pumpkin goodness...

the pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe i ended up using from the pumpkin we carved...

(there were several to choose from; this one seemed the most user-friendly for our situation.)

..we just took all the insides (even the stringy stuff) and i pureed it in my magic bullet.

...it only made about 1/4 of a cup from that big pumpkin, so i divided all the rest of the ingredients by 3 and just made a few, but they turned out pretty delicious!! :)



i read online (see boiling method) that you're actually supposed to use a smaller pumpkin, skin it, and cut it into chunks; then you're supposed to boil the chunks and puree that as the pumpkin flesh for such recipes!

...maybe next time!! :)

pick me! (#5)

the first of my '29 before thirty' accomplishments.. jeremy and i carved a pumpkin and roasted the seeds... and -thanks to jeremy's tireless scooping, we were able to make yet another tasty treat while we were at it.....




the pumpkin patch...
where i found the perfect guy for us to cut, carve, and enjoy!


jeremy did most of the hard-stuff... (lol!)


..and i did the 'baking'...


(the start of our yummy muffins!!)


we ended up with delicious roasted seeds...
...and pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins!!

(the seeds are cinnamon sugar flavored as shannon suggested!!:)


....in the mean time, after much deliberation of course
we came up with a design idea, drew it on, and got started..


again, j. did most of the hard work...


then we put a light inside and enjoyed our little masterpiece!!

....(a little cheese...)


...our finished product!
(it was pretty late by then as you can tell by our tired look!)

more newness..

thanks for your feedback, ladies...

so, i made the top header photo bigger, so that it doesn't clash with the pics i add to new posts...

(a little too much thought involved maybe, but it's better i think??)


...and while i'm at it, some pics from the playground yesterday.....


very cool...



funny faces.. "silly" and "sad" :)


yay! ...love that face!! <3

pocket contents..

noteworthy display of pocket contents from today... you should totally click on it to get the full-view!

...they're beads, from one of my student's braids!!

...and, if you look closely (click on the photo), you'll see the rubber band and a piece of hair still stuck in one! how interesting!!




a child came running to hand me this treasure on the playground today! :)

newness..

i'm testing the new picture-on-top layout.. i'm not so sure i love it... i'm afraid it takes away from the photo-journal-ness rather than adds to it?? suggestions?

(my cousins and i back in the day.. '84 i think? :)

boat show..

the wooden boat-show of georgetown, sc
october 18, 2008





















hand-crafted beauties.. boat-building contest.. (participants are given a plan and a kit and a couple of hours; then they race their crafts.)




carrying the boats down to the water..



the crowd...



fun times... (on the marshwalk)..

silly pics..

i made these for kayla's bday card...
(and the website where i made them :)










she loved the 'kayla montana' one... for the inside of the card, i printed out "you're my favorite rock star!" :)

focus...

today i determined to spend more time studying then i have each of the past several days, and i did it!!

...this is officially week 2 of studying for the PLT! -4 to go!...

a little more...

1. i added a little post from kayla's bday (post-dated to match her bday) so you can check it out :)

2. i forgot to say how THANKFUL i was that my lips have returned to normal! no more 'kimgelina marie' as jeremy was calling me! :)

3. this beautiful creature was injured in the parking lot at the mall yesterday (where we stopped for lunch after church).
...too pretty to just pass by! <3

officially 29!

the birthday weekend was overwhelmingly great!

thursday night we got to spend time with family from new york (john & beth). we ate at sarah j's and got to sit outside overlooking the marsh... very nice.

friday night i went to the alford's and enjoyed a little birthday-eve soup and gifts!

saturday (my actual birthday) i got to have brunch w/ my bsf ladies and talk and spend time with them!! it was so enjoyable i didn't want to leave!

then i went to work and got to meet amber campbell, ccu's hammer-throwing olympian!

i came home in time to change and enjoy an excellent e-noodle dinner with the fam and jeremy. it was just right! ..and mom made cheesecake, so we came home for dessert and decaf!! (mmmmm!)

...as if there needed to be more, there is!!

sunday was the best of all!

j. and i had decided it would be fun to cook and have friends over to celebrate the occasion! (and i'm so glad we did!!)

i was overwhelmed at the wealth of friendship represented!!!! it was so nice to prepare and share a meal with treasured friends!


















(clockwise) 1. sophia loves easymac! 2. shannon & claire (dearest ladies!)
3. rachel, jen, & tolar (vineyard treasures!) 4. candace & lorraine (sam's sweet friends that have adopted me as their own!!)













1. erin (the new roomie!)
2. k.& s. (my sisters!)
3. my love!
4. the card sam gave me; me and steph (my bff-ever)! sam said she knew steph would have wanted to be there and she adores our friendship!! ♥


i am humbled and honored and thankful to God for the way He blessed my soul this weekend and all the days!

more gratitude...

so, i said i would elaborate on the things i'm so grateful for...

i'm mostly thankful for the extra time i've got right now... it took me a while b/c i kind of resented it at first --being available all morning when i could be working!


but i've already been able to do some cool things that i otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to do:

-watching darcy for claire while she was gone! (9.20-27)

-having lunch w/ kayla at school on her birthday! (10.6)

-applying for a job with SCYAP, a youth advocate program! (scyap.org) the actual website isn't working; that's just a breakdown of the organization/what they do..

-taking the time needed to adequately prepare for the PLT (teaching certificate test!)

-studying and digging into my bsf, reading the notes thoroughly, journaling, and listening!

clearly i have a lot to be thankful for so i've decided there's no reason to wish it away too fast! ..thanks for reading and praying and walking with me through all these seasons of life! <3

6 years and counting!

kayla's 6 years old and i can't even believe it!!

she had a pool party at the marina inn with these adorable friends!


kayla, alyssa, anna and zariah... sooo cute!


dad gave her dollars! :)


the sweet card j. made for her...


in the yard with the neighborhood kiddos [today- her actual bday]..

she's so silly and wonderfully full of life! <3