Our new toy...

We got a new car a few days ago.
















Well, they did....











And, oh the fun they're having!

And, oh the fun I'm going to have. They rode around in the backyard and had a blast today. Yes they ran over every dog "pile" that Opal has ever created, but cleaning off the tires was a small price to pay for the free time I got out of it.

Pictures, Prizes and Pumpkin Bread

This probably isn't my best idea as far as hygiene goes.

I can only think of 2 times in Zachary's 5 years of life that he has had a popsicle outside of the bathtub. They have enjoyed ice cream, popsicles, Halloween candy, Easter chocolate, lasagna, pot roast (well maybe not All of that) while bathing. Clean up made easy for mom.

Well, I know you didn't come here to see pics of my kids eating ice cream. You are here to see who won the giveaway....

Congratulations....

Check out her shop here.

Thanks to all who entered my giveaway! I plan on doing more in the near future!

Here is the recipe for New England Pumpkin Bread that I promised:

15 oz Pumpkin Puree

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup water

3 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ground ginger

(you can add chocolate chips and nuts if you wish)

Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour 3 7x3 loaf pans. In large bowl, mix 1st 6 ingredients until well blended. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir dry mix into pumpkin mixture until just blended.

Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 50 minutes - 1 hour in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Take a stand for handmade...

Please help amend the regulations that will require all toy and children's product manufacturers (including independent crafters like myself) to spend thousands of dollars testing and labeling handmade products in order to prove that they do not contain toxic chemicals. I am all for protecting our children from harmful chemicals and that is one reason to buy handmade. If the regulations are not ammended, many handmade artist will go out of business beginning Feb, 2009. Take a stand to protect both our children and small-business crafters. Read more by clicking on the above icon or by clicking here.

GIVEAWAY!

You deserve something special.

So here is your chance to win a fabulous prize package:

The above items all came from some fantastic Etsy sellers.

Aromatherapy soap samples by FarmhouseSoaps

Lavender-Lemon Sample Cuticle Cream by ButterByEssentials

Glass Tile Pendant by Cynthia VH Ehrlich

Silver Nile Earrings by DayJeweler

Visit all of the above shops and then comment here letting me know your very favorite item in one of the shops for a chance to win. One name will be drawn on Monday and that winner will receive all 4 items. Be sure and use your blogger id or leave contact info in your comment. Good luck!

Catching up...

A few months back when Josh was out of town for a few days, the boys and I participated in "bed swap". During "bed swap," the boys can choose any bed in the house they want to sleep in. Of course, they choose to pile in the queen bed with me. Josh does not like to participate in bed swap and frankly I have second thoughts now that I have encountered Lucas ~ AKA Flip Flop. Both boys slept like a rock despite Lucas' tossing and turning all night. An elbow to my eye, a foot to my stomach, on and on all night long. So....when we decided to have "bed swap" again a few nights ago, I decided to coax the boys into sleeping in their own room. "Hey wouldn't it be fun to sleep in sleeping bags on your bedroom floor!!! It would be just like a campout!" They agreed and had a great time side by side on their bedroom floor. I snapped this pic after they finally got done laughing and talking. The room is really dark, of course, and the flash didn't even cause them to flinch.

Lucas enjoying (wearing) some chocolate candy...

I was really stressing at the idea of hauling all the "Santa" presents to Grandma's house in Dallas this year. So we asked the boys if they would like to write a letter to Santa and ask him if he would bring their presents a day early . He wrote a lovely letter back to them and later tonight he will be visiting our home a night early! I ran out of milk yesterday, which doesn't seem to be a problem as we decided that Santa prefers Cherry Coke.

By the way, this is Zachary's new face for every single picture...

I have baked my little oven mits off the last few days, making bread and cookies as Christmas gifts for Josh's entire family. Soon I'll post the recipe for New England Pumpkin Bread.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Cartoon Cuts Here We Come!

Lucas hates haircuts. It's seems to be a big production each time we take him. I usually end up holding him on my lap or making goofy clown faces during the duration of the haircut in an attempt to keep him calm.

So I decided to save the $12 and the headache and cut his hair myself. I actually prefer his hair "fluffy". He's got great, thick hair and since he is 2, I think he looks cute with shaggy hair. I decided to just trim his bangs. They were hanging in his eyes and I was beginning to refer to him as the "collie" so I guess it was time. He had to tilt his chin up toward the ceiling in order to see out. I made them crooked, by the way, on purpose, so it wouldn't look like a fresh haircut. I actually think he looks cute.

Josh said he looks like one of the Children of the Corn.

So I guess we will be taking him in early next week for a real haircut. Wish me luck.