Feeling the Love

I was tagged with Love! Thanks Amelia! I love reading your blog too.

• 1. Where is your cell phone? Couch
• 2. Where is your significant other? bed
• 3. Your hair color? Yuck!
• 4. Your mother? Strong
• 5. Your father? Far!!!
• 6. Your favorite thing? R&R
• 7. Your dream last night? none
• 8. Your dream/goal? accomplished
• 9. The room you’re in? living
• 10. Your hobby? many
• 11. Your fear? suffocating
• 12. Where do you want to be in six years? same
• 13. Where were you last night? home
• 14. What you’re not? mean
• 15. One of your wish list items? furniture
• 16. Where you grew up? California
• 17. The last thing you did? panicked
• 18. What are you wearing? Jammie's
• 19. Your T.V.? Gray's
• 20. Your pet? Coy
• 21. Your computer? used
• 22. Your mood? Stressed
• 23. Missing someone? YES!!
• 24. Your car? Messy
• 25. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
• 26. Favorite store? Nordstrom
• 27. Your Summer? fast
• 28. Love someone? YES!!
• 29. Your favorite color? Red
• 30. When is the last time you laughed? today
• 31. Last time you cried? today I don't have 7 people to pass too... Because Amelia tagged more than 7. I do have Rachel, and Julia. Two great blogs are better than none!

Meet McCoy

Here is our newest country boy. He is a 8 week old tri-colored Australian Shepherd. He is such a sweet heart. Well... More like a tender heart. He is still getting used to the craziness of a household with two small kids. He has his overwhelmed moments where he hides under the couch, but we are just in love with him, and are smothering him with tons of hugs and kisses. Forgive the fuzzy pictures. My camera stinks!!!

Very over due!

After much harassment I have returned to the blog. Hahaha. You would not believe who has been on me more than anyone. Bobby! Yup, he's hooked on blog surfing. So here is a recap on October. First we have been entertaining... My mom and Grandma Dee came out for a fun visit. We had such a great time being together.

After 4 days of R&R we headed out to my mom's and John's... And what would a trip to Florida be without Disney World. Kodi had a blast! She is a Disney fanatic. I don't think it is entirely her fault though. Here is My Mom, John, and the kids in front of Cinderella's Castle.

Next was Halloween... Unfortunately I don't have a good picture of the kids yet. My camera wont shoot in the dark anymore, so as soon as my neighbor Wendy sends me the pictures, I will post on a F.F.F. (fav. foto Fri.) I do have a cute shot of the kids carving a pumpkin though.

Finally We went up to Tad and Amelia's to spend time with the Mann Family. What a Blast! When I say Busy I mean Busy!

I love this picture of Kodi Lynn. This was her first time getting her face painted. She was so excited. The last time she got her face painted was so funny. I asked her what she wanted to have painted, and she asked for a crayon. What? So she got a pink crayon and pink lips. She was so happy. Whatever? For those who don't know... Her favorite thing to do is color, and LOVES pink.

Fav Foto Friday

I never do this, but it is a great idea. I have been meaning to use this idea on the blog, but I always forget when Friday rolls around. So here is my one of my favorite pictures. We were up at Tad and Amelia's in late March. We were hanging outside with the neighbors. Degan really wanted to ride this bike, so Daddy came to his rescue.

Family, Family, and more Family!

This is such a busy month. Lynda, Zoe, Livee and Miles came down Friday and hung out all weekend. We had a great time. Sat. night we had movie night... Not the best movie (my fault) but the best company. Sunday we played a "long" game of Monopoly (Bobby's fault:)), I won! Today they left for home :(. Come back soon Carmacks! At 3:00 my Grandma Dee flew in from Oregon. I am so excited that she is here. It has almost been a year since I have seen her. To make a great visit even better, my Mom flies in to Austin tomorrow. They only thing that could make it better, would be for my sis to show up. I have so much planned. Crafts, shopping, and gardening. My Mom, Uncle David and Grandma Dee have the greenest thumbs, and I plan to see if they passed any of their gift to me. My front yard needs a little help. (That's a long story!) Grandma Dee leaves on Thursday. The next Thursday we are off to Orlando, Florida, to meet my mom for a fun trip to Disney World! To end the month right our Friends Rick and April are coming to Dallas on the 30th. We plan on going up there to spend Halloween with them and the family. So the 10 days of rest I have open in this month are going to be used wisely... Make The kids, Bobby's, and my costume. The kids treat bags, and get Carys a birthday gift. Busy might be a bit of an understatement.

To all those Nordstrom Cafe fans...

Since I have moved to Texas, Nordstom is not that close, and to top it off they only serve my favorite item on Fridays. Their Tomato Basil Soup is amazing! So, I was determined to find the recipe for myself. I made it last week and it tastes like the real thing! Ingredients 1 1/8 cups canned peeled plum tomatoes 4 1/2 ounces carrots, chopped 4 1/2 ounces onions, chopped 1 1/8 teaspoons dry basil 4 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, 3 cups water, 1 1/2 oz. chicken base, 1 1/8 cup heavy cream, 1 1/8 tsp salt, 1 1/8 tsp pepper

Directions

• In a large stock pot, sautee the olive oil, carrots, and onions at medium heat for 15 minutes.
• Add the basil, salt, pepper, and tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
• In a large bowl, whisk the chicken base into the water until dissolved.
• Add the water mixture to the stock pot, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 45 minutes.
• Puree the soup using a hand blender while adding the heavy cream until it reaches a thin consistency.

Even if you have not tried this soup at Nordtrom, I still recommend you try it. It has a great flavor, and a perfect fall meal

Remember what I said about Happy Thoughts?

Well, we have a very sweet friend that needs your prayers, happy thoughts, and positive energy. My Friend's daughter is in the hospital on very strong IV antibiotics, due to a infection she got from surgery a few weeks back. She is not in pain, but we need the antibiotics to do the job so that she doesn't have to go back into surgery. She has a great Mom, Dad and brother by her side, as well as other family and friends cheering her on. You can never have to much support, so please send those happy thoughts towards our Minnie. Thanks!

What we have been up to...

Well it's been a while. Still no camera (not a good one anyway), and we have really been keeping busy. Lots of crafty ideas, thanks to my talented sister-in-laws. The kids are doing great. Degers is talking so much lately. He is picking up new words, and saying his old ones so much clearer. We have been doing lots of great things with the kids. Earlier we took the kids to the Waco Zoo for some quality time with Daddy. It was so nice. There was only two other families there with us, so the kids had free reign. They loved it! Below you can see us in the alligator den. Kodi Lynn was a little scared to go in. I love this picture. Bobby found the smallest frog ever and the kids thought it was so cool. Kodi Lynn even held it. They were so sad when Bobby set the frog free. Kodi Lynn hates to set her friends free. Hahaha. You have to enlarge this picture to see the frog better. " Mr. To sexy for my diaper" is more like it. The kids love to run around in the back yard, and since it has cooled off I don't mind being out there either. My recycled pumpkin. I made this out of a bag I had hanging out in my pantry. It has a partner on the other side of the entry table. Can you see the pumpkin Kodi Lynn and I made? The small orange one to the right? Kodi Lynn had a blast painting them. She loves crafts and coloring. I wonder where she got that from. I have always loved Letti's candy jars, so I went and got my own. Thanks Letti for the idea. So that's just a little bit of what we have been up to. I need to get in the habit of carrying my big ol' camera around, so that I can share more often. We'll see?

Healthy and Yummy!

"Enjoy this great pumpkin muffin recipe. These muffins stay very moist and fresh. PREP TIME 5 Min COOK TIME 25 Min READY IN 30 Min Original recipe yield 12 muffins INGREDIENTS 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves DIRECTIONS Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean.

You Break It, You've Bought It!

So when I was at Lynda's house last Sunday, I asked her to take me to that little secret store she has in her town. Well we were walking around looking at all of the little treasures, and I picked up a canister to look at it. As soon as I lifted it up the dang lid slid off and fell on the shelf, and the nob (or what ever it is called) popped off. Can you believe it? I had been telling Kodi Lynn the entire time not to touch things, because they will break. So I had to buy it, because as soon as you walk in the store there is a sign that says... "You break it, you buy it!". In RED!

First Day of Fall

I know some of you are on the count-down to Christmas, but tomorrow is the first Day of fall! I am so excited. this means cooler night, light sweaters, leaves changing (hopefully, I have never seen Texas in the fall), and two great holidays. Happy Fall Everyone!

Back to Normal

Bobby and Degan are home. All is back to normal. Kodi Lynn and I had a nice little Girls Only weekend, but are so Happy to have the Boys back. They got home Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. I have kissed Degers non-stop since he's been home. It's safe to say he is avoiding me now. Hahaha

Batten Down the Hatches!!!???

Well anyone who has turned on the t.v during this past week, knows about Ike. I have been preparing myself for some serious weather. All week they have had severe weather warnings. Well today is the day... Hurricane Ike hit Galveston around 2 a.m. this morning, and has been making it's way up Texas. Well nothing has happened here yet, and it looks like we will be getting off easy. We went from severe winds and heavy rain warnings, to strong winds, and 30% chance of rain. Thank Goodness! If you want to follow the status of Ike go to www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd

<3 My Heart is in California <3

Bobby took Degan to California for the weekend. He went to a close family friends funeral today. She will be greatly missed. It is just sad that the world lost such a wonderful women. We were thinking about going as a family, but it was just to much driving for only 3 days. I wish I could have gone, to be there for Kathy. She is doing so much for the family. She has the biggest heart. Kathy is such a giving and kind person. Kathy if you read this... I am so sorry, and wish I could be there for you. All of us out here do! The Angels planting flowers story brought me to tears. What an amazing gesture. My heart is with my family in California.

Whistle a Happy Tune

Family Fun!

Everyone knows that the Bowlers are always up for a good family game. We love competition. Well... Bobby and I have found two families that love games as much as we do. Cliff and Kari, and Matt and Becky. We all got together the other night to played scrabble, and scategories. We had such a great time while all the kids played together. And the fun just flowed over to tonight... Kodi Lynn has been wanting to play one of her new games from Iya and Tad. This game was harder than all the games we played at Kari's. Hahaha. Here we are playing the Princess version of the "Gone Fishing" game.

Beware!!! This movie is 6 min long. Make sure you have nothing better to do!

Kodi Lynn won 8 - 7.

Wish You Could Smell These!

I was surprised today with a special delivery. Gabby sent me a bouquet of my favorite flowers. These pink tulips smell so amazing. Thank you so much Gabby. You are a wonderful friend.

Progress Report

I am feeling better today. Yay! Actually I am feeling better than I thought I would. Last night Bobby even took me on a date. We went to a movie. I looked horrible and walked like an old lady, but it was nice to be of the couch. Nights are the hardest for me right now. It is hard to get comfortable, so I sleep on the couch, sort of sitting up. It's all of that trapped air that gets under my ribs, and makes laying down difficult. I woke up with a little more energy this morning, and happy that I get my kids back today. Thanks again Lynda for taking them. I think that a lot of my recovery has to do with all of the quiet time. Thanks everyone for you calls and messages. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Happy thoughts, postive enregy, and Lots of LOVE!

Thank you everyone for your prayers, and all of the phone calls. I appreciate all of the support, happy thoughts, positive energy, and unconditional love that can make anything better. I had such a wonderful support system last night.

• My friend Rachel was there helping me, and distracting me from all of the tests, and waiting. She held my hand and gave me encouragement when I though that I might lose it. (I am not good with these situations)
• Bobby rushed home from an away trip to be there when I came out from surgery. He sat with me all nigh, which was not easy, because he now has the stomach virus I had :.( He made sure to call my Mom, sister, and his Mom, so that they could pass it along to all of you. He is so good to me.
• Kath, Letti, and Syd led the family in a family prayer for me last night, which I truly felt (all 23!). Their thought were with me the whole time.

• Thank you Carmacks for taking my kids for a few days. I miss them terribly, but know that I can't be my best for them. I know they will be happy to be with their cousins for a short vaca.
• And, all of the texts, emails, blog shout-outs, and phone calls from everyone has been truly heartwarming.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for your positive energy, Love, and Support.