pumpkin bread

I came home after church this evening and made two loaves of pumpkin bread. I've been meaning to make it since the beginning of fall, but just now got around to it. Maybe I was just not in the mood since it has been staying in the 70's here for the past couple of weeks. It is really hard to want to make pumpkin bread when it is that warm out. Today is the first day that it has really started to cool off. I LOVE it!!!! I am ready to be able to wear my sweaters, jeans, boots, coats and sweatshirts without getting all hot and sweaty in them. It finally feels like fall is here. Nothing says fall like cool, crisp weather and a slice of warm pumpkin bread. Mmmmm. I heart fall.

the day I became babydoll...again

When Darren and I were dating, he always called me babydoll. I have hundreds of notes that he wrote to pass to me in the hallways of Hefner Junior High (yes, that really shows my age as it is now Hefner Middle School) and on the front, most of them have babydoll written on them.

Imagine the surprise I felt when Coby called me babydoll out of the blue last night. The kids had stayed with Nina and Poppy while Darren and I went out on a date. Nina, of course, loaded their hands with leftover Halloween candy before sending them home. I was saying how much I love Airheads (the candy!) when Coby said, You can have one of my airheads babydoll! Then once we got home, I asked Coby to clean up his room before bedtime and he responded with Okay, babydoll. I could get used to this. What a full circle moment to have my 6 year old son calling me by the name his daddy started calling me when he was 12 (and sadly hasn't called me in years). I don't have any idea why Coby decided to start calling me babydoll, but I hope it doesn't stop any time soon.

post-edit: I had to come back and add something that I just remembered since the whole babydoll calling started up on our way home from date night. A few weeks ago, we told the boys that we were going to go out on a dinner date and Coby looked at me and said, "Ohhhh, you're gonna have a baby!!" Ha, this makes it sound like he knows something about baby-making, which I can assure you that he does not. Knowing that he doesn't just made what he said that much funnier to us.

sweet & cute from the 3 Cs

I've got a bunch of things the boys have either said or done that I've got to put on here so I will never forget. I say it all the time, but my boys crack me up. They are so funny and they don't even know it!!!

Just last night, I was enjoying a bubble bath and I let Coby take a shower in my bathroom at the same time. The shower is across from the tub and I noticed that Coby was holding the mirror Darren uses for shaving and holding it so that he could see his butt bottom. I asked him what he was doing. "I'm seeing if there's any hair on my bottom!" (Well, of course that's what he was doing, why didn't I think of that! ha) ME: Why are you doing that? Who has a hairy bottom?" Coby: Me and daddy!

Coby was in his undies, sunglasses, and wearing Mardi Gras type beads when I asked him if he was a rock star. Nope, I'm naked dude!

While driving past a cemetary the other day...
Cale: There's spring.
Me: Where's spring?
Cale: (pointing at cemetary) Right there. Spring has lots of flowers. There's another spring on the way to my school. (there is indeed a cemetary on the way to his school and it is full of flowers)

Five minutes before we were to head out the door to school yesterday, Coby suddenly felt the urge to take his lunch (keep in mind I'd made Connor's lunch quite a bit earlier, but Coby had told me he wanted to eat the pizza in the cafeteria). I quickly threw his lunch together. Once it was ready, he informed me that he'd eat at school. Me: That's fine, but you need to take everything out of your lunch box and put it all away. Coby: Oh my goodness! You are wasting my time! Now I'm going to be late. (I had to laugh to myself, I'm wasting his time!?)

Luckily there is a lot of sweetness that comes from Coby Lane to help balance out times like the above! He came home from school a few weeks ago and told me that he had a surprise for me after dinner. I was thinking some kind of candy, but after dinner he handed me a little gold bracelet. He got to go to the treasure chest at school that day and picked out something for me. He was so proud of himself. The bracelet has someone's initials on it, but I didn't mind. I wear it proudly. Coby is constantly thinking of others. Our most selfless child he is (not putting down Connor and Cale, it's just that Coby has always been a giver...the others, well, not so much).

As I was writing what a giver Coby is, I remembered something funny from a few months ago that showed he is still six after all and not always so generous. I needed some dollar bills for hat day at school. I went in to Cale's piggy bank (I was going to reimburse him!!) and his dollar bills were missing.

Me: Cale, where is your money?

Coby chiming in: I have two dollars.

Me: No, remember you gave me all your money to pay for the Star Wars legos a few weeks ago.
Cale interjects: I gave Coby all my dollars.

Me: What? Why would you give Coby all your dollars, Cale?

Now Connor gets in the conversation: Cale wanted one of Coby's Lego Storm Troopers and Coby told him he'd have to pay for it. :)

Last night, we were walking out to the car after dinner at Qdoba (can't beat the 99 cent tacos on Monday night!) and Cale took my hand in his, looked at me and said, "Isn't this a dreamy night?"

The boys and I were eating edamame with our dinner the other night and Cale asked if he could have some more endamommy. I said, what is it called? Cale replied, "It's really edamame,but I call it end-a-mommy."

Cale asked me why I'm a girl and why did God give me a va-China.

When Cale thinks something is cute, he'll say Isn't this so charmy!? (I think he's trying to say charming)

Me: Cale, you are super duper cute. Cale: No, cool. Not cute!

And thanks to Shaggy (from Scooby Doo), Cale always adds like to what seems to be every sentence. After I did something for him the other day, he said, "Gee, like thanks mommy for doing my project!"

Lastly, as we were walking out the door this morning to take "the brothers" (as Cale calls them) to school, Cale comes flying into the laundry room exclaiming, "I've got my backpack too!" And he did, a backpack on over his jammies. He always wants to be just like his brothers.

I realize that I didn't write anything about Connor, but to be honest, he knows about my blog and doesn't like me to put certain things about him on it, so I am trying to respect that. But, here is a cute picture of him on his way out the door to school (he was wearing shorts to school in November!!! It has been beautiful here for the past week!).

No pic of Coby this morning, he was too busy saying, "OH MY GOODNESS, we are going to be late!!!" He had NO time for pics, he needed to be at school immediately because he knew he was going to be the class leader today. He couldn't wait. A child who can't wait to get to school? That's a very good thing.

saddest movie ever

We watched Marley and Me last night for FFF*. Connor chose it (he informed me that he is getting a little too old to only be watching cartoony movies all the time so we're letting him grow up a little bit). Darren, Connor, Coby and I all cuddled up in our bed to watch it, while Cale was watching a new Thomas movie in the other room (he doesn't get to watch PG movies just yet).

Can I just say that watching Marley and Me is not the best movie to watch when you have a 13 year old lab that is not in the best health! I felt like I was watching my future unfold when Marley got sick and they had to make the decision to put her down. I am not one to cry during movies, but I was boohooing during this one. I was a sobbing mess. It was so depressing. I couldn't get it out of my mind all night and have still been thinking about it today.

FFF is supposed to be a fun time with the kids, not an evening in which I turn into crying disaster! At least the pizza was good and I did make Connor's favorite peanut butter chocolate pie. It was great. As was the family cuddle time. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Still, next week I am picking out the movie and it will not make me cry. It will have a happy ending.

*Family Fun Friday

trick or treat

Sadly, family fun friday: Halloween edition didn't turn out quite like I had planned. We went out to find a big pumpkin large enough for carving and let me tell you, there were no pumpkins to be found. Coby, our little artist, was the only one who was really looking forward to it and he was devastated. We looked and looked and finally decided to just carve our little pumpkins. The ones that Coby just knew that I was going to make pumpkin pie out of! That killed me. Who does he think I am? Martha Stewart I am not. That's why I have a fully stocked pantry of canned pumpkin (please don't tell Coby, he's the only one who gives me enough credit to believe that I really could turn his pumpkin into pumpkin pie ;)).

Darren gave a go of it at first, but we quickly found out that our first little pumpkin was rotten. Oohhh, it was staaaanky! I think it went bad because Coby refused to let it live outdoors where it is cooler. He likes to keep his pumpkin in his room as a decoration. Coby has always liked decorating his room for the holidays! According to GramPat (my MIL), Darren liked to do that when he was growing up too. I think it's really cute.



Now it was my turn. Coby was sad that his didn't work out, but Cale was happy to let us carve his pumpkin. I am SO not artistic. I think I'll let Coby do the carving next year. He never asked to do it (he only wanted to draw the face) and I don't know why I didn't think to let him do the carving. I guess I just forget that he's old enough now. (Look at how sad he looked...he so wanted to make a BIG ole Jack-o-lanturn. Unfortunately it was just not meant to be this year. Next year I will plan ahead and be prepared!)

Don't judge...I meant it when I said that I am NOT artistic.

Ahhh, but he loved the finished product. He still refuses to put it outside and he carries it all over the house with him. It is gonna have to go soon I'm sure and he is going to have a hard time letting go.

SCARY!

This pic was taken before we went over to Uncle Clint and Aunt Michele's house for dinner. It's become a tradition that every halloween we go over there before taking the boys trick or treating. We have dinner and the boys are spoiled absolutely rotten with goodies from Uncle Clint, Aunt Michele, GramPat and Papa Grumpy. Each of the boys always get really cool halloweenish flash lights, neon necklaces, boatloads of candy, and other fun toys. By the time we leave there, we really don't need to go trick or treating at all, but of course we do!

Cale (errr, I mean Robin...he told me when I called him by by name to just call me Robin!) and Uncle Clint enjoyed dinner together at the little table

I'm glad Cale decided to eat because he told me that his candy would just be his dinner. He asked me all day long when it would be dark for happy halloween! He's been ready for this day all month long.

Connor (Obi one kenobi) and Coby (Darth Vader) dined with Aunt Michele

Braden (in the background) spent the evening in the rocker with Grandma Grace while Cale enjoyed Braden's fun rocking horse (it had a head and tail that moved, plus made trotting sounds...so cute!)

We headed home to go trick or treating in our neighborhood for the first time ever (we usually go to Nina and Poppy's for trick or treating, but Poppy went to the OU game and Nina was sick)

I could have died when I overheard Cale telling one of the neighbors that he already had a red sucker as the man was giving him a red sucker. He really wanted a blue one, he told the man. But he decided he'd just go ahead and take both the red and blue one. Someone seriously needs to teach this kid some manners!

We met up with cousin Madison who came to our neighborhood for trick or treating. She was the cutest little ladybug I've ever seen.

checking out their loot (look at Connor's eyes, he was so excited to get Warheads)

Cale wanted to keep his separate in his own room (he's either really smart or really stingy)

We had a fun day!

Hope you did too.

happy harvest

Cale came home from preschool with this little pumpkin the other day. He was supposed to go to pick out his own pumpkin with his class, but the weather just didn't want to cooperate as it was always really cold or raining on the days they had planned to go. So, his teachers went and got the pumpkins for the kiddos to take home. They attached a Pumpkin Prayer to it (see below) that I hadn't heard before. I love what it says.


Cale also brought home a wooden pumpkin that he made (with lots of help from Miss Karen and Miss Terry, I'm sure!). It is so cute and Cale is very proud of it.


Oh, how I love this little pumpkin...I just wish he'd stop growing up so fast on me!


Cale is having a harvest festival at school today, so I made up some goody bags for him to give his friends. I'm sure he will come home wired today. They are having pizzas, candy, cookies, etc. What a fun day for Calebug.


Connor and Coby are out of school today. Darren and I had been planning on taking them to see Astro Boy while Cale is at school. Then we found out that our theater is playing the Michael Jackson movie in all of their theaters all day long. Seriously. That really messed up our plans....so we went and had a yummy lunch instead and are getting ready to go pick up some pumpkins that are large enough for carving. It's family fun Friday Halloween edition this week. Lots of (kid friendly) Halloween flicks and pumpkin carving will be happening at our house tonight. Yum, I can't wait to enjoy some roasted pumpkin seeds. I can taste them already!

Connor had his very first Orchestra concert on Monday night. It was called a "Hauntcert" and the kids could wear their Halloween costumes if they so desired. Connor did not. He was afraid that he'd be the only one wearing one, but come to find out he wound up being one of the only one's not wearing one. I think he wished he'd have worn one. Lesson learned!

This was our view of Connor. Poor little guy, he couldn't be seen over the stand! :(

Here are Connor and Cameron after the Hauntcert. Cameron makes such a cute old man!

like daddy

Why the picture of the coffee cup? Well, my mom gave it to me the other day and I love it. Plus, the I am tired part fully explains why I haven't blogged for the past few weeks. We have been busier than usual lately and to be honest, it has just worn me out. I'm not as young as I used to be! The thirties are killing me.

I have been looking forward to this weekend since last Monday. I am a homebody and the past few weeks have kept me away from home much more than I would have liked so it was nice to be able to spend the entire day at home today. I spent the day doing some much needed cleaning and catching up around the house while the boys spent the afternoon in the back yard. It was absolutely beautiful out (70 degrees!) and the boys had a blast playing on the swings, fort and playing baseball. Days this nice are few and far between now (we've had SO much rain lately) so I'm glad they were able to enjoy their Saturday outdoors.

I have some pics of Coby to share from last night...

Connor and I were watching a show in the bedroom when Coby came in wearing his police shirt and a makeshift police belt (it was actually a tool belt that came with a Bob the Builder set years ago) that held his gun and baton. He said, "I'm just like daddy!" This is not unusual, he is always dressing up and many times likes to dress like a policeman (both Coby and Cale have shirts made out of the fabric from Papa's (Darren's dad) old police uniforms and the badges from Darren's old worn out shirts.) It wasn't until Coby came into the room a few minutes later that I realized that Coby was truly trying to emulate daddy. I thought it was so sweet....

Darren is on the tactical (S.W.A.T) team and wears a camo type uniform three times a month for tact team training and also on tactical call outs. I think it is so cute that Coby wants to be just like his daddy (although I pray that he will not be a policeman when he grows up). Darren was at work last night when Coby was dressing up like him, but he was so flattered when I told him that he had a mini-me!

Then this morning I when I woke up, I found Cale in the kitchen wearing this little get up...

I knew that Coby had put it on Cale because only one button had been buttoned and it was off by one (that is Coby's signature-he doesn't want to put in the effort to button more than one and he has no idea that he is always off one button hole ;)). Is there anything cuter than a cop wearing a footed pair of pajamas? I think not.

I sure do feel safe living in this house with three cops here to protect me.