I am no chef. When I married, I could make boxed mac and cheese, frozen pizzas and almost anything instant. But, oh how I tried! I have concocted all manner of meals that I thought would be delicious, burned weeks worth of groceries and misread countless recipes (i.e. adding soda instead of powder, salt rather than sugar).
Though progress has been made...there are many, many things that, quite frankly, intimidate me. Mostly they are the down-home, grandma kind of foods such as roast with potatoes, beef stew and...chicken noodle soup.
Until tonight. My son is feeling ill. Chicken soup, being the all-sickness cure, was needed. With sweaty palms and a firm resolve I boiled some chicken. It worked! So I added some carrots, onion and celery. Beautiful. Minimal spices and some noodles....voila!

I am quite proud. And in case you cannot taste the goodness through the computer screen, it was delightful.

Hey, Mom, do you wanna see my fashion?

Finally I was able to download pictures from my camera!

For Halloween...Eavan was a monkey (eating her very first sucker)...

...Joel was Aaron Rodgers...

...and Cate was a clown (again)...

The weather was perfect this year for trick-or-treating. Even so we did most of ours at the mall, but also went around to a few houses in our neighborhood. And yummy candy was had by all.

My sweet, beautiful 7 year old daughter somehow decided that she'd like a "makeover".

Before

After

Now if only she'd decide she needs a make-under. Silly girl.

They ask me every year. Every year it seems a waste.

This year, after some thought, I concluded that their enjoyment is never waste. And I would get toasted pumpkin seeds. :)

(Joel's, Eavan's, Cate's)

Cate's Book On Dating (for boys)

Chapter 1: Take The Girl On A Date
Chapter 2: Tell The Girl You Love Her
Chapter 3: Take The Girl On Another Date
Chapter 4: Break Up With The Girl
Chapter 5: Go On A Date With Another Girl
Chapter 6: Go To Church With The Girl
Chapter 7: Take The Girl On Another Date
Chapter 8: Marry The Girl
Chapter 9: Love Her
Chapter 10: Let The Girl Do Whatever She Wants


I'd buy that book. :)