This Week



The colors on our trees are starting to fade...but it's beautiful just the same.  I always thought spring was my favorite season...but I would like to officially change my mind for the record.  I have always looked forward to spring because summer is right around the corner....but I enjoy everything about fall....the colors, the air, the breeze, and all the pumpkin goodness. :)

 

 

I made these cupcakes for a bake sale at school one night this week.  They didn't turn out as nice as the ones on Pinterest...but I was told that they sold out quickly...so that's all that matters I guess!  I didn't really feel like making them after working all day but I guess my need to not disappoint won out.

 

 

Someone noticed though....I woke up the next morning and found this note in the kitchen from my husband....

It feels like he is my biggest fan....and that's a good feeling to have. :)

 

 

 



We got this fun package in the mail this week from my good friend Bonnie from back home.  It sure does look scary cute hanging on Brady's bathroom door.  Does this mean we got boo'd?

 

 

 

Brady had an amazing week of tennis. 

I'm not going to go into great detail...I always feel like I am bragging.  Brady is on cloud nine though and I want to have record of how things happened...you know, in case he writes a book someday. ;)

-he was in a four week team tennis thing and his team came in first.

-he played in a singles tournament with all of those team members and won the whole thing.  He was the youngest player by four years. 

-he played a senior who is the #1 player at our high school one evening this week.  Brady won two out of three sets.  Last spring Brady couldn't beat him.

-And the highlight of Brady's week didn't come from a win...it came from a tie.  He is playing in a fun six week ladder tournament in which you have one hour only to play your match.  Brady played a boy who just turned 13 and is so good.  Brady met him in a final once last spring and even though Brady played great, the boy crushed him.  Brady told me beforehand that even though he would probably lose...he was going to play his best.  And, he sure did. 

I don't think Brady's lost a match since August.  He is definitely the talk of our tennis community.  It drives me crazy when people say that he is so talented.  Brady works his butt off...everyday.  I'm just not sure talent has anything to do with it. 

 

 

 

 



Do you like my new range?  It was delivered on Saturday morning...and I just love it.  It's the only appliance besides a dryer that we've ever had to buy.  We plan to work on the kitchen a little at a time...but this new oven already makes the kitchen look better, I think.  We also purchased a fridge, but it was 1/2 an inch too big for our space and so we had to cancel the order.  Boy was I bummed!  Eric reminded me though that I was still getting a stove. We are going to wait until black friday to see what kind of a deal we can get.

 

 

This afternoon I made THIS recipe for chicken marsala casserole.  It might have been the BEST casserole I've ever made!  It was so easy to put together and so tasty.  It's a keeper for sure!

Not all recipes from Pinterest have been keepers.  Yesterday I made this salad that I recently pinned....

You can see what's in it.  It had a cilantro lime dressing.

I don't think I've ever not been able to finish a salad...but this one was the exception.  The dressing with the avacado just didn't taste good to me....which is so weird because I'm not that picky.  Oh well.  You win some...you lose some.

 

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We are all prepared this evening for hurricane Sandy that's headed our way.  The electric company is saying we could be out of power for a week.  We have extra candles and batteries, water and ice, and even took pictures of the outside of our house in case we have damage.  (Thanks Toni for suggesting we do this!)  Our schools have already cancelled for Monday and Tuesday.  I'm kind of looking forward to spending some quiet time cooped up inside with my family.  It should be interesting!



 

Have a great week and be safe.



Apple Picking



We went to an apple orchard Saturday morning.

It was a perfect fall day.

 

It was actually Brady's idea to go...I love when that happens.

He's not full of ideas and suggestions too often...so when it happens, we take full advantage!

 

 

This tree was in the parking lot...isn't it beautiful?

 

 

 

 

 

We picked...and sampled....

 

 

and took lots of pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We tried kiwi berries for the first time....they are so good!

You just pop them into your mouth like grapes.

We picked a few and then bought some to go.

 

 

 

We also tried some other goodies.  I had an apple cider donut

that might have been the best donut ever.  I made pancakes for lunch today so I could try my pumpkin spice syrup.  Boy was it good!  I will be trying to find a recipe to make my own.

 

 

 

This afternoon I made apple crisp. 

 

 

It was good....as you can see I have more ice cream on there than I do apple crisp!  I've never been a big fan of warm apples....so I'm not a good judge, but Eric loved it.  I need to google more apple recipes because we are never going to be able to eat all of the apples we picked!

 

Here's the recipe I used:

 

 

 Such a great weekend...I hope your's was a good one too!

 



Ten on Ten: October 2012

Ten on Ten...a day late.  I was having trouble last night uploading pictures on blogger.  Oh well...thought I would post my pics anyway!

 

Ten pictures in ten hours on the tenth of the month.  Trying to find the beauty in the everday moments.
 





 

 

 







 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Happy Tenth!

September Recap

 

Boy, September sure came and went quickly for us. 

 

I am loving my work schedule...and come evening I am tired spending time with my family, catching up on things around here or running Brady to tennis practice.   

I thought I would do a quick recap of a few things I want to remember about September...or, the only pictures I took the entire month is more like it!

 

 

Brady was was at every girls practice and all of the matches except for a couple of really far away on school night ones.

He kept stats, filled water bottles and helped with drills and did lots of chatting.  He even coached the jv team during two matches when the jv coach couldn't be there.  The girls loved it.  The girls team finished the season with a 12-6 record.....Eric needs to check because he thinks it might have been one of their best records in a really long time.  Today we are finishing up with playoffs.

  Brady started team tennis last week, he attends a weekly clinic and gets a weekly lesson with a pro.  Now that the girls season is over, he will get to start doing tournaments again.  And, of course, he works with his dad on the side.. in his free time! :)

 

 

 

 

Now that I'm working full time, Brady's dentist decided to make Sunday appointments available.  Ok, the two had nothing to do with one another....but I sure am happy that we can get in there on a Sunday.  Also thankful for a good check-up.

 

 

 

Brady started playing the trumpet.  This is new for Eric and I as we do not have any music talents at all.  I'm not so sure Brady does either...but he is excited about his new instrument.

 

Brady: mom, the only day I want to ride the bus is when I have my lesson at school.

Me: why would you want to ride the bus with that big old heavy trumpet case?!

Brady: so everyone knows I play the trumpet.

 

Ok, then. 

 



We celebrated Brady's half birthday.

It kind of snuck up on us...and instead of the usual cake I make, I suprised him with donuts.

He was thrilled with the donuts and never mentioned the kit kat cake.

I guess sometimes I worry more about that little stuff...

 

 

 

And, the new racquet we ordered for him coincedentally arrived on his half birthday...so it worked out perfectly. :) 





I think he likes it....when I went to wake him up for school the next morning it was in bed with him.

 

 

 



 

Brady and I go every year to this farm to pick out our carving pumpkins and get things to decorate the house and front porch.  We both look forward to it.  It's one of those things I hope he always remembers.



 

 

I hope you all are enjoying a beautiful October.

To me, it's the most beautiful time of the year.