Veteran's Day

Today we celebrate all the Veteran's in our lives and thank them for their service! So thank you, to all those who have served and to all those who are still serving. I am so grateful y'all have done so much for our Country and our personal freedoms!

This cartoon, first produced in 1948 is dead on for us today! Y'all gotta watch it... and then remember that we have a responsibility to fight for our own freedom! Get off the couch, call your representatives, and help keep America a free country!!!

Houston North Stake Reorganization

Texas is a fabulous place to live. The economy is still pretty good, the people are awesome and 7 months out of the year the weather is super fabulously not hot. So, with all the growth our Stake had to split. I've been in the Houston North Stake since 1987. When we moved here The Woodlands had a population of 30,000, and there was one ward. Now there are two chapels, 5 wards in the immediate area, and over 80,000 people living in The Woodlands. That's a lot of people, and that is just this one little area. With all the growth and a new chapel being built, the Stake had to be split. The new stake is the Spring Texas Stake, it covers everything north of Spring Creek. It includes the following wards:

Conroe 1

Conroe 2

Glenloch

Oak Ridge

Oak Wood

Woodlands 1

Woodlands 2

They have President Tolman as Stake president, Brother Chamberlain first councilor, and Brother Little as second councilor.

The Houston North Stake is now the following wards (and I think I could be wrong-because there are 9 wards here, but Deanna maybe you know if this is right! (Super fun seeing you, by the way!)):

Houston 3

Houston 5

Houston 6

Klein Oak

Melbourne

Old Oaks

Spring

Spring Creek

Westfield

Three of those wards are Spanish speaking! They have Bertoch for the President, Brother Shirtliff (Haley did I spell that right???) as first councilor, and Brother Javiero for second councilor. I'm pretty bummed because I got released from being in the Young Women Sports and Camp program, but I guess I still have the Scrub Scouts, right?

Smashing Pumpkins

Now that Halloween is over I wasn’t sure what to do with the rotten pumpkin on my step. If were still in Idaho I'd turn it backwards and leave it as an Autumn decoration for a few more weeks. However, in Texas it's way too humid for that, pumpkins rot really quick here. If I were still a teenager, I would've loaded it up with about 30 other pumpkins and made a road block. Or just smashed them on the road somewhere. Or even piled them on a friend's doorstep or car as a lovely present. The options are endless with Jack O’Lanterns.

Isn't this thing gross!?

Anyway, staring at the penicillin-filled pumpkin on my porch it seemed mildly inappropriate for a grown girl to smash a pumpkin. So, I invited my nieces to.

But, the nasty thing was so moldy that we couldn’t even pick it up. I ended up putting it in a plastic bag and then the girls jumped on it. Then we threw it away.

Yuck.

I suppose that was the grown-up thing to do.

How To Make Caramel Apples

For this particular recipe you will need:
3 Eager Beavers (preferably ones who like caramel and chocolate)
5 Granny Smith apples
3 Red apples
1 bag of caramels
8 Popsicle sticks
Apple Jacks
A smidge of milk
Marshmallows
Heath bar
Butterfinger bar
1 bag of squirrels

A handful of chocolate chips

Let the kids get the squirrels out of their cage. Since there are four squirrels, let the oldest kid put two in her hoody. Help her turn the hoody around so she can poke the squirrels easier. Let the other one wear the sleeping bag with the rest of the squirrels around her neck like a necklace.

After convincing the kids that yes, the plastic NEEDS to come off the caramels before they get melted, have them un-peel the caramels and put them in a small pot. The whole bag. And possibly the left-overs from the last bag since neither Jeff nor the kids have any self control. Add the smidge of milk. Let it chill on the stove while you get the rest of the stuff ready.Smash up the Butterfinger and heath bars. Tell the kids to keep out of them, but explain to them its your job to eat the big pieces because, well, it just is.Have one of the kids get the mini marshmallows into another bowl. (Best of luck!) Then put the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Watch the 5 year old dump out almost the entire bag onto the table so she can eat them. Because she needs to. Because 10lbs of caramel and half a bag of marshmallows isn’t enough. Have the kids stop petting the squirrels so they can put aluminum foil on a baking sheet (since you forgot wax paper)-even if the squirrels don’t seem to mind getting it out of their fur. It rots their teeth. Have them feed them Apple Jacks instead. Once you think everything is ready, heat the caramel carefully so it doesn’t burn. No one likes burned caramel. Dip the apples. Be careful not to dip the squirrels.Roll the apples in all the goodies you have out.

Look for weirdly shaped chocolate chips. Then add them to the special caramel apple made just for Jeff. Add the weirdly shaped chocolate chip to Jeff's teeth. Make sure you add lots of marshmallows to the side of his head because "Jeff has big hair. He needs a LOT of marshmallows." Get the squirrels a drink. The Apple Jack's were a little dry, and they've worked SO hard. After you realize you didn't let the caramel set long enough before covering them in goodies, lick the aluminum foil clean.

Bon appetit, mi amigos!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Prior to the 31 we had Sonia come over for hot cider and a little pumpkin carving. That way it would have plenty of time to grow 3 inches of mold and mildew before I had to stick my hand in it to light the candle. There is nothing like a good rain storm and a little humidity to make my pumpkin truly a creature worthy of All Hallows Eve. ... that thing was yucky!

We debated on carving a fantastic design into the surface, or sticking with the classic toothless smile Jack O' Lantern. Classic won out as we didn't want to make anyone jealous with our skills.

We saved the seeds for roasting... and then anxiously awaited for Halloween to come.But we couldn't wait til the 31, so we went out the night before to a haunted house and then a dueling piano bar. It was pretty fabulous-although I don't do well with the chain saw guy. However, my hunky retired Brazilian soccer player husband was there to protect me so I was alright.

Best part of the Holiday? Taking the kids trick-or-treating tonight and then confiscating their candy.

Here's to a safe and wonderful howl-a-day filled full of candy, treats and good times!

Holy Freaking Coupons

My sister, who I am now knighting "Sir Coupon Queen of Texas," took me to Kroger's tonight. We wandered up and down the aisles with our coupons. "Do you have the All detergent coupon? They're only $2 then." We threw in three. "Here-if you have the Danimals coupon, these are only $.50." I threw in three of those. "Oooh these are free! You can have some of mine." I threw in a few of those.

I feel like I robbed them.

By the time I got to the register the wheels on the buggy were about to give way due to the weight of 10 years supply of laundry detergent and frozen vegetables. The lady behind me in line looked like she'd just been punched in the face by a lemon. I was actually pleased-I couldn't wait for her to see how much I was going to save... that should wipe that ugly snarl off her face.

Of course, that didn't prepare me for the panic when my total went to

$270!?!?!??!

Tiffany calmly explained to everyone in line that "it was my first time." Seeing the lemon-lady's pinched face, another cashier offered to check her out in another line while the cashier scanned my pile of coupons. However, the other lady behind her gladly stepped up behind me to question Tiffany and I about our coupons. "I'm usually the one holding up the line-are those $.35 off the Steamers?" Meanwhile, the Kroger clerk who'd been off work for 20 minutes was standing there, when asked if he needed help he said, "Oh, no. I wanna see how much these ladies are going to save."

I was breaking a sweat. Until... the total of my purchases went down to a ridiculous

$70 and some change.

That's right folks. I had $200 in coupons. The lemon faced old bat was stunned. I turned to her and smiled, "I saved $200." In fact, the manager had to key in a few buttons to calm down the register. It was in shock over the savings I had. So, if you have a computer, a printer, and a Kroger within 50 miles you should head over to My Litter and figure out how to save so much for yourself!

.... What do you think about that, Mrs. Taylor!!!! :) Bet you wish you had your coupons!

Six Old Year Freedom

I found my old pool pass while going through a box of books. It reminded me of the time.... When I was 6, and decided that I wanted to go swimming by myself. I don't remember if my brother was babysitting from upstairs in his room with the radio on, or if my Mom was taking a nap. I don't even remember why I went to the pool alone-I always had a sibling to get in trouble with. But whatever the reason, I rode my bike to the pool by myself (it was only about a mile away), walked in, laid my towel down and hung out there for probably 3 hours.

Finally one of the very observant life guards asked me where my Mom was. When they found out she wasn't there-they sent me home. Which was fine-it was getting cloudy anyway. Apparently you have to be 8 before they let you come to the pool by yourself without a parent.

Happy Birthday!

Today is a very special day!!! Why is that, you ask? Go to last year's post here and you'll see!

.:Crazy Ants:.

I've been noticing lately that there have been quite a few ants in my car. They have really started creeping me out-I'd be driving along doing my thing when suddenly I can feel something crawling on my arm. Then I look down and there's this eensy weensy little ant crawling on my arm. I promptly squish it-and then continue on with life. Finally one day at the gym one of the trainers asked me if I had ants in my car. When I said yes, it prompted us to start asking everyone else. We discovered that every single other person who worked there also had ants in their cars. Apparently parking on the left side of the parking lot for 8 hours is part of the problem-they like that side. Apparently Texas is becoming infested with these "crazy ants." They're moving into the region and driving everyone nuts. They don't really bite, they don't walk in straight lines, they don't make mounds... they just are really, really obnoxious. So-if you have ants in your car, know that you are not alone....

Girls Night Out

Hooray for good friends and good food! Jessica was in town last week and we partied like it was 1999. ... only in 1999 we were 15, couldn't drive, probably didn't have much spending money (wait-that part is still the same) and we were all single and childless..... But whatever, we still partied. Her last night in town we left her darling little Kaitlyn with her Grandma and headed to town to pick up Janelle and head out for dessert at The Melting Pot. We brought little Ava with us so she could taste her first chocolate turtle covered Oreo marshmallow, but she wasn't interested. She was busy being sleeping through the whole thing. Maybe next time, Ava?