Of course we had to investigate and this is what we found

 Biscuit was receiving all of her attention

I am just proud of her for entertaining herself and the words "I'm bored" didn't cross her lips!

What?? September Already?

I am trying to do my blog headers according to activities for that month so this morning I told the kiddos that I wanted to snap a few pictures before they headed to school. Even though some of the pictures are included in the header I thought I would share the rest of them.

Hunter humored me by holding the football but would not smile for anything. His reasoning "real" football players don't smile!

Next we have our little tiger Hallie she wanted a little extra decoration this morning so I went all out!

Finally, I can't believe it's September! The older I get the faster the time seems to fly by. 

I (heart) Pioneer Woman

Have you discovered Pioneer Woman's blog yet? Oh my goodness she is a hoot and while you're there read her love story of how she and "Marlboro Man" met and fell in love-Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. A couple of paragraphs and you will be hooked!  Anyway she has tons of wonderful recipes I have yet to try anything of hers that isn't good. So the other day she posted a recipe for malted milk chocolate chip cookies and I was immediately intrigued because I am in LOVE with a thin chewy cookie. I tried them and here are my results

Oh my...look at that thin chewy goodness!

They have a mild flavor with almost a toffee consistency to them

The kids loved them and Tim even liked them!

Here is the recipe compliments of Pioneer Woman 

Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 1 cup (2 Sticks) Unsalted Butter Softened
• ¾ cups Golden Brown Sugar
• ¾ cups Sugar
• 2 whole Eggs
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1-¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1-¼ teaspoon Salt
• ½ cups (rounded) Malted Milk Powder
• 1 bag (12 Ounce) Milk Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter, then add both sugars and cream until fluffy. Add eggs and beat slightly, then add vanilla and beat until combined. Add malted milk powder and beat until combined.

Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture, beating gently until just combined.
Add chocolate chips and stir in gently.
Drop by teaspoonfuls (or use a cookie scoop) and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Bake less if you want chewy cookies; more if you want crispy cookies.

Can You Feel It?

As I got home Friday from work and stepped out of the car I felt a cool breeze! After a Summer of record high temperatures it was so welcome! I do believe Fall is right around the corner.

Hallie & Izzy were on the steps playing with their Whimsy pets so even though they may be older and in a new grade that still hasn't changed :-)

 I took a few pictures of them decked out for Handley football. I didn't have time to get pics of Hallie before she left for school so her painted paws are beginning to fade but I think you get the idea!

Hallie showing her school spirit!

Izzy and her tiger paw

Isabella has taught Polly some tricks and was so proud

Good job Polly!

Hallie & Izzy say bye for now....

Back to School

Sorry I have been MIA from blogging. I don't know what is wrong but my heart just hasn't been in it! I do have one short post because I wanted to document Hunter & Hallie's first day of school. Hunter started the 8th & Hallie started the 3rd. I took these pictures before they left that morning. I didn't tell them to smile because I truly wanted to document how they felt. As you can see Hallie was not happy. Anything new makes her nervous and considering it was a new teacher, grade, class and even a new wing in the school-she was in nervous overdrive.

Ok Hallie show us how you really feel :-)

I don't know why but Hallie's expression brings this picture to mind! HA!

*Update* School has been in for 3 weeks and I am happy to report Hallie loves 3rd grade. She loves her teacher and has a wonderful class with many new friends. So I took these pictures before she left for school this morning.

A definite improvement!

one more....Bible School Beaus & Belles

Hi there I know I said that was the last of the bible school post but I have so many pics of God's beautiful children both young and a little older :-) that didn't get shown that I just had to share the Bible School's Beaus & Belles!

Cooper, Garrett, Lowery

 

Mia, Abbie, Isabella

Tori, Rachel & Justin, Hallie

 Susan, Lyn

Ben, Blake

Boys will be boys......

Ethan, Hayden and Daniel

Now I believe that is the last Bible School post.....I think!

Bible School Finale

Friday night was our last night and each class shared a song, got their certificates but mostly they were ready for the party afterword!

Here are a few shots of the little ones, they were so precious

A few shots of Hallie's class

Alayna Grace, Maibyn, Mady, Hallie & Amy

Mady, Hallie & Rachel

Hallie & Mady giving it their all

Now for the block party which consisted of jump houses, snow cones, popcorn, balloon animals & a giant slip and slide!

Hallie sliding down

Hallie & Alayna Grace soaked & sudsy 

Hallie, Tori & Alayna Grace all smiles waiting their next turn

When grown men will give their time to make balloon animals for kids you know you have good men!

Thanks Blake & Ben!

Now guys, just look how happy those animals made these little girls!

That concludes Bible School 2010 see ya next year!