365.157: Photo Shoot

Yesterday I got to take pictures of my friend Susan's little boy, Aaron. He has a birthday coming up, so these are his three-year-old pictures. We had so much fun playing at Cameron Park, but I think he was pretty tired of me following him around with the camera asking him to do ridiculous things like look for the bug inside my camera lens and lay in the grass!

365.156: Wiggles and Giggles Galore

Last night Holden had his very first performance at school, "Wiggles and Giggles Galore." I was so excited! He was so cute standing on his rafter. He started off not singing, just wearing his embarrassed face, but slowly started doing some of the motions, and then started singing. During the song "Ha-la-la-la-la-le-lu-a," they got to the "hug another neck, hug a neck next to ya" part and my sweet boy had no one to hug. Both girls on either side of him turned away from him for their hugs. It was all I could do not to scream, "Someone hug my baby!" Holden took matters into his own hands and went for a hug with the tall blond on his right. The hug may have lasted a little too long, and as she tried to shrug him off he fell right off the back of the rafters! A teacher lifted him back up, and he was fine after Mrs. Wirth kissed the boo-boo on his elbow.
As soon as I can shorten the video, I'll load it on here.
Holden was showing Turner the ropes of preschool as we were arriving.


Can you spot my dude?

365.155: Cute Ideas From Portugal

So if you ever want to read more about the family who is currently running the Haven in Portugal (where we really want to end up), look at Jenni's cute blog here! Today Jenni posted about some super creative costumes made from phone books and put a link up to the blog thecraftingchicks.com that shows you how to make the cutest wreath out of an old book. I mean, it's adorable. Here she has a Halloween piece hanging in the center, but the options are limitless! I'm considering trying my hand at this!

365.154: Coffee-Free and Surviving It!

Nine days ago I stopped drinking coffee. And I've had a headache every day since.

This is actually the very reason I quit drinking it--I do not want to be dependent on something to make me feel energetic, healthy, and headache free! So I guess my body is just taking a long time to detox. Anybody have any suggestions on how to get over this headache any faster?

This morning I made a Starbucks run, since it was so cool and fall-ish. I got this delicious decaf non-fat pumpkin spice latte. Mmmmmm...

365.153: Antiquing Finds

Here are the are the finds I got at Cameron Trading Post while antique-ing with Cameron the other day.

Fall decor for the dining room table.


I thought this sign was funny, and embraces Texas culture (which I am really trying to get on board with).


And what little boy's life is complete without a cookie jar in his kitchen?!

365.152: Saying Goodbye

Man, we sure do love having all these visitors, but it's so hard and so sad to say goodbye each time! The boys and I drove Cam to the Dallas airport this afternoon, and Holden fell asleep before we got there. When he woke up later I woke him up on the drive home because I had to pee so bad it hurt, he was so confused and sad that he didn't get to say goodbye to Aunt Cam. I had to reassure him for the next hour that Cam did give him a hug and kiss, but he just didn't remember since he was asleep.

A shot of Holden and his Aunt Cam with the fireman umbrella she got him at the museum.


Me and Holden under the umbrella discussing something very serious, I'm sure.

I mean, what else do you do with an umbrella other than bring it with you into a tree you climb? When it's sunny out.

They're sweet.

A cool shot Cam took at the park this morning of Holden on the climbing rock.

365.151: Cameron's Birthday!

Today is Cameron's birthday! I feel so privileged that she chose to fly out to Texas to spend her big day with us this year! After church this morning, Cam and I wen antiquing at a huge antique market called-get this-Cameron Trading Post. (And I may or may not have purchased three things, while the birthday girl only picked out one thing for me to get her for her birthday present. But she did choose a really cool book of Sir Walter Scott's poetry from 1894.) We also stopped for coffee at the ever-so-cute Common Grounds, and perused the merch at Harts and Crafts. Then we came and picked up all three of the boys from home and headed to Ninfa's for a Mexican birthday fiesta. Back at home, we connected with my parents via skype and sang happy birthday to Cam. It was too bad my parents had to just watch us eat the homemade pumpkin cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting I made!

Look what Cam taught me: tear off the bottom of the cupcake and eat like a sandwich! Why did I not think of this earlier?

I know that I had a blast on Cameron's birthday--and I hope she did too!

Here's the cupcake recipe. You need it. NEED.
Pumpkin Cupcakes

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sifted before measuring
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten lightly until frothy
• 1 cup canned, mashed pumpkin
• 3/4 cup milk

Sift together first 7 ingredients into a bowl. In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy; beat in eggs. Blend in mashed pumpkin. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk, blending until batter is smooth after each addition. Spoon batter into paper-lined muffin cups until 2/3 full. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (8oz) package cream cheese at room temp.
• 1 pound confectioners sugar, sifted
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl; beat well until smooth. Makes enough for a 2-layer cake or about 24 cupcakes.