Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: Couldn't be nicer fall day! 65 degrees, sun reflecting off the beautiful fall colors...just love it!

One of my simple pleasures: snuggling with my hubby on the couch after Hannah goes to bed

On my bedside table: same 'ol

On my TV: off

On the menu for tonight: Quiche

On my To Do List: sweep and mop the floors, clear the flowerbeds, pay bills

New Recipe I tried last week: Starbucks Pumpkin Scones made with real pumpkin~ delish!

In the craft basket: Hoping to make some hairbows this week

Looking forward to: meeting my new niece or nephew...hopefully this week!!!!! & dressing Hannah up for Halloween

Homemaking Tip for this week: Mix 1/2 vinegar 1/2 laundry softener (such as downy) to stretch your softener...works great!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): Let God Help You

Favorite photo from last week:Love this pic of Hannah and her friend Lilah enjoying a beautiful fall day

Lesson learned the past few days: A few hurtful words will undo the many kind words.

On my Prayer List: My sister who is due any day! Jon, who just returned to Iraq, missionary friends, Pastor Marian in Russia.

Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Galatians 5:16" Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of your sinful nature."

"My sin-O the bliss of this glorious thought,

my sin- not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross & I bear it no more.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

Elizabeth's volleyball game

You can tell what a busy week it has been just by looking at my blog. I haven't had time for one post all week. It's really late right now, and I should be in bed, but I really want to put up just one post. :)

On Monday, we went to the library in the morning, then ran some errands and Hannah took her nap. After she woke up, we went to see Elizabeth play volleyball. Hannah loved watching! She sat next to me and watched the whole first game. She especially liked watching the ball be served and would say "boom!" During the second and third game she sat in between the bleachers eating a snack, reading a book, talking to Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, and watching the game. It was great fun! I enjoyed conversation with my dear friend Amber who also came to support Elizabeth, and of course had fun watching Elizabeth and her team play. We think Hannah is really going to be a sports lover...just like her daddy.

Eating a banana, reading a book, and watching the game

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods: Such a beautiful fall day! It's warmed up to 60 degrees. There is a cool fall breeze and the sun is shining!

One of my simple pleasures: walks in the park with my family

On my bedside table: A very sweet Sweetiest Day card from my wonderful husband

On my TV: again..nothing. When you only get a few channels...there just isn't a whole lot to choose from.

On the menu for tonight: pirogi stir fry with kielbasa, onions and green pepper

On my To Do List: change bed sheets, fold diapers, dust

New Recipe I tried last week: The Best Meatballs (this time with the creamy brown gravy)

In the craft basket: not much...with any extra time this week, we will be outside enjoying the beautiful weather

Looking forward to: this weekend: family day on Friday, a visit from my in-laws on Saturday and Zoo Boo with friends :)

Homemaking Tip for this week: We had an unwanted visit from the flu bug last week. So I spent time cleaning and disinfecting. I make my own disinfecting cleaner with a spray bottle, a little bit of bleach and water. I know that some aren't big fans of bleach...and I don't clean with it on a regular basis...but to beat the flu bug...I'm all about it!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): Reflections from the Martha in Me: I can totally relate to this post and was very challenged by it...thanks Kristi! I also really appreciated this Christian view of Halloween, very much along the lines of what I think our family will end up doing.

Favorite photo from last week: me and one of our dear teens, Melissa...love her! It's been really great to get to know Melissa better over the past year or so. She is such an awesome girl that really loves the Lord. It's amazing to see God working in and through her at such a young age...I know that He has great things in store for her!

Lesson learned the past few days: Learning about myself...

On my Prayer List: My friend Rachel's dog Mocha, my friend Joyce and sister who are both due any day, wisdom for our pastors and leaders of the church. , praying for my moms in my mops group.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Hebrews 12:11

"No discipline feels pleasant at the time, but painful later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

"Anytime we sin with the thought lurking in the back of our minds that God will forgive us, we aren't living in the fear of God." Jerry Bridges

Martha's Pumpkin Bars & Cream Cheese Frosting

I make these pumpkin bars every fall and love them! Seth says that he wishes I would stop calling them pumpkin bars because it really is more like a pumpkin cake...but the recipe calls them bars, so I do. They are from a dear lady Martha that we worked with at Skyview Ranch. I think of her with fond memories each time I make them. I made them for our fall family fellowship at church today, and they were a big hit. I also made them for the first time with homemade pumpkin puree which made them taste even better. Thanks for the recipe Martha!

Here it is:

Pumpkin Bars (Pumpkin Cake)
2 c. sugar
1 c. oil
2 c. pumpkin

MIX WELL

4 eggs- add one at a time and blend

add:
2c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt

Put in sprayed 9x13 pan.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 min. (I usually have to bake it for a while longer, but maybe your oven is different than mine)

Best with Martha's cream cheese frosting:

6 oz. cream cheese (softened)
2 sticks margarine (softened)
1 box powdered sugar (1 pound)
1 c. walnuts, chopped (optional)

Mix cream cheese, margarine, and sugar well.
May add water or milk for better spreading. Frost and top with walnuts

For more great pumpkin recipes visit Stop and Smell the Chocolate or The Finer Things in Life

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Have you heard about the canned pumpkin shortage this year?! I LOVE to bake with pumpkin in the fall! Neither Aldi nor Value Center have had canned pumpkin...SO I decided it was a great time to try my hand at making my own pumpkin puree. Thanks goes to Kristi for the inspiration from her post Grandmas Pumpkin Pie dessert.

Just like she said, it really was very simple. Cut a pie pumpkin in half, remove the stem and scoop out the seeds. Place the pumpkin face down on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about and hour or when the pumpkin seems "squishy".

The skin pretty much peeled right off the pumpkin.

To puree I mashed with a potato masher and then blended with my mixer a little. You can also use your blender or food processor.

The process took me back to last fall when I was making Hannah butternut & acorn squash baby food....I know she would have loved pumpkin too..this would make great baby food!

The only thing that I will do differently next time is bake more pumpkins! I want to make lots of puree and put some in the freezer for more holiday baking...yum!

I love to Color!

Coloring has been my new favorite thing. Mommy bought me a new Sesame Street coloring book. I love going through it and naming all the characters. Daddy taught me how to hold my crayon...see what a good job I do? I think I might be an artist like him someday :)

The Sissom boys

We love the Sissom family...they are very special to us. Hannah has been especially fond of Aaron these days. She talks about him all the time. She always says "Aaron...church...drums". Aaron plays the drums at church. Hannah is never in the actual church service, but she sees Aaron practicing, he has been so diligent to practice alot. When we get to church on Wed. nights...he is there practicing. When we get to church on Sunday mornings, he is there practicing. She always waves hello to him and sometimes walks up on the platform and watches him. After a church service, she often says his name and wants to find where he is. It's so neat seeing her start to really love the teens. We are so thankful that we have such great teens in our youth group for her to spend time with and look up too!

Of course Hannah had to find Aaron after the service today. I put her down and she ran straight to him for a hug. Aaron isn't really the huggy type of guy...but he always has a hug for Hannah...so cute! :)

We really enjoyed a visit from Jon this weekend!! Jon is currently serving in Iraq and is home for a short leave. He stopped by with his g/f Christy for a quick visit. Soon after they arrived Hannah woke from her nap. Jon went in to get her and she went right to him and had some snuggle time with him too. It was great to see him, to catch up and to get to know Christy too. Sure looking forward to getting to see David this weekend!