love....

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good list...a good day of organizing...making a big checkmark when something gets accomplished...getting goosebumps when I see the new calendars and organizers for the upcoming year on the store shelves. Ahhh.... Anyway as I was blog surfing I came across this website and it gave me chills! I have already printed out some of the planning pages to make my own Christmas planner (I do one every year but this is so easy! Just print and go!). This site has some other fabulous ideas as well. If you'd like to print out the Christmas planner pages go to the tab that says "printable forms" and print what you'll use. As I was printing, I got my ipod going with the 100 Christmas songs Bradley put on it yesterday for me. And to top it off, it's going to be 50 degrees and sunny today and tomorrow. Now THAT's how I like to plan for Christmas!

http://christmas.organizedhome.com/

basketball season has arrived

I have a love/hate relationship with basketball. I LOVE watching my boys play! I hate trying to get a good picture in those darn gyms! The lighting is always horrible and even though I have an SLR camera, I do not have good enough lenses to capture decent shots. And my action mode wasn't working well AT all the other day so most of them are blurry. Grrr.... All of these were taken on automatic with no flash. I was able to lighten them up in Picassa and then found I really liked the focal point color effect with the rest of the shot being in black and white. It's a great way to draw attention to my ball player! : )

Bren man starts his first basketball practice tomorrow night. We bought his baketball shoes today so he's ready to go. We are so excited with his coach this year- we know he's going to be good for Brennan.
Thanksgiving was great. We enjoyed Gary's family last weekend, his parents came here for Thanksgiving Day, and then we went to my dad's on Saturday. All but Dave and Tracy were able to make it back.
Now it's back to business tomorrow. This will be a busy few weeks until Christmas. Lots to do!

this is what we see when...

they're trying to make a point.

HELLLLLOOOOOO!!!!! WE'RE STARVING HERE! THERE'S NOT EVEN A CRUMB IN OUR BOWL!!!!

We all need to make a statement.

to all scrapbookers...you'll appreciate this

I just came across this blog and found it hilarious! Read the first post and the 11/11 post especially- this is written by a boyfriend of a serious crafter/scrapbooker- I'll have to share with my husband- maybe some of your men can relate too.

http://thescrapbookguy.typepad.com/the-scrapbook-guys-blog/

Race for the Cure

She is the reason we got involved in Race for the Cure several years ago. She is a survivor- 10 years- and we are so thankful. Gary took this next picture as we began, and it always amazes me how many people turn out for this walk each year, and the numbers continue to go up. I am so encouraged as I walk just seeing the support of teams walking for certain individuals, fighters who are sometimes wheeled through the course, obviously in the middle of their own personal battle, reading the tags of the numerous loved ones who have lost their fight to this horrid disease, while at the same time seeing those in pink shirts (the survivors) who walk in victory. No matter how cold it might be or how cruddy of a week I may have had, this couple of hours uniting with thousands of others with the same goal is so rewarding. It makes my own troubles seem minimal.

Our family began walking about 5 years ago, I think??? (I have a horrible memory)

Gary's parents now join us each year

It's something we look forward to each year. And as I look through these pictures, I am reminded of yet another person I love. My sister, Lori, just got results back from a lump that was found in her breast. There was a minimal area that was cancerous, and now they are checking lymph nodes. The Dr. is encouraged because the margins were clear, and they got it all out when they took the lump. She will probably have to have radiation, but thankfully not chemotherapy or a mastectomy. We are definitely thankful for the encouraging prognosis! I am always amazed at the advancement of technology and know that the money we give to be a part of this race is going in the right direction- hopefully a cure is around the corner.

Love you Carolyn!

Love you Lori!

pumpkin shake

So here's one more pumpkin recipe if anyone's in the mood still. My dear friend Dawn sent this one to me a few weeks ago, and I have been loving one of these babies every day. They are pretty low cal so that's even better!

Pumpkin Shake

3 T or so of canned pumpkin
cinnamon sugar to taste
milk
lots of ice cubes
about a 1/2 cup of low fat ice cream

I don't have exact amounts on the cinnamon sugar, milk, or ice cubes. I use my Magic bullet and just add until it's close to full. Then blend and top with a scoop of whipped topping.

I use 1% milk, low cal whipped cream, and low fat ice cream, and that keeps this treat between 100-150 calories. It's really yummy and pretty filling! Being the night owl that I am, I usually find myself hungry around 9 PM. If I would go to bed shortly after that, I'd try not to eat, but since I'm usually up for another 3 hours or so, I need something to eat. This has been a great late night snack. No one else in my family (except Oreo, who I discovered loves canned pumpkin) will have anything to do with my latest obsession. So I enjoy it all to my lonesome!

Lots of other stuff going on lately, but too busy to blog about it. I've got a few pictures I want to share, but haven't downloaded them on my laptop yet. I'm pathetic.

Let's see...

Football is officially over for both the boys. I signed Brennan up for basketball last Saturday and Bradley starts his first basketball practice on Friday morning at 6:30 AM! I am so thankful my husband will be the one doing the morning practice run since he usually leaves for work at 6:30. Bradley will have several of those.

Tomorrow I am going to Clear Lake to retrieve a portion of a beef that we bought. My sister gets 1/2 of a cow every year, and we are sharing some of that. I'm looking forward to some steak dinners!!

We had an open house last Sunday afternoon and had a couple of people looking. We haven't received any offers, but we are patient and know the Lord's timing is perfect. We seem to be leaning towards building now (I still think Gary and I will end up divorced if we try this!) but we are definitely realizing what we want in our next house and aren't finding it in Carlisle already built. Sunday we went to a few open houses and got some ideas.

I did a traning last week for some student helpers for the children's ministry, and this Sunday we are having an appreciation/training time for our teachers. I am putting together the food and training agenda so that is keeping me extra busy this week. I still have a lot to put together for that in the next few days.

I got a book from the library by Deanna Farve about her breast cancer journey and I've been anxious to read it, but still haven't even started it. I've already renewed it once, and I've only got one renewal to go. I love autobiographies/biographies, and it seems like it's been awhile since I've read something for pleasure.

I'm already thinking about Christmas and find myself ready to start shopping and planning. The Black Friday ads are showing up in my inbox daily now! (yes, I am one of those crazy shoppers, and my husband even joins me in the fun!!!). I need to put some Christmas music on my ipod, and am looking for crafty ideas to make for some gifts.

I've been faithfully watching the World Series each night hoping and praying the stupid Yankees don't win it all. I am not particularly a Phillies fan, but I hate the Yankees, so I'll cheer for anyone who plays them.

I'm doing a Tuesday morning ladies' bible study at my church that I am absolutely enjoying. We're studying the book Crazy Love. It is a phenomenal book about being totally in love with our Savior. The author has a vey captivating way of delivering a poignant message. I also just love the fellowship. These Bible studies have been a way to interact with and get to know some of the older ladies in our church, and I thoroughly love listening to their insights and learning from their wisdom and experience.

Well enough blabbering for now. I was wide awake when I began writing, but I think I'm definitely tired enough to go to bed now.

If you try a pumpkin shake, let me know what you think of it.