Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Not at all healthy, but OH so yummy...

2 packages chocolate cake mix
4 eggs
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
orange food coloring (optional)

Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
In a large bowl, mix cake mixes, eggs, and oil until well blended.
Drop 2 inch balls of dough onto prepared cookie sheets. Flatten balls slightly with a spoon.
Bake for about 10 minutes or until firm. Let stand on baking sheet for a few minutes after removing from oven.
To make filling, beat cream cheese, sugar, and orange coloring until very smooth.
Spread between 2 cooled cookies. Yum!

Sewing Adventure

Inspiration and help from my extraordinarily talented friend led me to create matching dresses for the girls. Although I took out many seams and had to redo a few sections, I was suprised and pleased at the final product. I was so excited about the outcome that I even made matching hairbows. Having little Caleb there to whimper and crawl around me throughout the process extended the total finish time considerably; I'll probably wait a while before attempting it again. ;)

Weekend Camping Excursion

Columbus Day weekend marked our big camp trip to Garner State Park. The park is in Texas, about a 5 hour drive from us. What a terrific time we had! Our good friends came along and we enjoyed relaxing by the campfire, hiking to Crystal Cave, swimming in the extraordinarily clear Rio Frio (means "cold river" for those of you who may not immediately understand the spanish translation), playing in the misty forest, a full play production by the kids complete with stage curtains (beach towels on a rope) and a wooded backdrop, amazing food prepared in our outdoor kitchen, and swinging in the hammock. Camping seems to be so much work, but always so worth it to spend good quality time outside with wonderful people we love.