A Layout!

Actually have the Thanksgiving layout complete from this year! While I applaud myself for getting it done so timely, I also realize how little scrapbooking I've done this year. But that's ok - the scrapbooking police won't be visiting any time soon - I hope!

I finally went to the doctor yesterday for my coughing and such and I have bronchitis, which really comes as no surprise. I left the doctor's office with a fist full of prescriptions and headed straight to the pharmacy. I *love* the cough syrup she gave me because it actually works! However, I woke up about 12:30 last night coughing and since my next dose wasn't due until 2:00 I got up and went into the living room to knit on my sock. I've started the toe shaping, so sock #1 should be completed while watching Lost tonight. Then the true test will come - trying it on to see if the fit is right before casting on the 2nd sock!

Other than that we're plugging along! Keith worked on setting up his building last night and it's looking so cool. Lynne' took the camera out and got pictures for me, then tried to entice Joe inside the building. It took some effort on her part to get the chicken dog in there, but then he strutted like he owned the place. :rolling my eyes at my guard dog:

~ Elizabeth
A friend is a gift whose worth cannot be measured except by the heart.

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

Here's the recipe for our Saturday dinner, which received three thumbs up!

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

1 1/2 lbs chicken pieces (boneless, skinless chicken breast cut up)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup lemon-lime soda (7-Up or Sprite)
2 - 3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon hot pepper (or to taste)
Cooked white rice

Place chicken pieces in crockpot. Combine other ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook on low six to eight hours. During the last few minutes of cooking shred chicken with a fork (I didn't do this, but I cut my chicken pieces pretty small). Serve chicken and sauce over rice.

Thanksgiving Pictures

Obligatory Thanksgiving pictures today - click on the pictures if you want to see them bigger.

Lynne', mom and Michelle putting the final touches on the table before we ate.

The entire day went so well and I'm so glad since I was kind of dreading it. There was definitely a huge hole for me where daddy should have been, but it was also so nice to be surrounded by the ones you love and that love you. I am so blessed to have family that I genuinely like to be around.

This was Loni's first Thanksgiving with our family and we just love having her with us as well.

I am also truly blessed to be able to have the four generations of women in our family together another Thanksgiving. Grandma,

mom, myself and Lynne'.

I just had to giggle at mom giving Gary "the look" and was glad we got a picture of it as well.

~ Elizabeth

"Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but rather openings where our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy."

Good Sunday

This morning when I opened the door to go get the paper, this rose petal was sitting on the front porch right in front of the door. Since I didn't know of any rosebushes around here, it was rather puzzling, but I did discover a bush at the side of our house. Now, I feel that any day that starts with the gift of a rose petal can only be a good day!

And of course it was. Keith was in his motorcycle class again today, so Lynne' went to church with me. It was a wonderful service and we are so blessed to have found this church. The opening and closing song today had a "Jewish flavor" according to the pastor and they were awesome! We couldn't help but smile during the last song when amidst the singing and clapping we saw the little girl in front of us dancing while she sang.

After church we went to brunch and had such a nice time together. Food was good and the company was even better. When we got back home Lynne' went out shopping with friends and I went to take a nap. I still haven't gotten over this cough and congestion thing and it's about to drive me crazy!

I realized that I haven't posted a picture of Meeko in quite some time, so here he is. Also an example of me playing with the camera settings as I try to learn to be more creative with what I have!

~ Elizabeth

"Shout to the Lord all the all the Earth let us sing,
Power and majesty praise to the King.
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar, at the sound of Your name."

Post Thanksgiving

Keith is in a motorcycle safety course all day today and tomorrow, so I'm on my own. I'm trying to get a whole lot done today so that tomorrow I can play with all my toys guilt free!

Joe and I started the day off by going to the park at 8:00 this morning. Not surprisingly, there was absolutely nobody else there, so I let him run free. He's been very lethargic lately and even walks around the neighborhood would find him just plodding along. The park always makes him turn into a puppy. He tosses his head, kicks his heels and runs zig zags all around me. We stayed for about 45 minutes until he was totally worn out, then headed home.

I have a new recipe cooking in the crockpot and it smells very good. It's Chicken Teriyaki and I got the recipe somewhere on the internet. Keith is being a good sport about having chinese food for dinner since it's not something he cares for at all.

And I just got back from Sam's where I picked up the pictures from Thanksgiving. Very pleased with them! Earlier I got my crop table cleaned up and organized, so my "reward" will be sitting with the pictures and actually doing some scrapbooking. We also had Michele take some pictures of the "4 Generations" for us - Grandma, Mom, Lynne' and I - and they turned out great. Sometime after Christmas I'm planning on painting the hallway and putting up lots of family pictures and this one will definitely make the cut.

~ Elizabeth

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.

This One's For You Bro!!!!

Thanksgiving Lunch

I woke up at 3:00 this morning coughing and couldn't get back to sleep, so let's see how long it takes before I crash and burn!

Today is our Thanksgiving meal at work and I was assigned to bring a side dish. The good thing about meals like this is that I get to try out new recipes. I pulled out the church cookbook and found a recipe for Triple Corn Bake. Of course when it came out of the oven I had to cut out a corner of it to make sure I wouldn't be embarrassed bringing it to work! We liked it, but the real test will be how it goes over today.

Triple Corn Bake

1 (16 oz) can cream-style corn
1 (16 oz) can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 (8 oz) pkg. cornbread mix
1 c low-fat sour cream
3/4 cup butter, cut in slices

Combine cream-style and whole kernel corn, cornbread mix, sour cream and butter, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Pour batter into greased 13 x 9 x2 baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Serves 12.

~ Elizabeth

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise"
- Psalm 100:4

Monday Morning

Just another shot from our fun in the front yard last night. :)

And here it is Monday of Thanksgiving week. I finally have a little bit of my voice back today and think I might be getting over the worst part of the creeping crud that I had - yay!

Saturday I headed up to Remember When in Whitesboro with a friend for the monthly 8x8 album class. Tracy, the teacher, is so nice and so talented - I love these classes! This class was "the year in review" with a 2 page layout for each month. I am a sloooow scrapper, so I only finished through March. But I did take pictures of the other months so that I can finish up at home. We then stayed for a Chatterbox class that is a really cute little album. I wasn't sure about the class before taking it, but it really is a lot of bang for the buck and I'm glad I took it. Still not entirely sure what I'll do with this little album, but that's ok! I really, really enjoyed this day. My group of friends tends to travel in a pack mostly, so it was truly great to spend some one-on-one time for a change.

Yesterday I ran up to Scrapbook Warehouse for some ink pads that I needed and was surprised to run into 2 groups of 2 people I knew! Most of my group was at a retreat this weekend, so it was a pleasant surprise to run into more people.

Now I'll confess one of my "silly pleasures" - I have always loved disaster movies! All of them - doesn't matter how bad. Of course this meant I was going to watch tv last night since the remake of The Poseidon Adventure was on. I sat down to knit on my sock, finished the gusset and decided I couldn't take it anymore and had to try it on. The loud "SNAP!" I heard was my first clue to the disaster.....I broke one of my precious Lantern Moon needles! On the bright side, the sock seems to fit well. ~ sigh ~ At least these needles come in a set of 5 and I only use 4, so I went ahead and started knitting. Very shortly after that I dropped two stitches, so I stopped them from running by putting them on a needle, then decided perhaps I shouldn't be knitting anymore and set it all aside to worry about this evening.

And before I forget - YAY Tony!

~ Elizabeth

God's Beauty

The irony of posting this photo after saying I wannabe a better photographer is perfect! But I looked outside this evening and saw the tops of the tree across the street glowing with sunlight and had to capture it. By the time I found the camera and hollered at Lynne' and Joe to come outside there wasn't a lot left, so I just went for the snapshot. The gold glowing leaves against the darker clouds as a backdrop really helps us remember the beauty of God's creation all around us. He loves us and will never leave us - AMEN!

~ Elizabeth

Photographer Wannabe

I have been reading so many blogs and tutorials lately on taking better pictures and I found myself lusting after a new camera. Finally shared that with Keith and he pointed out that my digital camera does indeed have a few fancy settings, so I guess I better get the book out and read it! If I play with it enough and really enjoy it then I know I can justify the money on a fancy camera.

Keith and I have always had a hobbyist type interest in photography. When we first married my dad gave us his darkroom equipment and we had so much fun developing pictures and playing with different settings and such. And through the years we've not hesitated to buy a new/better camera when we've felt the need for one. This will be the first time I've actually denied myself when I've started wanting one and I"m feeling rather virtuous over that! If I do start messing with the current camera enough I know I'll go ahead. Besides, I have to get really good at the photography thing again before the grandbabies start blessing my life!

~ Elizabeth

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
- I Corinthians 2:9

Missing Daddy

So next week we face our first Thanksgiving without Daddy. For the most part I just try not to think about it. But I've also decided that the thing to do is to focus on the good and joyful things in life. I know there will be tears - especially before dinner as the Thanksgiving picture I always get in my mind is being at the Rotel crockpot eating chips with Daddy before dinner. He'd grin real big and pop another chip in his mouth. Then our tradition before dinner, rather than a traditional prayer, is to go around the table and tell what we are thankful for. I can see his face now as he always was so thankful that we were all able to get together. It will be hard to do that this year and I'm sure there will be lots of tears, but I hope we do. There is still so much in our lives to be thankful for.

I talked about Daddy with a friend the other day. She was one of many friends that provided such comfort after he died and I shared with her that when she told me it really will get easier that at the time I thought she'd lost her mind. :) But she was right. It really does get easier and I was even able to look at some pictures of him the other night with love rather than with tears. When the grief hits it's still like a knife and hurts so very bad, but at least those times are becoming fewer and fewer.

I know in my heart without any doubt that he's better now and no longer tired and in pain. Keith and I passed a church on the way to our church last Sunday morning that had a sign out front advertising "Java, Jazz and Jesus" on Friday nights. Though he didn't drink coffee, I like to think of daddy sitting with Jesus, drinking a Dr. Pepper and waxing philosophical for hours like he so loved to do. I miss those long phone conversations. And I miss my Daddy.

~ Elizabeth

"Sometimes when one person is missing the whole world seems depopulated."
- Lamartine

TV Night

Oh how I love this show! Now that Keith is working days again we get to watch Lost "real time". Last night's episode had us glued to our seats again with an actual story instead of lots of teasers and adding more questions. Great show!

Then we watched Invasion after that and actually got some answers to some of our questions and Keith and I have some theories formulated on that show. It is so nice to sit in the evening and do nothing more than enjoy an hour of tv together. We don't do that nearly enough because it seems as though most of the time we're running around trying to get things done.

While watching tv I did get most of the heel flap knitted on my sock. Probably will finish it at lunch today and tonight will start the actually turning of the heel. I am so loving working on this project and will almost hate to see it end. Luckily I have sock #2 to knit when this one is finished.

~ Elizabeth

Newlyweds become oldyweds, and oldyweds are the reasons that families work.

-Author Unknown

Pumpkin Spice

I realized that I haven't shared my newest addiction yet - Pumpkin Spice CoffeeMate! This stuff is unbelievably delicious and if you like the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks then you will probably love this!

And words cannot describe how silly I felt taking this picture....

Happy Wednesday!

No pictures today because nothing really to say or see! I've been so tired lately, so last night went to bed at about 7:30 again. Sleeping was perfect because it gets dark so early and the wonderfully cold air that blew in yesterday lends itself well to sleep.

I do have the sock ready to turn the heel tonight. I'm still loving working with this yarn and especially with the new needles. We are very big Lost addicts and tonight's show is a special two hour episode, so lots of knit time. Maybe even get the heel done?

I am reminded again of how blessed I am with my job. Since I am feeling so run down I asked yesterday and received permission to work from home this week. It really is so much better for me physically because I get to lay down during lunch and no drive time involved. Keith would be very happy if I'd do this all the time.

~ Elizabeth

"The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.
- Arnold Toynbee

Yummy Fabric

Presenting the fabric and pattern for the as yet unstarted Christmas Tree Skirt! While running errands on Saturday Keith and I passed right in front of Quiltmakers, so we pulled in looking for tree skirt makings. Very, very pleased with what we found. The pattern is paper pieced, which is probably my favorite way to quilt.

Now, I have not touched my quilting toys in several months and have been wanting to jump in again. Wouldn't it make more sense to work on one of the many UFO's that I have rather than buy all new? But where is the fun in that?!?!

~ Elizabeth

Sock Happy

This is the newest sock on the needles! I started it Saturday night with the new yarn from One Fine Yarn. Note the snazzy Lantern Moon needles as well - I really feel decadent knitting with these. :)

The sock is probably twice as long as this now because we sat and watched Dallas Stars hockey last night and I got lots of knitting time in. I'm really loving the sock knitting. And to make it even better - I checked the gauge on this sock tonight and I am dead on. It really doesn't get much better than that!

Here's the Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sock yarn I splurged on. I haven't decided whether to do a plain stockinette stitch sock or a patterned sock with this. I'm afraid that very much pattern in the knitting would just fight with the gorgeous color of the yarn. In the meantime, I get the yarn out every so often just to love on it.

~ Elizabeth

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
- Proverbs 31:13

Socks and Motorcycles

Yesterday Keith and I were going to head out to a motorcycle shop. I'm thinking this menopause thing affects men as well because he's suddenly decided he needs to be a weekend warrior! Ever to seize an opportunity though I had him take me to Woolie Ewe first for more needles. Wouldn't you know - they were out of size 2 Brittany needles! What's a woman to do in that instance but splurge and buy a set of Lantern Moon needles??? I think it's almost fate because I sure was drooling over these needles last week and talked myself out of spending the money. I will REALLY pout if I break these! I also splurged on some Lorna's Lace sock yarn just because. The gal there wound one ball so that she could give me some pointers on using my swift and ball winder, but the other one I brought home and will wind later today.

We stopped at a couple of motorcycle shops, then Sonic, then I spied a quilt shop that I hadn't visited in years. Went in and got a pattern and all the fabric to make a Christmas Tree skirt - again spending a lot on crafting! However, we hit two more motorcycle shops and he finally decided on one and purchased it, so his hobby WAY outspent mine yesterday! He's happy though, so that makes me happy. It's still at the dealer because he doesn't have a motorcycle license yet. A buddy of his is going to go with him to pick it up some time this week.

So we finally got home and my order from One Fine Yarn is here! Sock pattern and two more skeins of sock yarn. It's Clown yarn by Marks & Kattens in a gray and white color. We sat down to watch a movie and of course I had to start yet another sock! Using the Lantern Moon needles and the Clown yarn I'm about 2 inches into this sock. This yarn is patterning up so pretty. Once the sun comes up I'll be taking a picture of it.

For now, it's time to get ready for church as I see the sun peeking over the horizon. I truly love Sunday mornings and my church! :)

~ Elizabeth

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord - Hosanna!

Broken Needles

I had such a perfect evening planned for last night and it was just not meant to be. Keith and I love Dallas Stars hockey and the plan was to sit and watch the game last night and I was secretly excited because I could knit on my sock. But I pulled the sock out of the bag and discovered one of my dpn's had broken. No real problem because this pattern uses 4 and the set came with 5. I knit the first needle, then discovered that the next one was broken as well. So now I have to wait until I can run to Woolie Ewe to replace the set. I'm just very thankful that I did not buy the $22 Lantern Moon set and having to replace them!

So what's a girl to do? During each commercial break I went in and started pulling everything out of the pantry to sort and clean the shelves. I'll not tell how much I threw away, but I do feel pretty liberated! I cleaned all the shelves and today during lunch I plan on reloading the pantry and getting things organized the way I want them. This all started because we made a Sam's run tonight and nothing would fit.

Prior to the Sam's run Keith, Lynne' and I went to Taco Bueno for a celebratory dinner! I heard from my sister-in-law Michele yesterday that she did get the seasonal job at Coach AND it's almost a done deal on her huge promotion at work! I am so proud of her and happy for both her and Gary as this will really give them some flexibility now on their future.



This layout was actually done a week or so ago, but I'm finally here to post it! I'm very, very pleased with it in real life and am even more pleased that I actually finished something!

~ Elizabeth

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!"
- Psam 150:6

Sisterchicks on the Loose

I can't believe I haven't said anything about this book yet (and thank you to amazon for the picture)! A sisterchick is "a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you're being a brat". This book is the first in a series of christian novels on friendship. I had seen the recommendation somewhere on my internet travels and had to try for myself. I read somewhere that it's laugh out loud funny and I'm not sure I agree with that. But it does have many, many pearls that make me reach for my journal to write them down for later. The Biblical and spiritual insights are EXACTLY what I need to be hearing right now and are more of a reflective nature rather than being preachy. I really would like to be more like the women in this book than what I am and reading it perhaps will make me more so.

Perfect segue for me to talk about last night. I didn't pull out any of my scrapbooking stuff to work on at all! I did pull out a layout to show, but that was it. However, it was a great evening. The group of friends that were there are wonderful and of course we laughed so very much. Each person there has a special gift and I love being around them. Maybe I need to do a small book on my friends and list their special gifts??? I will say though that Dawn seemed a little nervous when we started talking about pinky swears! It was an evening with friends that you don't want to end and when I got home and was laying in bed I found myself reflecting some more on adult friendships of women.

One quote from the Sisterchick book that applies so well to me and my friends last night: "If laughter is good medicine, then I believe Elina could have been cured of her hormone imbalances and her crazy-making mood swings by the time Penny finished releasing all those healing endorphins through her storytelling abilities."

~ Elizabeth

Friendship

There's a miracle of Friendship

that dwells within the heart,

And you don't know how it happens

or where it gets its start.

But the happiness it brings you

always gives a special lift,

And you realize that Friendship

Is God's most perfect gift.

- Jean Kyler McManus

Knit Bear

Isn't this the cutest? Mom got her for me for my birthday and she is happily sitting in the living room. In case you can't tell, she has a ball of yarn and two knitting needles in her right hand and in her left hand is a bag that says "Knitting is my bag" with a kitten in it! Too cute!

Did absolutely nothing at all last night. Got home and after cooking dinner and eating I fell asleep on the couch. Completely missed knit night in Denton last night as I slept right through it. I am just really dragging my tail right now and I suppose the shopping weekend took it out of me. Tonight I'm going cropping after work, but I'll bet I don't stay long and odds are I don't even get anything out of my bag. Oh well - this too shall pass.

~ Elizabeth

"I read recipes like I read science fiction. I get to the end and think 'well, that's not going to happen'."
- Rita Rudner

Wonderful Weekend

So many good stories to tell from my weekend that it will probably take forever to get to them all. We had a grand time and it was good to spend some normal time with family. In the last 12 months we've had 3 weddings, a funeral and the holidays, so all of those events involve lots of things that must be done in addition to visiting with family. This was nice to be able to just visit.

We started the day at Nordstrom's Rack for the big shoe sale. What seemed like miles of shoes stretched out for our shopping pleasure. I did good and only got one pair, but they are so nice and will fit in my wardrobe perfectly. The picture is my cousin Michele and mom is right behind her. We then went next door to Tuesday Morning and my only purchase there was a set of sheets that I needed to buy anyway.

Next stop was lunch at La Madeleine. This shot was our group at that point - we had people coming and going all day

as their schedule allowed. Lunch at La Madeleine is ALWAYS a good thing!

We headed off to Sam Moon and of course shopping there on a Saturday is pure insanity. So many people shopping and some of us just went next door to a deli and sat with a Coke and waited for the shoppers. Off to a discount shoe house, because a woman can never have too many shoes! Our last shopping stop was the Outlet Stores in Allen, then off to Michele's house to crash.

Sunday morning we all met at Blue Mesa Grill for brunch, then all of the out of towners left from there for home. It was a wonderful weekend and I hope we all get together "just because" again soon.

~ Elizabeth

"A family is like a tossed salad - each ingredient is distinct and identifiable."

- Naomi Judd

HAPPY FRIDAY!

What a glorious Friday morning it is here in North Texas! I am so blessed to have the job I have - we have been working some really long and extra hours, so they gave us today off! That is just so kind of them and perfect timing since mom will be arriving early afternoon today. So far I've been doing laundry this morning and have the windows open enjoying a beautiful cool, fall breeze.

My birthday was very low key and wonderful yesterday. I did get to tease the gals I work with and that was fun. We were down to the final wire trying to get a project out the door on time, so we've been working through lunch this week. I completely forgot about taking my lunch yesterday, so I ate some club crackers that I keep in my desk and had some water. I got a lot of mileage out of saying my birthday lunch was crackers and water!!! It really will work out to be better this way because we also missed another gal's birthday at work, so we're planning a nice lunch out next Wednesday.

When I got home from work last night I had these beautiful flowers from Keith! I love the look and smell of fresh flowers and have always said that when my ship comes in I will keep fresh flowers in the house. How special that he remembered my love for flowers. James and Loni came over and brought me Season 1 of 3rd Rock from the Sun - I can't believe they remembered me saying how much I enjoy that show! We went to Babe's Chicken and had a delicious dinner. After they went home Keith went in and made frosting for the cake that he'd made earlier and came into the living room with a slice of cake with a candle on it and sang Happy Birthday to me. It was so special and I so love that man! We were still stuffed from dinner, so we shared the cake. Then Lynne' got home from work and brought my gift in, which was Season 1 of The King of Queens - another show I really enjoy! Now I'm set up for either my treadmill walking (I usually walk to a 30 minute show) or for sitting and knitting while watching tv. :)

Today will be such fun, too. Mom and I are planning on stopping at Woolie Ewe on the way to my cousin Michele's house because that store is awesome! Then we'll go over and visit with family and have dinner together. Luckily I have charged up my camera batteries for the Girl's Shopping Weekend! Tomorrow mom, Lynne' and I will get up early, pick up Loni and head back over to Michele's where we'll all start the shopping and I can't wait! Good times.....

~ Elizabeth

"What we love to do we find time to do."
- unknown

Happy Birthday To Me!

:)

What a nice surprise I got in the mail yesterday! This is the prize I got for my 3rd place tie in the knit design contest! I was so happy to open it up and see what it was and the colors are so me. So what's a woman to do but sit down and cast on for a pair of socks? I already have about half the ribbing done on the first sock! The colors of this yarn are working up really pretty and it's a nice yarn to work with.

Tonight I think we'll be going out to dinner with James and Loni for my birthday. Last night we went to El Chico with Lynne' (she has to work tonight), so I'm getting two birthday meals out of this!

And we've been working really hard at work and get tomorrow off as our "reward"!!! Perfect timing since mom and Grandma will be getting into town tomorrow for our big "girl's shopping weekend" with all the cousins and aunts and such.

~ Elizabeth

"The coffee is richer, the conversation better, the whole world brighter when we share them with our friends."
- Kiefer James

Knitting Contest

Well I was just tickled silly to find out yesterday that my entry into an online knit design contest was tied for 3rd place! I normally don't do contests of any kind for my crafts because I don't like stress, but this one honestly was done just to see if I could do it or not. In case you can't tell from the photo it's a washcloth with lips on it and I call it the Smoochie Cloth in honor of a gal on a knit list that I'm on. I'll be posting the pattern as soon as I can get to it and am already tossing around some more ideas for my next one!

My exciting evening last night? Well, I do know how to have a good time! I cleaned my bathroom from stem to stern including going through all the cabinets and weeding out "stuff" that has accumulated through the years. It was truly not my idea of fun, but on the other hand this morning when I went in there to start getting beautiful for the day the room brought a smile to my face. While I am by no means a Martha Stewart I will admit that a clean house just makes me feel better.

~ Elizabeth

"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."
- Albert Camus

More Halloween!

Starting the day with more Halloween pictures! Lynne' made her costume and I am SOOOO proud of her and her abilities. I've decided that sewing abilities must skip a generation because both of her grandmothers can sew anything and I get way too intimidated to try these things. I think this is only the 2nd or 3rd item she's made and it didn't slow her down a bit. There are eyelets all down the back of the dress to lace up, a corset over the top that laces down the back, the sleeves are made of chiffon and have an undersleeve and an bell oversleeve. On top of all that she made a suedecloth cloak with a hood! It doesn't show well in the photos, but it fits her perfect, too. She worked 9-5 today and got to wear it and had lots of fun with that. She also took a bag of candy with her so that any kids that came in the store got some. And she said that some of the moms asked for some as well once they saw it was Reese's!!!

We had quite a few trick or treaters tonight as well and Lynne' was our official candy giver outer. Every time I heard her say "Awwww" I had to get up and go look! We did get a chuckle later when we realized that we seemed to either have cute little pixies and fairies or hideous monsters! Joe loves going to the door to see the kids too, but one time he flipped out and came running into the living room. When we went to the door we saw the ugliest monster masks I've ever seen. Poor Joe must have thought the world was coming to an end! He was also very puzzled by a little 3'ish year old girl dressed as a kitty that kept meowing at him! :)


Later in the evening James and Loni came over and they brought pictures of the pumpkins that she had carved. She amazed me with her pumpkins last year and this year's were even more so - they are so cool! What's really strange is that we have a picture of the wolf pumpkin not lit up and there is no way at all you could tell what it is. Maybe next year I'll be a little more brave and give it a try!


~ Elizabeth
If you want a tasty sweet. . .
Be sure to holler trick or treat!