My plan for tonight...

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)
Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.
Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.
Let cool and store in an air-tight container.
***We used cinnamon and sugar!***

Why Carve Pumpkins?

The story of the Jack o'Lantern comes from Irish folklore. Jack was a crafty farmer who tricked the Devil into climbing a tall tree. When the Devil reached the highest branch, Jack carved a large cross in the trunk, making it impossible for the Devil to climb down. In exchange for help getting out of the tree, the Devil promised never to tempt Jack with evil again. When Jack died, he was turned away from Heaven for his sins and turned away from Hell because of his trickery. Condemned to wander the Earth without rest, Jack carved out one of his turnips, took an ember from the devil, and used it for a lantern to light his way. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern."

Words of Wisdom

1. Don't spill a 20 oz. bottle of Pepsi in your Coach purse.
2. Don't rummage in hospital dumpsters looking for your cell phone (that you accidentally dumped in the garbage while empyting the pop out of your purse).

Here is a video of Chris rockin' out at the teacher talent show at Show Choir Camps of America.

New house...

Here are some pics of our new house (finally)! We are still getting settled in and the decorating plans are constantly turning in my head--but we are making Mitchell home! Hopefully the pics I post of the backyard in the summer will be a little more colorful-I am getting sick of SNOW AND COLD!

These kids are HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!

Haven't posted in awhile...we have been busy winning competitions with these awesome kids!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZDhIk6IWWY

Refreshing....

My sister sent me this email a few days ago and I just got done watching this short video. Lately we have been VERY stressed out in our household and losing perspective on the important things...from new jobs to moving to sick kids, etc. we have lost sight of having fun and being happy. Thanks for sending this to me, Jen! Please take the time to watch!
http://video.stumbleupon.com/#p=ithct48cqw

So this is what it looks like...

when you find out you are the GRAND CHAMPIONS at the Omaha show choir competition!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OWEN!

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, but the little man turned 2!!!!! He is just as naughty as ever and talks up a storm...
Today we had some prayers answered as we had him tested for cystic fibrosis and it came back NEGATIVE!!!! We are going to see a lung doctor on the 15th and hopefully get this asthma under control. We also close on our house that day, so you will probably be seeing another "CHANGE OF ADDRESS" notice in the mail from us soon! (the last time I am EVER sending one of those--our next move will be into the nursing home)....
I will post some pictures of the big boy's birthday party after Saturday!

FUN IN THE SNOW...

I know I need to write more on here and go easy on the pictures, but these are too cute not to share...our friend, Ryan, took these in his backyard after a snowstorm--

HO HO HO!!!

WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A GREAT 2008!

HE DID IT!!!!!!!!!

HE GRADUATED! FOR REAL! FOR THE LAST TIME! (at least it better be or I might end up in an institution) :)

This man has worked harder than I have ever seen anyone work for something before...he has had many sleepless nights and has been pulled in so many directions for the past year and a half. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU DADDY!!!! Or should we call you
MR. MILLER??!?!?!?!??!

22 days to go!!!

Ok, this is just hilarious...you have to see it!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1123416222

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

ALREADY FOUR YEARS OLD! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! Today is the first snow-storm of the season, so I don't think anyone from out-of-town is going to be able to make it for the big party...that's what you get when you have winter babies! But we are going to have a swimming party and pizza at the Holiday Inn with some preschool friends and then watch Chris' show choir perform! It's only 8 am and she is ready to ROCK!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Only 34 Days until Christmas!!!

8 days and counting...

8 more days until our house is officially SOLD!!! And...we have an accepted offer on a house here in Mitchell! There is a contingency on our house selling, so hopefully that all goes smoothly and we will be moving into our new house in late Jan/early Feb. It is the cutest house with a tiered backyard and perrenial garden and a little playhouse! It will need a little work, but luckily Ethan Allen has been advertising this "complimentary design service" YIPPEEE! Plus, its amazing what a little painting can do, right???

Not too much longer and Madison will be 4, Chris will be officially done with school, Christmas will be here, and little Owen will be 2!!!!!!!! HOLY COW!! Time flies when you're havin fun!

These kids know how to shop!!

Early Halloween pics

Last night we went to TRUNK-OR-TREAT...businesses in Mitchell line up their vehicles in the middle school parking lot and kids walk around the circle and get candy. So I just had to put the monkeys in their costumes a little early!

Sorry about the glare! The sun was in a bad spot!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

ME!!! My husband is out-of-town, so I have to wish myself a happy birthday...he is in Rapid City at All-State Chorus. (for all of you in South Dakota that have PBS, you can watch his kids perform tonight at 9pm!) Anyways, neither of my kids will give me a birthday hug and they are fighting like crazy today! I just went and got a free birthday coffee and I feel like lying around and watching Food Network all day! Only 2 more years 'til 30!

BUGS

So we have box elder bugs EVERYWHERE outside our house and I HATE THEM. I got online to read about how to get rid of them and this is what I read ".....they are usually pests only by their presence, although their piercing-sucking mouthparts can sometimes puncture skin, causing slight irritation. "

Ok, anything with a piercing-sucking mouthpart has got to go.

Another website "They do no damage by feeding, but their excrement spots on draperies are difficult to remove."

I do not want any box elder excrement near my draperies.

Do we even have draperies?

These aren't nearly as bad as the scorpions my sis-in-law in Florida has to deal with, but this is my little MidWestern crisis at the moment. Please let it freeze so they will go away!!!!!!!!!

And the big news is...

WE SOLD IT!!! HOORAY!!!! We are so relieved to have that done and over with! Sad also, that we now officially don't live in Yankton anymore...but we had to get that monkey off our backs!
And another interesting note: a house I had my eye on that went "sale pending" a few months ago is now back on the market. So, we will see what happens after November 15!!!