Happy Birthday, Jesus

We celebrated the birthday of OUR King this afternoon at a worship service on our Jones Road Campus. It was a family service where the children from our campus performed and Ray C. preached. It was a very special service that I was thrilled to be a part of. I thought you might enjoy a few pictures! Mary Frances is all the way to the left on the middle row and Thomas is the third one from the right on the back row.

...the preacher...
...the preacher's kid...
...the preacher's family....
..the cutest kids I know...


No matter what happens Christmas Day, don't forget...It's all because of Jesus, and He is worthy of our gratitude!

Brown Sugar

Here she is.... Brown "Sugar". Thomas was stunned, to say the least. I don't even think he touched the dog for 5 minutes. He kept backing up with his eyes wide open in disbelief! It was such a joy to be able to do that for him.

Santa was awesome! He told him to be careful with her since she had surgery last night, that he had to bring her early because she was scared of the reindeer, and that he would have to exercise her every day!

We have had a wonderful day. She has been so sweet. She has not peed or pooped in the house all day. She really appears to be house-trained!!! She has barely barked and has tolerated everything the kids have done! Tomorrow may be a different story since she just got fixed last night! I'm sure she will not feel quite normal for a few days, but I am enjoying her sweet demeanor today!

Santa Clause is Coming Early

My children have no idea... I told Thomas this morning that this is going to be a fun weekend, and even that tomorrow might be the best day of his life! He said, "Is tomorrow Christmas Eve?" I love that kid!!

Thomas has held steadfast to 2 gifts on his Christmas list: a skateboard and a dog! He is afraid Santa will leave him a stuffed dog.

After telling him for a month that we were not getting a dog, we finally caved in! I wanted a cute, fluffy, house-trained, small (10-12 lbs), lap dog. Wait until you see what we got! She does not fit one of my descriptive words - cute doesn't even fit! She is beautiful!

She's also:
a stray from the rescue center (SPCA for those of you in Houston)
short haired
house training unknown
AND
40 POUNDS!!!

Yep...that suckered me into it, but the more we learn about her breed the more excited we get! She is a Vizsla/Labrador Mix. She is a golden color with captivating eyes.

So, she was spayed yesterday and we pick her up tomorrow. So, we can't wait until Christmas morning!

I am working on getting Santa to bring her over tomorrow morning! You'll have to check back tomorrow for pictures!

We will have to name her...Any suggestions? I'm hoping for Nala!! She has the color of the famous Lioness...I'm even considering just telling the kids that is her name and not giving them a chance to name her...what do you think?

Dresses

Mary Frances LOVES dresses! Apparently, it is very important to her to look nice when she goes places. I'm sure I have encouraged that by making sure her bow is in place and that she does look nice, but she is branching out a little!! Now, she is on me and what I'm wearing.

After our tea party last week, she told my mom that I looked kind of pretty but not REALLY pretty because I was wearing pants and not a dress. I do wear pants a lot, but I always look nice and appropriate, but apparently Mary Frances thinks I should also be wearing dresses.

So, last night she came in my closet as I was getting ready and said, "Where are you going mommy?"

I told her I was going to the church for a rehearsal. I was wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and a hat - something she would NEVER wear!

So she said,"I suppose you should wear a dress." Where did she get "suppose" from? Anyway, I informed her that it was only a rehearsal and that I was wearing my jeans and hat. Then she said, "Well you could at least wear a skirt to church!"

So, I disappointed her last night, but I let her help me pick out my clothes this morning. She wanted a dress for me, but it wasn't right for the occasion. She said, "Well can I have that dress when I get older?"

I then changed into a skirt with tights and boots. She loved the outfit - especially the boots. She checked with me to be sure I wasn't changing again and wanted to be sure I was keeping the boots and earrings on!!

What a character! What have I created?? Jessica says she is definitely related to her - the fashion queen!

Merry Christmas

from Mary Frances :)

Tea Party

Before I ever had children, I planned to have Christmas Tea Parties with my little girl! So, this week of preparation has been so much fun for me. Mary Frances and I have worked together on picking up the house, cooking, and hostessing! We had so much fun at our first Houston Mother/Daughter Tea Party.
Mary Frances was a great hostess, but she mostly loved eating the cookies!! She also enjoyed several cups of tea in her very own China Tea Cup!
She loved hanging out with the girls from church, school, and the neighborhood!
The gingerbread men were a hit! They were gone before I knew it! Of course, the boys were not very happy when they returned, but I'll make them more this week!
It was a great success. We got pictures of all the girls with their mothers. I couldn't believe how many people had never been to a tea party! There will be more to come here for sure!!

Snow in Houston!

It snowed in Bridgeland Friday night! Actually, they brought in a snow machine for the neighborhood Christmas party!! The kids had a blast throwing snow balls at each other!


You can barely see the reindeer in the background, but Dancer is really back there!! Really, a real reindeer! Even I think that is cool!! They wouldn't let us get too close to him, though!

Thanksgiving Vacation

Candace and Brock met us in St. Pete. We were friends on the island. It was so much fun to see them and to catch up with Candace. She is very special to me!!
The Hughes Crew!
Smile if you love Papa!
Yes, that is 7 children six years old and under!
We fed Flamingos at the Sarasota Jungle Gardens!
Some of us held an Alligator! We even saw a woman put a Giant Hissing
Cockroach in her mouth!! Then, she spit it back out alive - just to prove to us that they don't carry diseases and you can eat them! The real test would be to call back this week to see if she came in to work!!
Grandma is very talented musically! So, it was very special to see the children playing the piano with their great-grandmother!
I love listening to grandma play. She rocks on the Miramba!! I love it when she gives us a concert on the miramba at dad's house!!
The kids couldn't wait to see their great-aunt Ruth! We also spent time with Uncle Jim and Barb. It was so good to be with family we haven't seen in a little while, and while we were there we discussed a family reunion next year! We can't wait!
So special to be with out great-grandparents!!

Florida Orange Juice

Thanksgiving in South Florida was great! We stayed in the little house that once belonged to Ray C.'s great grandmother when she was a snow bird. Then, Ray C.'s grandparents became snow birds and wintered in this house. Now, it belongs to Aunt Ruth who comes down to visit frequently! It was so much fun to be there. The best part was opening up the back door the first morning and letting the kids each pick a fresh orange off of the tree. Then, we cut the oranges and put them through the electric juicer.

Mmmm..... There's nothing like fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice!

Jesus

Thomas brought this home yesterday! He used a friend's gray crayon for the nails and even gave Jesus a frown on his face. I was on the verge of tears when I saw it. I love that he was thinking about Jesus while he was coloring at school! And, in the midst of the Christmas season, it was such a nice reminder of what Christ did for us.

Doing Time at the Zoo

3 kids, 2 adults, and 1 plane!

YEAH! We're leaving for Florida this afternoon on a PLANE!! I am sure most of you cannot wait for the blog entry when we return!! Can you imagine what it must be like to travel with THREE little ones? I'm only a little nervous but mostly excited. It will certainly be an memorable adventure!

I had decided to require each child to carry a backpack with adequate supplies to slow them down enough to keep up with them in the airport, but Thomas reminded me this morning that they need to carry their car seats with them! So, I guess the backpacks will be light since they have to carry the seats - and YES, I am making them carry their own seats. They are only booster seats. They should be fine. I'll pitch in if need be, but I need as much to weigh them down as possible! Remember, this is survival thinking.

I have also considered taking a rope like preschools use to keep them all in line - meaning they each have to hold the rope to walk in a single file line. I haven't completely x'd this off, but I think I might at least keep a jump rope in my bag in case I need it!!

Any other suggestions? We are going to get to the airport early enough to not be late but not too early. I don't want to be sitting there too long with not much to do. Of course, they will have some games and coloring books.

Regardless, I am looking forward to it! We love adventures. So, here we go... Pray for the other people on the plane!!

Quiet Time

I was so busy when I came back from Georgia that I didn't take the time to mention how it went! I had a BLAST!! I read Bridal Magazines all weekend and really enjoyed spending some much needed time on my business.

I got to send some quality time with my sister, my mom, and my dad. It was so nice to have uninterrupted conversations and to have a break from changing diapers, sheets, and clothes!!

On Saturday, I got to go hunting with my dad. I always tell people that my dad didn't have any boys, so I got to go hunting by default! :) Hunting has always been our special time together. I love getting up early and to be sitting in a tree before you can even see daylight! I love being able to hear every little thing moving around me.

It was so amazing to me to be back in the woods. I always feel so privileged to see deer in the wild. We are accustomed to seeing birds and squirrels around, but I feel really blessed to be part of the deer's world. Hunting isn't about the killing for my dad or me. It's about the thrill of nature and being so close to God.

The whole weekend was refreshing to me. I realized how much I need that time away to focus on who I am and what direction my life is going. I've determined that I am a child of the King. I am a wife and a mother, and I am a wedding planner, and right now, that's all I can be! I want to be good at all of those things, but if I keep adding in little things here and there, I lose focus of where I am headed.

So, I've been saying "no" A LOT lately. It is hard for me to turn people down, but I have been much happier. My house is cleaner, FINALLY!! And, my children are getting more time with me!

This week, I am thankful for time away to clear my head and to get me back on the path God has laid out for me!

Thanksgiving Memories

I know it bugs most people to have Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving, but if you come to my house, you'll just have to get over it!!

For me, Christmas decorations are part of Thanksgiving. I know many of my readers will be able to reminisce with me about Thanksgiving growing up. Every year, my family would travel 2 hours to a tiny little town called Richland, GA. It's just outside of Columbus.

On Wednesdays, our friends, the Griggs, would come up from Florida, and we would ride together - arriving that evening. We all stayed in the Snipes' antebellum home. Each family had a room, and all the kids piled up in the den in our sleeping bags. We stayed up late - playing tricks on each other and all the games you can think of playing when you were a kid.

There were five families all together EVERY year! I have great memories of Thanksgiving, but one of my favorite is how Mrs. Kay always had her home decorated for Christmas. The tree was lit and decorated. The banisters were wrapped with greenery. The Christmas dishes were out, and it felt like Christmas had arrived.

Every morning, the men would get up early to go hunting. I joined them some times, but my loyalties were torn between hunting and hanging with the girls. The guys went hunting every afternoon as well - that is except for Friday!! On Friday, they went in the morning, but they stayed home that night to watch all the kids because the women went shopping in Columbus. Sometimes we went and watched movies and shopped, but the smaller ones usually stayed behind with the men who cooked chilli for dinner!

We dreaded leaving on Sundays because, for the most part, we wouldn't all be back together until the next Thanksgiving. We have remained friends with everyone, but Thanksgiving just hasn't been the same since all the kids grew up and started getting married. We all have our different traditions each year. I still love Thanksgiving, but nothing will ever replace those memories for me.

So for me, Thanksgiving ushers in Christmas is the most special way. I guess that's why it has always been my favorite holiday. But the best part about Thanksgiving is spending it with family and friends. There is nothing more depressing than a Thanksgiving without a house full of people!

Oh, Snap..

When Thomas and I were playing Chutes and Ladders last night, he was excited about getting to go up a ladder and said "snap". Ray C. and I busted out laughing.

I said, "Did you just say "snap"?"

Thomas replied, "Yeah. It's just an expression for "man"." So, we started laughing even harder.

He said, "Not a man like daddy, but like when you say "Oh, man". We were all laughing together!

Again I say, "I love the things that come out of their little minds and mouths" - most of the time!!

Here I Go...

I am sitting in the Houston Airport waiting to go back to Georgia for the weekend! I am so excited about spending a few days without my daily responsibilities. My bag is packed with jeans, tshirts, and sweat pants. I plan to lay around, read, and enjoy the fall leaves that surround my parents beautiful property!! I'm going to drink coffee on the back porch in the mornings. I'm going deer hunting with my dad - our favorite pastime. I'm going to have girl talk with my mom and sister, and I'm going to sleep until my body wants to get up!!

I love my family and everything I do for and with them, but sometimes a girl needs a break!!!

Pumpkin Bisque Recipe

This recipe is one I got from my mother-in-law. She made a delicious Squash Bisque for us, and then I realized I could use pumpkin instead and have loved it even more! I love to make a bunch and freeze it in small portions for later!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium potatoes, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
4 cups pumpkin
1 quart chicken broth
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup half and half (milk is fine)

Melt butter, saute onions. Add onion, potatoes, carrots, chicken broth, and salt. Cook until tender, then puree in blender. Add freshly cooked pumpkin or canned pumpkin. Return puree to pot, add cream and seasonings as desired. Sprinkle each bowl with cayenne pepper, if desired. (This step is to much for me. I just skip the pepper.) This make enough for 6-8 people depending on serving sizes!

Remember to let me know if you try it. I want to know how it turns out!

How To Cook a Pumpkin

Cut a small pie pumpkin in half, horizontally. Scoop out the seeds and set aside for baking later. Scrape out as much of the stringy stuff as you can. Place each half, open side down on a baking sheet. (I use 3 pumpkins to make 1 deep dish pie and 1 full recipe of the bisque.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or more until the pumpkin is "fork tender". Remove the peel, and puree what is left in the food processor. Now you are ready to add the pumpkin to your recipe. It should look very similar to what is in the Libby's can!

How to Cook Pumpkin Seeds

Remove the large orange clumps from the seeds. Don't bother washing the seeds because the pumpkin flavors them!

Toss the seeds with 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of Worstershire Sauce.

Bake for 1 hour at 250 degrees - tossing every fifteen minutes. Add salt after 15-30 minutes to season!

Be sure to let them cool completely before storing them in an air-tight container!

Cooking Pumpkins

I started a tradition a few years ago that I am loving - and apparently Mary Frances is too! As soon as the pumpkins came out this year she started asking when we were going to make pumpkin pie again! I've made Pumpkin Pie every year, but three years ago I started cooking the pumpkins myself and making pies and even Pumpkin Bisque - yum........! I really look forward to it!

So, Friday, we cut open the little pumpkins and cooked away!! The bisque is fantastic and the pumpkin pie is too! So, I thought you all might like to have a new recipe for the season! Now, the pumpkin pie is the recipe right off the Libby's Pumpkin Can - except I substituted 15 oz. of freshly cooked pumpkin instead of the 15 oz. canned!

But, before I give you the recipe, I thought some of you might need to know how exactly you cook a pumpkin. So the next few posts will be your directions! Let me know if you try it and how it comes out!