Pumpkin Patch 2009

Sigh. I just so enjoy this time of year. Hayrides, bonfires, the crisp crunch of leaves under our feet, and the pumpkin patch.
We have made a pilgrammage to area pumpkin patches each year photographing the memories, trying to hold onto a happy memory our family holds dear.
The boys have gone from us carrying a pumpkin for them, to going to pick their own. They take pleasure in this as the last few years, we have been carving them. No, no stencils for us! The boys want to make their own creation.
It is fun to look at all the colorful gords, and pumpkins. There are usually some grandmas that are chatting up a recent receipe that worked for them using pumpkin. I had heard of pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie.. but this time I learned about a soup.

Pumpkin Soup

1/2 c. onion
3tbsp. butter
2cups mashed cooked pumpkin
1tsp salt
1tbsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
3 cups of chicken broth
1/2 c. half and half

Chop the onions and brown with butter in a pan. Put mashed pumpkin with onions in pan. Add the sugar, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Slowly add chicken broth and heat thoroughly, but don't boil. To serve, pour into a bowl and add the cream. Makes 4-6 small servings.


These ladies were very sweet. When I brought this up to the boys, they wrinkled up their noses and said. "Yuck!". One day after they have forgotten about it, I may just suprise them and see how they like it!

Happy Autumn all!

10th birthday celebration

For Brian's 10th birthday he wanted to do something special. So, what did he choose? Paintball! So, I called the local facility and gave them our times, and told them it would be a group of us, and they agreed to host us.
There are two different area's to the paintball areana. The first is a city, of sorts. There are buildings, partially open to run around and climb all over, then there is the woodsy part. The boys and Sweetie decided that the latter is their favorite as there are more places to hide.
For 3 1/2 hours our friends and I watched the boys and friends come in to reload, watching the colors (from where they were shot with paintballs) increase on their clothing.

It was truly a day of male bonding. Now, there were girls running around too, but not many. Did I volunteer to get shot? No. I was official picture person for this event. Party planner and host if you will.

The boys and Sweetie discussed strategies, how some worked, some failed and new ideas for how to trap another unsuspecting individual. The excitement was there during, and afterwards.

A dear friend of ours even placed a bounty upon Sweeties backside, telling them they would earn a $20.00 if either could color their dad's behind with paint. They both tried.. but neither was able to succeed. One did get real close, there was paint on his shirt tail!

Mission Minded

Along with the changing colors of the season, I enjoy preparing for the upcoming holidays. A big part of that is Operation Christmas Child.
Our family has been involved in one way or another for the last ten years! Our youngest son, Brian's birthday is a reminder that time of year is near. This year he turns ten! (more on that in the next post). Poor little guy wasn't keeping his formula down, the doctors on our military base changed his formula and gave me all sorts of advice. Finally, after he started losing weight they xrayed him. Poor little guy had pylostinosis. This is where the muscle connecting your stomach to your small intestine is too tight, it won't let food pass through. They sent us to a hospital a few cities away for him to have immediate emergency surgery. He was only 6 weeks old. It was hard for us anyway, but to be away from family and watch your baby so tiny being wheeled into surgery was scarey to say the least. The Lord was in control and he made it through and doesn't have a problem eating now!
While he was in the hospital, we were given the privalege to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. (since then, I support them every chance I get! The difference they made for our little family was immeasurable)
We were there during Christmas week, so there were lots of folks in and out of the McDonald home with various charities. However, I was drawn to Operation Christmas Child. There were ladies that were filling shoe boxes in preparation to be sent out. They asked if I would like to help. While helping fill them, I was able to learn all about this ministry. Wow! While that particular year, I was only able to help fill them, every year since, we have filled boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
If you have never been involved in this ministry, please check them out! They send these boxes out all over the world! These children and their families are in desperate poverty situations, and every little thing you give will make such a difference in their lives. Google the ministry, or go to www.samaritanspurse.
To close up the beginning story, Brian was able to come home Christmas Eve, and we were ever so thankful for all the volunteers involved in making our difficult stay a pleasant one! Look around you, there is pain and suffering every which way we turn. Extend a helping hand or volunteer your time. The blessings will be twofold, yours and the impact you have on others will last a lifetime!