Fall Fun

We love Fall!! There are lots of activities that our family enjoys and looks forward to that come with this beautiful season.

Our favorite pumpkin patch in the area is a must every year. We went early on a Saturday to avoid the crowds. The girls got their faces painted, spent lots of time on the hay maze, and consumed bags of kettle corn (my favorite).




We recycled our costumes for Halloween this year and I spent zero dollars! We were the only trick or treaters in our neighborhood! The neighbors handing out candy gave the girls HUGE handfuls of candy since we were IT for the night. I drove the girls over to a nearby neighborhood so they could tick or treat at some of their friends houses from school. Hopefully next year we will have a little more activity in our neighborhood.


We had a kitty kat, Dorothy, and a rag a muffin orphan.





After trick or treating we came home to eat candy by the fire--90 degrees or 40 degrees--we do it every year. But no more smoking out the house because we forgot to open the flue--now we have gas and just flip a switch!

Friday Flashback

While unpacking the other night, I came across my homecoming mum/corsage from 25 years ago! Yep, October 1984. It pretty much went all the way across my chest and hung down below my knees. It also had lights (which I tried to get to work for the photo, but did not have any success). They still wear these huge things for homecomings around here. I am not sure how the huge mum thing got started--if anyone knows, I would love to hear!



I am not sure how my mom did it, but she saved everything I ever did from grade school all the way through college. Every paper, award, note, card, dried up corsages, newspaper clippings, etc. I came across a box full of notes from people in JR high--you know the kind that were folded all fancy and at the bottom said LONGER LETTER LATER and SORRY SO SLOPPY on every single one. I didn't even remember that I wrote half these people notes, or that I knew how to fold a paper like that! Sooooooo funny to read some of these and take a walk down memory lane!

What have we been up to?

What have we been doing these last couple of months? Well, I'll tell ya....

*the girls started their new school. They wished for the old school for a while, but now say they like the new one. I miss the old school sometimes, but am trying to have a good attitude. The girls are trying to make new friends. We drove them back and forth for about a month until the new place was done.

*packing--again.

*moving--again.

*unpacking.

*still unpacking. Maybe in another 6 months I'll think moving was a good idea.

*feeling overwhelmed with all the projects that need to be done. What would life be without a LONG list of home improvement projects?

*choosing paint colors. Spent a small fortune on samples. I'm done now. Spending that is. Huge paint project now.

*attending new ward. Girls miss the old ward and all their friends. I do too. Didn't help the girls have warm fuzzies for our new ward when there were no plans for a trunk or treat. Now there IS a trunk or treat planned, but we are crashing the old ward anyway.

*trying to meet neighbors. The ones we have met are very nice. A couple of them even brought us treats to welcome us to the neighborhood.

That's about it. I hope to get back to posting more regularly soon. Maybe when I'm only up to my waist in boxes instead of my eyeballs!

East again

We love the beach and we love Pensacola, FL! My parents started taking us to this beach when I was 15. They have been back 25+ times since then! My dad says he has to see his "pshychiatrist" there. He needs his "therapy" from the wind, waves, sand, wildlife, etc. It is relaxing and refreshing to be there with the powdery, white sand and gorgeous blue-green water. It was especially beautiful this year. There were NO jellyfish, no seaweed, and the water was clear and calm. Thank you Mama Leslie and Grandpappy for letting us tag along and intrude on your peace and quiet! We loved it!!


Did I mention beautiful sand and water? Great view from the balcony.




The girls spent lots of time looking for shells and accumulated quite a nice collection this year.



We toured Ft. Pickens again this year with much better weather! The girls loved climbing up and onto the old cannons and exploring all the passageways to see where they went.




One of the highlights of our trip was getting to see the Blue Angels practice at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. I am a very unlikely "fan" of the Blue Angels. No military background, etc., but for some reason, I love to see them! All the precision flying and fancy moves, along with all the training. They are coming to a town near us in the fall--we may just have to go! I had a hard time getting any good shots because they were moving so fast, but Sus took over the camera and got some great pictures. She took most of the pictures, including this one--the top 2 jets are upside down. I posted some of the best ones on my FB page.



Susanna was tall enough to drive the go kart by herself this year. She did great!


We especially loved the beautiful evenings at the beach. Hope we can make it back next year!

A trip to Sea World

Before the girls and I headed down to southeast TX, then on to Florida, we made a quick trip down to Sea World! One of Greg's former clients is a trainer there. He invited us to come down, gave us free passes to get in, and gave us a backstage tour with the Beluga whales, dolphins, sea lions and a walrus! Greg invited his friend James to come along. We loved seeing the sea life and VERY much appreciated the opportunity to get up close and personal with the animals!!


Greg's client works with the animals in the Viva show. After the show, he had us come back stage and showed us all around. That's him with the dolphin on the platform, which is actually a scale they use to weigh the animals.


Nan with "Betty".


We all had the chance to get "kissed" by a beluga whale. It was Sam's turn here.


We were also able to feed and touch the whales and dolphins.


Mommy beluga with her baby.

Our East Coast Road Trip.....

...to Hilton Head Island, SC! We loaded up the family and headed to the east coast! (a 2000 mile round trip road trip) My inlaws used to live there and were coming to stay a week. They were so kind to invite us to come along! Thanks again to Chris and Sally--it truly was a fabulous week! We stayed in the beautiful Sea Pines Plantation. It is just gorgeous with the tall Oak trees and Spanish Moss everywhere. Minutes from fabulous beaches, bike paths, shopping, restaurants, golf courses, etc. Here are a few highlights:

--Spending time family. We don't get to see Nana and Papa very often, so we very much enjoyed visiting with them. Greg's sister Ashley was also there--she is so much fun! The girls of course think she is "cool"! We enjoyed many wonderful meals with everyone, and survived an intense game of Phase 10. (Well, intense for the people who were losing!)


The girls enjoying the beautiful scenery outside on the patio. Had to remind them to be quiet when there were golfers!


On a water break during one of our bike rides. Nana showed us all around the plantation.


We trespassed on private property to get this photo, but the view was so beautiful! Unfortunately, my SIL that took the picture got eaten by mosquitoes.


We explored some ruins of an old plantation.


Nan (my child with the most energy on any given day) decides that she is pooped and can't walk anymore. Sus offers to help her out...

--Harbour Town and Gregg Russell.

Harbour Town is just gorgeous at sunset, with the red and white striped lighthouse, shops, restaurants, HUGE boats and trees. We climbed to the top of the lighthouse (114 steps in all, in case you wanted to know).


Every night in Harbour Town, a performer named Gregg Russell puts on a free show under the Liberty Oak Tree there on the harbor. He has been doing this every summer for 33 years! It is great because he involves the kids, but keeps the parents and adults laughing! He has all the kids come up and sit around him. Kids who know the drill make signs and posters asking him to "pick us" to come up and sing. He goes around and reads every childs sign, then picks a few to come up and sing a song. He does not allow jokes--apparently a 4 year old boy ruined it for everyone on the jokes! The first night we went, the girls made a sign. They did not get picked during the show. Here they are getting it autographed after. Gregg Russell told them to come again and he would pick them. We went again on our last night there, and he did in fact pick the girls to sing. They sang Que Sera Sera and he teased them about their ages, being twins, and being from Texas! (I have a video of this performance. I will send it to you if you are interested. Sam had a case of the giggles.)

--Bike rides. Sea Pines has over 50 miles of paved bike paths. They are so fabulous! Nana rented us bikes for the week. We rode most every day, in the morning and evening.


LOVED the biking!


After 8 pm at night we were allowed to ride on the golf courses. So beautiful. One night I unknowingly parked my bike right on top of a sprinler head that went off as I was sitting there. SOAKED!!!!!! I was completely soaked, and since I am not a good sport about things like this, I went back to take a shower!


Greg, Papa Chris, and Nan.


The girls loved riding by the stables to pet the horses.


We saw at least one of these in EVERY pond or lagoon we came arcross. Kind of gave me the creeps to think about how many were lurking nearby!

--We took a day trip to Savannah, GA.


Such a beautiful city. We stopped along River Street and sampled homemade, warm pecan pralines. Yummy!!! We also ate at Paula's, but since the wait was 4 HOURS long, we loaded up as much as we could carry and got take out! Oh my word, the fried chicken and creamed corn....delicious!


We loved seeing all the beautiful squares in the city. I would have loved to have seen more, but the girls....it just didn't have the same appeal for them.

--Beach time. The girls just love the beach! We all enjoyed soaking up some summer sun.




It really was a great vacation. The girls were such great travelers. They watched many movies, and we were able to get in some family reading time along the way. I am gearing up for another road trip in just a few days......stay tuned.

A summertime favorite

Fresh Peach pie. Oh my word, soooooo good!!!!!! (if you like peaches)

I got this recipe from my mother in law when Greg and I were first married. It has been a hit ever since.
Crust:
1 and 1/2 c flour
2 TBSP sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c crisco oil
2 TBSP milk
Mix together. It will look crumbly, but that is ok. Pat into pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes. Cool slightly.

Peel and slice peaches (about 8) aand arrange in pie shell.
Mix together in a pot:
2 TBSP corn starch
1/4 c water
(mix these together first, then add sugar and hot water)
3/4 c sugar
3/4 c hot water
Bring to boil and add half a package of peach jello. Pour glaze over peaches and refrigerate.

Go ahead--try it. You won't be sorry!!!