Halloween Puppy and Party

We had an awesome Halloween (saturday) party.  It was a lot of fun.  Mike made this awesome chili that has 3 different kinds of meat in it.  It tasted so good!! I made pumpkin bread bowls.  Then with dessert Mike made hot apple cider with shrunken heads floating in it.  On top of it all I dressed up Alice.  She looked so cute.  (she was also very mad at me!)  We got a ton of trick or treaters!! I hope everyone had a great Halloween.  Ours was so much fun

I finally finished my table runner from like a year ago.

Look how much she loved her costume!! It looks like she wants to wear it forever and ever!

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2

My puppy turned 2 yesterday. I can't believe it has already been that long since we got her. She is definitely a part of our family. (yes we are lose lame people that spoil their dog too much!) Here are a few pictures of how much Alice has changed!!

 

Pumpkins!!

Hooray for October!!

Pumpkin carving

Leaves changing

Awesome Halloween decorations

Fall weather

Orange

Candy

Cute trick or treaters

Tis the Season

Tis the season for wasting my life away watching television.  I know this is totally lame and you can judge me all you want, but I do love when all my wonderful TV show start up again.  I am so grateful for the invention called a DVR.  I couldn't keep up with anything if it weren't for this wonderful little machine.  Don't get me wrong, I don't sit around all day watching TV, there are a million things to do around my house.  I will admit that I usually end up doing the dishes or folding laundry (not very efficiently) while enjoying my latest show.  (life is to be enjoyed right?) 

Don't even bring up the H word!!

I don't know about you but I am terrible at housework!! I am always behind.  I have tried a million different schedules to keep on top of it, including cleaning a room a day, and just cleaning whatever I see first.  Needless to say nothing has worked. 

One of my friends has an awesome blog, The Modern Hive.  I am always checking it to find out what great ideas she has come up with lately.  Somehow I missed THIS great post,  but luckily when I was talking to her about my dilemma she told me to check out this book called The Creation Plan.

It is this great book written in the 80's.  I haven't found the book yet but there is a great summary HERE.  Just a quick outline, it uses the creation of the world to help you outline your schedule for the week.  For example Tuesday is laundry, hence the day water was created.  There are certain things that you need to do everyday, then there are things that are assigned to Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.  Then there are chores that don't have to be done as frequently so they are assigned to the first week, second week, etc.  Here is how I wrote my schedule up.  For now I wrote it on a white board so I can change days around and find out what works for me.  I also added a spot at the bottom of the board for IDEAS and PROJECTS.  That way I can keep track of everything.  I might come up with a cuter version later. 

I have only been doing this schedule for about a week know, and am definitely in love with it.  I have had to modify it a little bit because I work full time.  The main thing I love about this system is it focuses on guilt free homemaking.  GUILT FREE what is that, right?  I also like how it gives you time to work on your own projects and have a little of me/creative time.  Everyone should check this out.  I might even end up buying the book! 

 Any ideas on a cute way to make a more permanent schedule?

Oven Mitt

On Friday was my Aunt Mary's birthday.  She is one of those people who has everything so it is hard to get her presents.  This past year she remodeled her whole house.  I haven't seen it yet but I hear it is beautiful.  I decided that I wanted to make her something for her new house.  I found a way cute and easy tutorial for and oven mitt and hot pad.  Everyone loves to get new things for their home (or is that just me?!)  It amazes me how excited I can get over new pans or dish towels.  Any way, here are some (terrible) pictures of what I made.

 

Aaron

Well he has only been gone for 9 days (which is crazy).  I can't believe it has already been over a week.  I have already gotten a letter.  He is doing great and loving it.  He said his companion talks even less then he does.  I don't know how that is possible.  But it has been good for Aaron because he said it has made him step out of his comfort zone.  I am so proud of him.  He is such a great example to me. 

All the kids two days before Aaron left.

Cute brothers.  Hayden likes to make sure Aaron knows that he is short.

Father and son

Unfortunately Mike couldn't come to drop Aaron off.  It would have been a perfect family picture.