In the car...

Me: Jackson, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Jackson: A lawyer...like daddy.
Me: Oh good...you can go to work with daddy. Sydney, what do YOU want to be when you grow up?
Sydney: A fairy.

I texted this to Jake. Jake's response...
I'm just glad it's not the other way around.

So true.

Ode to an empty plate

A few weeks ago, our neighbor brought over some AMAZING cookies. A week ago I made those cookies and planned to take a picture and blog about them so I could share the recipe with you, my friends and family. (Those who haven't given up on checking this blog since I never post!) But alas, the cookies were SO TASTY, the picture never happened...but for your sake I will not wait another day to share the recipe with you.

Oh empty plate of crumbs, how I wish you were still full of Gooey Butter Cookies.

Gooey Butter Cookies

1/2 c. butter (room temp)
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese (room temp)
1 box butter recipe cake mix
powdered sugar for dipping

Beat butter, vanilla, egg, and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Mix in dry cake mix. Chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly coat cookie sheet with cooking spray (I didn't do this as I bake on silicone baking mats). Drop by teaspoonfuls in a bowl of powdered sugar, roll into balls. Bake 10-12 minutes. Makes 3-4 dozen. (Unless, like Jake and I, you eat about a dozen worth of the dough.)

You're welcome.

Running Scared

Encountering an especially scary trick-or-treater...

pumpkins!!

The kids are still a bit young for the pumpkin carving thing. They do have all those great little safety saws and things these days, but kids and cutting implements...especially MY kids, well, not always a good mix. Along with that, they both have strong opinions how they want their pumpkin to look in the end. Jackson especially is a perfectionist and gets very frustrated when he has a picture in his mind and what he draws or carves or whatever doesn't look right. He's very hard on himself. Anyway...this is where Jake and I step in. They kids decided what they wanted...Sydney=puppy, Jackson=werewolf (he's been SUPER obsessed with werewolves since he saw a 5 minute clip of Harry Potter 3 when Lupin turns into the werewolf). Jake took on the puppy project and I hunted on the internet for a werewolf for Jackson.

Sydney with her puppy

Braden with his Frankenstein and Jackson with his werewolf

All lit up!

Hello. Is it me you're looking for? Carved by Jake, of course.

ps...I did carve a little pumpkin for Kate on Halloween but she was asleep for these festivities. And after carving the werewolf, I was burned out and my pumpkin was never pierced. Maybe I will make some pumpkin roll with it.

H-A-double L-O-W-double E-N spells Halloween

Halloween was a three-day event this year. Thursday we went to a Halloween Party at the Library, Friday we had our church Halloween Party and then, of course, Saturday was the big show. The kids were TOTALLY into Trick-or-Treating...and it paid off. We have more candy than anyone should ever eat in a lifetime! But that's what it's all about, right?

Jake rescuing innocent bystanders by capturing super-sticky Kate.

Sydney and Aryn "carnival-ing" at the church.

Trunk-or-Treating to Grandma's trunk in the church parking lot with our neighbors, Gracie and Charlie.

Jackson as the Mizzou Tiger (Telling people he was the Mizzou Tiger got him extra candy!)

Sydney as the misfit Fairy.

Katybug the Ladybug

Some of you may recognize these stairs. Many a game of "Red light, green light" were played here...and are now enjoyed by my kids.

After shedding her body and wings, Kate was "doing choreography" (a la "White Christmas") I also think she could pass for 3 or 4 in this picture. She's growing too fast.

BTW

Lots of good news...Jake passed the MO bar...Jake is officially an associate at the firm he's been clerking at in Columbia...and he's already been in court TWICE!!! I'm so proud of my husband...the big ATTORNEY!! Congrats Jake! California...check. Missouri...check. Only 48 states to go! :) (Do it and DIE!) We love you, sweetheart.

Oh yes...and there are several new posts below. Please take the time to scroll down and check them all out. I've kept the dialogue to a minimum.

Preschool!

Sydney AND Jackson started preschool last week. They're both getting so big! I'm so glad they're such great friends. They were so sad they couldn't be in the same class...but I think absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?