Easy Peasy Pumpkin Muffins

A fall favorite at our house is Pumpkin Muffins! My mother-in-law, Theresa, told me how to make them. They are easy and so good!

Pumpkin Muffins
1 can of pumpkin
1 box of spice cake mix or carrot cake mix (carrot cake has a little sweeter taste...they both work great!)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray muffin tin to make sure muffins don't stick.
2. Mix can of pumpkin and cake mix (do not add the egg, oil, or water)
3. Put in muffin tins. They turn out heavy and fluff so don't feel them cups to the top.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool.

Enjoy! These are great!

Disney Princesses On Ice

Last year, my cousin, Nicole, took our girls to Disney on Ice. The girls had a great time. It was right after Tangled had come out and that was Sophie's favorite movie at the time. They just happened to be doing Tangled as part of the show. Sophie loved it and I cried when they lit the lanterns and just watching her being amazed by it all. Here are some pictures from our trip last year.

We got the girls matching shirts. We also bought them cotton candy that came with a crown. Sophie's broke the next day...what a waste!

When Nicole asked me if I wanted to go back this year, of course I said yes because Sophie loved it so much the last time. It was also so close to mine and Nicole's birthdays we decided to celebrate after and go to The Cheesecake Factory. It was a fun day in Atlanta. 

                                                   

We didn't get the girls matching outfits this time, but they did look so cute in their boots!

Every princess needs Starbucks to start her day! (It is just chocolate milk!)

On the way up we discussed who all would be in the show. Nicole told Sophie that Belle would be in the show and it about pushed her over the edge! Sophie loves Belle! I am not sure why, but everything is about Belle. She has asked for a Belle princess dress for Christmas and she wants a Belle birthday party. Go figure. You just never know.

When we got there, we bought the girls some cotton candy because it came with a crown. The crown this year was foam and flexible (and not breakable). It was such a better deal.

At the point we took the picture of the girls, it was intermission and they were both freaking out that Belle hadn't came on. She did come on, but she was last!

Nicole and Hailey

Me and Sophie (and Maggie)

Belle finally came on and Sophie was so into it! We all were!

The only bad thing about this time was since Sophie was so excited about seeing Belle she asked every 10 minutes when she was coming on and I am not sure she really noticed the whole show because she was looking for her the whole time. There were a few times she would dance and clap, but they she would ask where Belle was. Next time I think I will just let it be a surprise and I will definitely take her back again if I am able to.

Next we went to Cheesecake Factory. At this point we were going on no nap. Sophie was starting to show it. She was restless. 

Eating Calamari...such rich taste...he he!

Sophie got my phone and started taking pictures. May need to look for a camera for Christmas!

It was a great day! We were tired, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I found a picture similar to a picture we took last year. It is just amazing to see how these girls grow! 

                                     2011                                                                    2012

If you get the chance to go to Disney on Ice, I highly recommend it especially at Philips Arena. There isn't a bad seat and it isn't too bad to take a toddler.

Duck Dynasty Premiere Party!

Last week was a very busy week. Monday, we had my birthday dinner. Wednesday we had a Duck Dynasty premiere party! Okay, I know that you may think that Duck Dynasty is about a bunch rednecks and the stupid stuff they do and I would say you are right...but they are also so much more.

My husband got me watching the show and while it is funny watching the crazy things they do, it is also refreshing to see a family who honestly loves one another and would do anything for each other. They don't let themselves get caught up in the money and the fame. They do normal family things (and some redneck things...for example, frog gigging in the country club golf course pond or vacuuming bees to get honey). They never cuss on the show. There isn't a constant beeping of words. They end every show sitting around a dinner table eating after saying a prayer. I guess another big thing for us is they are members of the Church of Christ. This is the same church that I go to. In fact, the dad, Phil Robertson, is an elder in the church and his son, Allen who isn't on the show really, is a preacher. The fact that they have God in their lives is evident in how they treat each other and others.

Warning: He is skinning frogs, but I do love that he is talking to his grandson and trying to teach him. Reminds me of my Pa cleaning fish and talking to me and my sister...and yes we thought it was gross just like I am sure his grandson thinks it is gross.

Our friends, Chelsea and Cody, also love the show. We decided that we should all get together and eat something and watch the show. To go with our Duck Dynasty theme we had jambalaya and cornbread. We also drank sweet tea out of mason jars because that is what they do on the show. It was a lot of fun!

I was half way through eating when I realized I needed to take a picture. My husband was a willing model. 

 Chelsea and Randy talking and getting annoyed with my picture taking. Sophie had to get in on the picture action too. She is such a ham!

It was a fun night and the new season did not disappoint. My favorite saying of the night came from Phil talking to his grandson and his grandson's girlfriend about the birds and the bees. He told them that in just a second, "You can go from happy, happy, happy to crabby, crabby, crabby!" Loved it! I really recommend watching the show if you haven't. It comes on A&E, Wednesdays at 10. (And no, the show isn't paying me to say any of this!) :)

Surprise!

My birthday was this past Sunday and we had a low-key day, lunch with friends, a day of napping, a nice day. Monday was our celebration day and Klint put it all together. I thought it was funny that he was cooking enough food to feed an army when there were only five or so coming over and one of them wasn't even eating. I got my answer when he walked in the door. My best friend Jaime came and surprised me! YAY!!!

Jaime and her husband, Mike, and kids, Aiden and Ava, had been in Blue Ridge for a family reunion. They live in Sarasota, Florida. To have them in the state of Georgia and having to pass right through my town is kind of  rare thing. I had asked her a couple of times about when they were coming back through so that we could maybe get together, but she was inconclusive on their plans...now I know why!

I feel the need to tell the story of mine and Jaime's friendship. We have been friends for over 10 years. I met her in 2001 on a mission trip. We were both blow drying our hair before we went and did mission work. I know that should have been the furthest thing from our minds, but we were young and hair and looks were important back then. We talked and found we had a lot in common. We both loved blow dryers...obviously. We are total girlie girls and she had family in Valdosta, my hometown. We just hit it off. I saw her that November of the same year and then we got together off and on during different youth trips. She went with me to Winterfest in 2002 where I really got to know Klint and encouraged me to get to know him better. She has always been there when I needed her. She is someone I can share things with and know I won't be judged. I don't know why God blessed me by letting us meet, but I thank God everyday that He did and we have remained close.

Both our weddings in 2005

In 2011, our kids finally got to meet and they get a long great! They love to play together and it gives Jaime and I a taste of what it would be like to have three kids....we are both happy with 2!  (And Jaime used to say she wanted 5!) Here they are sitting in Klint's recliner.

 Sophie (3), Ava (3 in November), and Aiden (5)

It was a great birthday and I got to introduce Jaime to my friends here. We always joke when we see each other that we need to move closer to each other. We worked on them this time and told them about how good house prices are here and tried to make our great church friends convince them they would have plenty of friends....not sure it worked, but it is fun to dream!  Maybe one day!