Tagged Squared

I've been tagged twice now, so looks like I gotta follow through! Below are seven things about me you may not know.
1. I love marching bands! It's my favorite part of parades, and I love attending all-day band competitions! I wish the T.V. networks would show more college football half times! I have a CD of the Nebraska Marching band playing various peices, including the Nebraska Fight Song and "There is no Place Like Nebraska." When my kids were younger I taught them to march around the dining room table on game days everytime the Husker's scored. We played the CD every Friday night before Game Day and every morning of Game Day. At the end of the Fight Song it was so cute to hear my little toddlers and preschoolers shout "Go Uskers!" with their fist high in the air.
2. The bright sun causes me to sneeze. As a kid, I thought I was the only one afflicted by the sun, but I don't think that so much anymore.
3. Heterochromia is a condition in which a persons eyes are different colors- most commonly one being brown and the other blue. My left eye is blue, and my right eye is green. Any suggestions on what I should put on my driver's licence?
4. I onced saved someone from drwoning! Well, not really, but I attempted to only to have them save themselves just before I got to them.
5. Big secret: I still have my Michael Jackson Thriller tape. It's hidden away because... well... that's another secret.
6. In 7th grade I hit a girl on the arm and felt so horrible about it I cried in the Counselors office for 30 minutes!
7. I've had to go to the emergency room 3 times: pnce for a broken hand, once for a broken ankle, and once for a severely bruised bum, thought to be broken. It's a very funny story!- ask me about it when you see me!

Holiday Baking

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp smell in the air, the sounds of leaves crunching under frolicking feet, and the beautiful colors of leaves, pumpkins, and other fall decor. My favorite thing to do when the weather turns cool enough to open up the house (remember, I'm in Texas and we run our central air through September!), warm up the oven, and begin my Holiday baking. Though I love eating what I bake, I really enjoy baking for others. it's sort of and act of love and kindess for me. I mean, who doesn't love to eat? My husband is my personal taste tester - I certainly can't give out anything that may taste bad! About 15 years ago I decided to see what a pumpkin pie made with fresh, mashed pumpkin would taste like. Unfortunately I did not know pureed pumpkin has a finer textured than just mashed pumpkin, and my pie was a little stringing - way too much texture! Enter my taste tester who onjectively gave me some pointers, raving the whole time over my efforts. Over the years I certainly have learned my lessons!
Adding to my love of baking I've learned to appreciate Fall and holiday dishes, taking a fancy to fun shaped pie plates and serving dishes. I can use the same drapes, bedding, towels, wall and door hangings year round, but I love changing out my dishes with the seasons! Last year my husband and I ran across a pumpkin shaped pie plate perfect for my yearly pumpkin pies - I do mean the plural as I make several for my family to enjoy. Above is a photo of Lelia and I after baking the first pumpkin pie of this season and I felt brilliant for adding the triangle facial features.

I try using recipes that my kids can help out with. later I will upload a photo and recipe of my latest cookie endeaver. Nothing fancy, but my kids will be able to make it without my assistance, and I will be able to enjoy eating it!

For Your Own Good

My Lelia Elaine has always been her own person. The picture to the right is of all three kids last year at the Fall Fun Festival. Her Gandpa calls her his Yellow Rose of Texas, and she is- right down her love of dresses to her cowgirl boots! Sometimes the boys show themselves so vividly we miss the soft color of our little girl. Lately she has been showing off her beautiful rose petals through her creativity in writing and drawing. Just the other night she aksed me for some yarn to hang a sign around her neck, but I suggested pinning the sign to her shirt instead. A few minutes later I saw her happily pass by the kitchen with her sign boldly stating: "Do not disturb" and in smaller letters underneath: "for your own good." What a stitch!
Lelia is currently working on a book about her friend Jakiah and stories of how and when they first met. The first page starts with a note to her readers! She certailnly has learned how to express herself!

Her current favorite movie is The Sound of Music and she knows most all the songs singing them throughout the house, and van, and on our camping trip... She just expressed interest in singing one of the songs for the K.B. Polk talent show at the end of the school year. I think our Yellow rose is beginning to blossom!