Thank You Thursday

Baking with the Cuties

Saturday Hope and I thought it would be fun to have Ella and Addie over to make Halloween goodies. 

First things First....

Halloween Tradition-Window Stick-ONs

Aunt Hope helping the girlies.

We decided to make and frost some circle cookies before they arrived.

We had all the extras ready to go.

Little hands busy at work.

Miss Addie fell in love with the sugar sprinkles and couldn't resisit their yumminess!

Grandad brought McDonald's Happy Meals for lunch.

Nutter Butter Ghosts Cookies

Ghosts, Witches Hats, and Dipped Pretzels

 Sweet girls with Nana

Ella and Addie

(Notice cute little Addie is about to grab another cookie :)

Next year, we'll try these....what do you think girlies???

Pumpkin Candy Bar

via Amy Atlas 

Candy Buffets are so fun.

Remember this

and this

What better time for a "candy" ...bar, than 

Halloween!

From The Martha Stewart Show

  Tools and Materials:

• Good & Plenty
• Miniature marshmallows
• Twizzler licorice bites (Black)
• Gummy teeth
• Licorice wheels
• Candy corn
• Neapolitan licorice
• Ball pin
• Glass canisters
• Scissors
• Small pumpkin

Halloween-Candy Face How-To

1. Secure the candy to the pumpkin with ball pins that match the color of the treats so they aren't too noticeable. Tip: Chewy candy is easier to bend and snip.
2. Place pumpkin on glass canisters or reuse large glass jars for candy.
   

More Eye Candy

(sorry for the pun, couldn't help myself)

Candy Jar Labels to Print

from Martha Stewart

Photo: Laura Fenton via Shelter Pop

 

Martha Stewart Living

Candy Globes

via All You

Amy Atlas as pictured above

 

  via Martha Stewart

 

via Parents Magazine

via Southern Living

via McLellan Style

What a Scream

Don't these crack you up!

Strawberry Ghosts

 

Strawberry Ghosts published in Simple & Delicious September/October 2007, p14

Ingredients

• 30 fresh strawberries
• 8 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped
• 1 teaspoon shortening
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

• Wash strawberries and gently pat with paper towels until completely dry. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate and shortening at 50% power; stir until smooth. Stir in extract.
• Dip strawberries in chocolate mixture; place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet, allowing excess chocolate to form the ghosts' tails. Immediately press chocolate chips into coating for eyes. Freeze for 5 minutes.
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt remaining chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Dip a toothpick into melted chocolate and draw a mouth on each face. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Mark

 "30 reasons why I l♥ve Mark"

(in no particular order)

1.  I love that you have a great sense of humor. It was one of the first things that attracted me to you. You are hilarious. You kept me laughing when we first met and you still keep me laughing today. I love it.   
2. I love your beautiful blue eyes.  
3. I  love that you are an amazing father. You are involved in their lives, show them affection, lead them, teach them, and always love them. I couldn't have dreamed of having a better man to raise children with than you.   
4. I love your kind heart. You have a genuine love for people and a have always had a spirit of generosity. 
5. I love that you are gifted at ironing clothes and still iron everyone's clothes for church.
6. I love that you are a very hard worker. You do so much for our family. 
7. I love your eternal perspective.  You help me to see the big picture when I start to worry about the little things.  
8. I love that you are the patriarch of our home. You are a protector.    
9. I love that you are a wonderful granddad. I love to watch you tenderly rock a sweet baby to sleep.  I love the way you are playful and fun and always make time to make little ones feel special.
10. I love that you honor your priesthood.
11. I love that you are understanding and know when it's been a crazy week.  You never complain when I let things slide. 
12. I love your cute legs.
13. I love how you drive all the carpools you can when you're in town to lighten my load.
14. I love how you are the life of the party. 
15. I love the way you support me in all of my endeavors.  You are always my biggest fan
16. I love the way you look in your suit every Sunday.  
17. I love that you are a family man.  It is always so exciting when you manage to get an earlier flight.  I love that you'd rather be home with us than away.
18. I love watching YOU watch football.  
19. I love to talk to you.  Thanks for listening to me.  I know you are always there for me. 
20. I love that you want to provide opportunities and experiences for your kids to learn and grow. 
21. I love that you have sacrificed things you wanted so your children could have what they wanted. 
22. I love the way you float in the pool after doing yard work on Saturdays. 
23. I love that you always know just what to say when I am teary. 
24. I love how you sing Christmas carols all year long.
25. I love how you think everything I cook is delicious. 
26. I love that you are proud of your children and are always their advocate. 
27. I love your voice. 
28. I love that you love me. You are the first person I want to talk to everyday.  You love to make me smile. You really are my best friend.
    
29. I love all of our memories together.  I love them all. The sad ones, funny ones and sweet ones. We have learned so much together and I love who we have become together.   

AND  

   30.  YOU.  I love you. Simply YOU. 

Happy Anniversary Mark!

Thank You Thursday - Mooyah

Have you heard of Mooyah?

Kayley and Scott first told us about it.

They originated in Dallas Texas and now have locations in Houston and Austin as well.

I'm not a huge hamburger fan, but I was in heaven!

They have the best hamburger in the world, seriously.

And the fries, well there are no words to describe them.

Cinco Ranch Location

 Check out the menu  HERE

and

( ♥ isn't this thoughtful )

Mooyah loves Moms!

Every Monday Night from 5-10pm, Mooyah MOMdays 
is coming to all Mooyah locations.

Get a FREE Kids Meal* with purchase of Mooyah Burger, Turkey Burger, Black Bean or Veggie Burger.

This is what they had to say.

"Why are we doing this?
We want to show our appreciation for all you hard working Moms out there.
What better way than offering some FREE Mooyah?"

*Limit one Free kids meal per burger purchase. Free kids meal valid only for children ages 10 and under. Not valid with any other offer, promotion, or discount. Fathers are welcome to enjoy this deal too, we don't discriminate.

This led to

Tuesday night was McMeans School Spirit event at LaCenterra.

Hope's band played.  It was really fun.  Afterwards she had a great idea.
This led us to
Mooyah!

Monday Morning Chuckle

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up. 
2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house. 
3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine. 
4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5.  Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.) 
6. That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7.  Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever'). 
8. Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying YOU ARE WRONG!
9.  Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Thank You Thursday-The Power of Hope

The Power of Hope

I am so excited for this weekend to see General Conference. I love the down time with my family and look forward to the guidance and direction we will hear Saturday and Sunday. We (grammie's idea)started a new tradition. We get together for Sunday Dinner after all of the sessions and each person at the table talks about what they heard that most inspired them.

Last October Elder Uchtdorf gave his talk on the Inifinite Power of Hope. I chose HOPE as my "word of the year"of 2009.  I guess it was the right word because I have gone back to that talk several times(needed to).  Sometimes I just need the words to remember what I've known in my heart all along.
I just saw this for the first time. Look at the beautiful picture of NieNie right at the beginning. That girl is amazing. (If you don't know her story, you're probably the only one....go HERE and HERE .)
 THIS is beautiful.  Marci found her blog  last year and we were all hooked.  I know Stephanie has felt the love and prayers of people all over the world.  She is going to be okay. I've been so moved by her faith and her strength.  After watching this little video it dawned on me... SHE has hope.