One of our favorite purple socks is missing. I am sure that it just missed its turn in the laundry with its mate or it is hanging out inside of someones shirt or pants or it is possible that it even ran away to join the circus…I am just not sure where it is. When you want your purple socks though you just want your purple socks and you will do what it takes to wear the one purple sock that is not missing thus the combo of the one pink sock and one purple sock is born. It was all my idea as the need for the purple sock fell upon a particularly hard day for my little one (turns out we are allergic to peanut butter). I was prepared to do whatever it took to keep a smile on that little breathing easily (now) body. Charis thinks that it is pretty funny and the best thing in the world that she has her two favorite color socks on. I was able to talk her into white socks while we went out to bible study this morning promising her that when we came back home she could replace the boring white with one pink and one purple sock. I must admit that the little girl in me even giggles as I put the socks on her feet! It is really fun to just wear what you like and really not care what others think…hmmm, I think that there is a lesson in here somewhere for mom. At any rate we will probably be wearing this color combo around the home front for a few days…weeks…even months!

Sometimes it feels as though I am always the last one to get into the holidays, by the time the holiday comes and goes I am just about ready to celebrate! Someday I will get the swing of things…maybe! At any rate I made some Pumpkin bread this week and I must admit that it was quite tasty so I wanted to share the recipe with you. I also need to confess that by the time I finally finished making the bread (it took awhile because in the middle of making it I realized that I had no flour, dinner needed to be finished and the kiddos were getting restless) I was having a sinking spell and felt like I needed something more along the lines of chocolate rather than pumpkin bread. Alas, the Pumpkin Bread was ready for the oven so I did what any other non rational person would do and I just threw in some chocolate chips. Brad looked at me as though I was off my rocker asking if the recipe called for that. I assured him that it did not call for chocolate chips but I needed their to be chocolate chips in the bread. It actually turned out quite well if I do say so myself (a few other have said so as well, you don’t have to take my need for chocolate as thinking it taste good). Enjoy!!!

Pumpkin Bread (with optional chocolate chips thrown in for sinking spells)

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cups shortening
4 eggs
1lb. can of pumpkin
2/3 cup water or milk
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cloves
1tsp. cinnamon
3 1/3 cups flour

Cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs, pumpkin and water. Sift dry ingredients (of course I did not sift…another confession) and add to the pumpkin mixture. Pour into two 2 quart greased loaf pans.
Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Years that is!!! Can you believe it? Brad and I have been married for 9 sweet and incredible years! The Lord has brought us through so much together laughter to tears and everything in between. I am so thankful for my dear husband and how the Lord uses him to stretch and grow me as well as to love me where I am. Brad is an encouragement to me and cheers me on through many things! I am so thankful for this gift that the Lord has given me!

Yes, I have been dilly dallying but I did finish the Thanksgiving outfits with just a few hours to spare. I moved up a few Christmas presents in the to do pile leaving behind Thanksgiving items (getting a little excited about Christmas) some of which did not even get started and will have to be put away until next year (sad, I know). I am really excited with the way Cai’s pants turned out. I really like this turkey fabric! It is a little silly but everyone needs a little silly in their day now and then. Charis’s skirt is just plain and simple but that is because I spent a lot of time on her ruffle skirt. I am off to work on a few more Christmas items for the evening (once the bug bites you’re bitten). I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

To you it looks a little like Thanksgiving.

To me it is the first time my daughter set the table!

You have got to feel bad for this little man who is often stuck in a fabric store with his mom and sister! I am usually busy pulling and stacking fabric to get it to the cutting counter and Charis is carrying on about fabric and can she hold it and do I like it. This little man will need an escape with Daddy tonight for a little manly talk and roughhousing. He does get a lot of attention from the ladies at the fabric store though!

Way back when (my birthday to be exact) Brad gave me the most grand gift of a ruffler foot for my sewing machine! It was one of those things that I persuaded him that I “needed” and then Cai was born and life kept flowin’, movin’ and groovin’ and there the little foot sat with no one to use him…until now!!! I have finally gotten around to using my fabric from way back in the summer that I purchased to make a skirt for Charis. I am really glad that I waited though because I got to use this great little tutorial to make it. I am really excited about the way the skirt turned out and let me assure you that my little ruffler foot will no longer sit collecting dust! What a wonderful invention that little contraption is! I just placed it on the machine and it came to life doing incredible things with such ease! Brad has a great fear that everything that I make now will be ruffled! It was just that wonderful!!!

Little hands place things in the oddest of places! Here are a few pictures from this week of where little things have landed from little hands…

Bracelet was found on the knob for the tub (pay no attention to the fact that I need to clean)…

Decorative Pumpkin found on top of the t.v. remote (note the Indians and Pilgrims lined up in the back ground…more handy work)…

Hair bands found on top of Charis’s shampoo, lotion and hair detangler bottles (have also been found on many a closet door)…

Here is the picture that I promised everyone of the big girl bed! Charis is settling in and even seems to be enjoying it. It is still a little tough on the mommy heart but I am so enjoying the fact that she likes it!