That's eSpensive...

Took the zoo crew to the store last night so that they could spend the rest of their birthday money. I told them how much they had to spend and off we went to the toy isle.
So Fan-C wants the FIRST thing she sees and I tell her to keep looking and if she still wants that craft book after scanning additional isles then we will come back and get it. The kids go for the biggest, most expensive things... so I ask them to look at the numbers below the items and that if the number is higher then our set number then it is too expensive for them. Fan-C heard nothing and kept grabbing the $50 Barbies (sheesh, she must be made of GOLD these days) but the Tank went to items he liked, moved the box and kept saying, "That's eSpensive!" I had a grin on my face. He found a dinosaur that cost all his money and chose instead to get a HUGE horse and momma/baby hippo set. (just what he needs, more animals for his bed) He said, "I could get one dinosaur or THREE softies." (his name for his stuffed animal kingdom collection) He was very proud of his choices.
Tiny-T saw a large My Little Pony with hair accessories and that was it. She didn't look at one other toy. She just sat there with her box saying, "Look momma... her hair is so pretty and sparkly." ((((so easy))))
Fan-C must have touched about 10,000 boxes before she made her decision of a mermaid Barbie (on sale for $10) ~ mommaduck liked this Barbie cuz the clothes were painted on...no naked Barbies at our house ~ and two My Little Pony's (cuz she only has 20 of those... ).

The cashier was a fellow momma sent from heaven! She patiently let them each pay and bagged everything in their own bags so they each got to carry their treasure out of the store. (Thank you fellow-momma)

The crew showed all their new treasures to daddy when he got home and I heard the Tank telling daddy how eSpensive the toys are... (still smiling) There was no arguing (a little with Fan-C) over what they could buy. I think kids sometimes think that the money is endless... just pull out your checkbook or swipe the card. Today they got a glimpse into reality.

Happy Birthday Miss Fan-C!

Yep, this is my seven year old. In leggings with boots and sporting her "uniform" ~ Hannah Montana t-shirt. Seems like yesterday, she was two years old and insisting that she wanted to be baptised now! I kept telling her, "six more years". Now I have one year! Time has FLOWN!

She loves anything dealing with paper (just like her momma), Hannah Montana, her hand held video game and Reba (the show that is in reruns with Reba McIntyre). She loves to sing and told me today that she didn't want to brag but she is quite good at it.

(so humble)

Happy Birthday Fan-C ~ we LOVE you!

Oh, what do you do in the Autumn time~~~

Tutorial on how to bake down those yummy farm fresh pumpkins.

This is our behemoth. I put it next to my mixer just to show you the size = 12 hours of bake-down and 27 ~ 3 cup bags of pumpkin.

First, pick farm fresh pumpkins. Check those stalks. If they are dry or shriveling or disintegrating... move on to the next pumpkin. You want one that is full of thick wet meat.
Pre-heat your oven to 375.
Open the pumpkin and cut out the 'guts'. No string or seeds allowed.


Use a cookie sheet with a lip (ie. jellyroll pan) and place your pieces meat - side down.
Try to keep your pieces about the same size to ensure even cooking.

Fill up your pan and then add a little bit of water just to help keep the meat from sticking.
Bake for 60 minutes.

Check to make sure that the meat is soft and the skin should be bubbling up off the meat.

Once baked (they are steamed with the water you added), allow to cool for a couple minutes. While the pumpkin is still really warm start peeling off the skin.

Throw the hot pieces into a blender or food processor and start creating your liquid gold pulp.

*I always have another pan ready to go (adding the water just before going into the oven) to begin baking while I'm processing the baked batch.

Write on quart size freezer bags the date, Pumpkin, and how many cups you are storing.

Pumpkin pie and cake recipes take the 3 cups (equal to one Libby's can). My breads take 2 cups and cookie batches take 1 cup. So I find that storing 3 cups is the best for our family.

Place your prepared bag in a LARGE cup... no messy hands and cleaner bags.

Add in your pumpkin pulp by the cup.

Seal and lay out flat. (takes up less space in your freezer)

Store in your freezer and enjoy yummy pumpkin creations year round.

I also have put pumpkin pulp in soups (great way to thicken the soup and hide more veggies from the kids) & spaghetti sauces (only about 1/2 - 1 cup, depending on size of batch you make for your sauces). Be creative... I have pulp coming out of my..... pumpkin pulp is sooooo cheap. We paid less than $20 for both HUGE pumpkins and got essentially more than 36 CANS of Libby canned pumpkin. Mine is much healthier, no added colors and preservatives.

This is dedicated to my momma who taught us how to do this. We enjoyed all those years of yummy HOMEMADE pumpkin pie and now all of us kids have continued to bake down our own pumpkins and use our own pulp. Props to you Mom.

Pumpkin Patch Adventures = summertime blues?!?

No school day = trip to Lone Pine for tons o' corn on the cob. There is no chance of going to Lone Pine with the herd and not visiting the animals. The Tank loved all the goats and wanted his picture in front of their mini-horse.

Next day we were off to Detering Orchards for the annual family pumpkin patch trip with all my bros/sisters and parents. Free treats, free hay rides, free pumpkins... love all the FREE stuff. We then head over to my brother's home and have a BBQ and watch the Duck game.

Go Ducks!!! (they stomped UCLA)

Tiny-T getting ready for the hayride with Daddy and Uncle Keven and Mr. Lake.

Enjoyed the great autumn weather and gorgeous sun... but I didn't anticipate this:

Burnt to a crisp baby. Raccoon eyes from my sunglasses. The sun was gorgeous and there was a breeze all day so the temps were perfect. I never even thought... hey I'm torching my face. Hmmmm... summertime sunburn in October. Crazy Oregon weather!

I love you... forever~

He is amazing.

He is so patient.

He is wonderful.

He is my everything.

He is mine for forever~

I'm a very blessed girl.

Happy Anniversary to my Lancings...

Surgical Pit Pics...

My 'surgical pit pics' are located on my blog.

See the link ---------->

(top of page on right)

Journey of a Thousand Steps.

Didn't think they really went with my zoo crew.