Happy Birthday Sweet Ole Papa!

This weekend we celebrated Glen's dad's birthday! We had a wonderful dinner hosted by Glen's brother and his wife and a yummmmy Chocolate Pudding Cake made by Glen's sister.
*Recipe will be included for your enjoyment!*

We love this ole guy and he loves his grandkids!!


Happy Birthday Papa!! We love you (and the pudding cake)!



Chocolate Pudding Cake
(you gotta try it!):

Preheat the oven to 350.
Crust:
1 cup of flour
1 stick of butter
1 cup of pecans
Mix all together and smoosh into the bottom of a baking dish.
Place into oven and bake for 5 minutes.
Let cool, then layer with:
For the 1st layer mix:
1 cup of powdered sugar
8oz cream cheese
1 cup of Cool Whip
Mix all together and place onto the cooked crust.
Then for the 2nd layer:
1 large package of chocolate instant pudding
(follow the "traditional pie instructions" of adding 2 1/2 cups of milk) for this layer
Once the pudding is made, pour onto cream cheese layer.

Top with layer of Cool Whip.
Fun also to add chocolate shavings or pecans to finish it off.
Refrigerate for 2 hours, then get ready to scream with delight!!


FYI: It's always so much better the next day for breakfast too!!!

mmmmmm!! and I can't figure out why I packed on 9 L-Bs this summer!!?? geeez!!


Enjoy!!

Speed Week In Review.....

Holy Cow!! That first week of school smoked by us!!

It flew by so fast, I needed a review myself of what all happened this week:

1. SCHOOL STARTED! This had to be our best first week of school yet! Riley starting 7th grade like an old pro, Hallie entering 3rd grade with the teacher she has waited for "her whole little life"! Thankfully, not a tear to be seen all week!

2. I spent the first day, mostly on Facebook enjoying a quiet house and looking at everyone's children's 1st Day Back pictures! What a treat to see some of your old high school friend's kid's starting school and the little ones being just mini versions of your old friends back when we started school!

3. Started back to the gym, after hopping on the scales after one fun vacation.....with NINE pounds added to the screen, did you hear that N-I-N-E pounds........panic set in and I flew into action!

4. My 89 year old grandpa, named "Pepa" for short, made it through surgery and is back home rambeling the streets on his "scooter"! We are so happy and thankful our prayers were answered and he is doing so well!

5. While on Facebook, and after hearing the news on TV, we found out that one of our childhood friends that we grew up with was seriously injured when his own neighbor shot him in the stomach! The Facebook community exploded with support, prayers, and words of encouragement for Ryan and it appears that he is doing miraculously well, continuing to improve daily! This event made my "list" as it was such a shocker to actually know someone in the headlines, and so sad to think of them having to endure such a life changing ordeal.

6. The girls came home this first week with a total of 3 projects due this week, so much to my excitement, for real, we got to make a return trip to Hobby Lobby! One of my all time favorite "sanctuaries" among the world's craft stores. I had taken a bit of a self-imposed "Hobby Lobby Hiatus", due to a tanked checkbook this whole summer. So it was so good to smell the aroma of hot glue and cheap potpourri again, it really got me in the mood for some FALL DECORATING!!

7. Speaking of FALL DECORATING.......you may recall our Halloween Yard Fiasco from last year...........well, I have been putting much thought into our annual Yard Display already, mostly because (almost daily) I get a, "We can't wait to see what you put out there this year!" or a "So who's going to be in your web this time!?"

I hate to disappoint, therefore I am watching the headlines daily for something interesting to catch my attention....... (Gosh! That's been hard! Something interesting in the headlines)!? hahahahaha!! I have a few ideas, but do not really want the "Secret Service" knocking on my door! (snicker-snicker)!

Maybe I should play on the non-political side this year and get started on building 8 kids for my web, with a Jon & Kate to ride the spiders!? or maybe 8 kids on the spiders and those nutty parents in the web...see my possiblilities are ENDLESS, I tell ya!!

It's been a great week over our way and I hope you have had a blessed week as well! Happy Friday!!

"WHAT IN THE WORLD!?"

Were the first words out of my mouth as I am pulling up to my grandmother's Nursing Home today and catch a glimpse of this display of weirdness that was piled up behind the building at the dumpster...........From far off, it appeared that something had gone terribly wrong and they were throwing a resident out! Much to my relief, as I got closer I realized it was just a mannequin!
Silly me thought to grab my camera and take a picture, BUT wasn't quick enough to think to load this stuff up in my car! I could've had some real fun with all this!!
(I might have to go pay Grandma another visit today and hope yesterday wasn't trash day!!)

First Day Fun!!

You know it's been a good First Day of School when your third grader comes home wishing..."it was school tomorrow already"! Now that's a sign of a good day!

In the history of Cruson 1st Days Back to School may I mark this one down as the FIRST ONE with no tears from anyone...not even mom!

It makes such a difference when you know they are safe, happy, and loved when you send them into class!

Wow! We've got two sleepy girls tonight too!! Doesn't take long to get back into the swing of it all!

Happy First Day of School all and GOD BLESS THOSE TEACHERS!!

This Is What Happens.....

when you purchase .....

"Hannah Montana - The Movie"!


Total transformation.

Heaven, Help us!

"Meet The Teachers!"

It is going to be a GREAT year!!

Riley spent the day at the Middle School helping all of the teachers do their final preparations for Monday. She enjoyed spending the day at school and seeing all the familiar faces of friends and teachers, getting her "in the mood" to hit the books again! This year will be full of football games and pep rallies as she shakes her pompoms and shouts out those cheers!!

Hallie got the GREATEST TEACHER on the planet for 3rd grade and her very best friend in the world in her class! The sweet Mrs. Seifried even sat them right next to each other! uh-oh!! I smell a seperation in the horizon!! These two are cutups together!!

We are so excited and look forward to an amazing 7th grade and 3rd grade year!!

It's Never Easy ........

To say Goodbye...to a fabulous Vacation Resort!!
We have to head home today. We have had the most incredible time together and with our friends! It has been a vacation where we were truly able to stop, take a breath, and enjoy our time together!
I am really not ready for school to start, for all of the sports to swing back into play, for the 7th grade projects that come home everyday with a deadline of TOMORROW, for the Christmas holidays to be "just around the corner", and all the other stuff that fills the calendar and makes the hands of time seem to fly!!
Today, I will be thankful that we were able to spend this amazing time together and take a very much needed vacation before all the "routine craziness" takes off and controls our lives!!

Thank you to my sweet family for such a wonderful trip!!!

So, hang on now, it's going to be a fun year!!!

Take It Easy Day

Today, we nursed lake sunburns, took over the Resort's Gift Shop, explored all day, and conquered the Lobby's 300 piece puzzle!

It was a "Take It Easy" kind of a day! We offered up two more days to the girls, staying until Saturday, but Hallie has "Meet The Teacher" on Friday and she is sooooo excited about 3rd grade and well, uhhh..."Meeting Her New Teacher"! She said, "No way!" and seeing that we are down to about $50 and some change, it's probably best we take it on home in the morning! I will be kicking and screaming, but it will be nice to be home. (I guess!).......... If only I could pack that sweet lady who brings us new towels everyday, sweeps, turns down our beds, and leaves those cute packages of gingersnap cookies on my pillow every night and bring her home with me, along with the low 60 temps, and those nap-inducing rainstorms!! I'd be all good!!

Gone To The Lake..............

We had a great day of jet skis, tubing, & wakeboarding! Lots of sun on these two little cuties cheeks!!

One more day of fun until we head back to "The Real World!

Mother Nature Agreed............

that after 3 days of non-stop action and a "Girls Only" Spa Morning, we needed a stormy afternoon to rest up, take a nap, explore the nature trail, visit the horsestables, relax by the pool, and cookout with our friends, The Brewers!!

We'll try boating again tomorrow if the storms stay away! But I'll vote for rainy, nap days anytime!!

"King (Queen) Of The World (DUCK)"!!

Today took us to the "Titanic" Museum! It was incredible!! When you arrive you are given a Boarding Pass with the name of a true passenger that was on that ill-fated cruise. As you wind through the Museum of interesting artifacts, photographs, & reenactments you watch for your "self" and try to figure out if you survived or perished on that dreadful early morning of April 15, 1912.
Mine was "The Sage Family", who had 9 kids! That wasn't too hard to figure out.......Mrs. Sage probably leaped into that frigid water from the ship with NINE KIDS!! (Just kidding!) Unfortunately, the Sages were a family of 11 who all did sadly perish.

We also FINALLY got to "RIDE THE DUCK"!! Oh! So much fun!! It is a tour of the city by land and by sea! You travel the streets and the lake in what is called in the military, a DUKW. We learned alot about the city, had a FUN driver, named "Captain Foghorn", who let all the little children on the tour DRIVE THE DUCK......myself included!!! I was even made an "Honorary DUCK Captain"!! Complete with a CERTIFICATE!!!

Another great day in Branson!! Tomorrow......MASSAGE and boating!!!

Whirlybirds, Ducks, and Candy Kitchens Full of Fairies!

WOWZA!

Helicopter tours of the city...I highly recommend it!

Hallie (my Mini-Mine Train scaredy cat) not only did it once, but she and Riley toured the city via whirlybird TWICE! They loved it!

Glen loved being airborne so much, he's ready to purchase a helicopter and take lessons!!

We tried to tour the city on land and sea as well, via "THE DUCK", which is a big open boat on wheels, but "The Duck" was closed by the time we arrived, so we will try again tomorrow. It even comes complete with a DUCK CALL---which I'm sure as everything else in this town..."may be purchased at a low low price".

We also stopped into "Ozarkland", a fun looking souvenier shop/FUDGE CANDY KITCHEN on the strip. A bit disappointing, but not before one of "the medium lady's" that I visited with before our trip, "visions" came true.......she kept saying Hallie was surrounded by "Fairies".....I'll say..........she was today...."Ozarkland" was FULL of weird little "fairies" and you know I HAD to take a picture!!

We passed on the Candy, because I've been eating so much and I don't really want to sink the poor "DUCK" if I ever DO get to take a spin.

We eventually made it to our "little cabin in the woods", which by the way.......IS ADORABLE! We met up with our friends and did some grocery shopping too.

Another fun day n the Ozarks, can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!!!

I love family vacations!!!!

Bumper Boats, Toys, and Legends!

We slept in for a bit, but the excitement of this fun town was too much to keep us in our room for long! We started out on the strip and came across a true Southerner's favorite!! "Cooters!! " It was every "Rebel Chick's"dream of a store, complete with the "General Lee" and "Roscoe & Enis's" Cop Car out front!
We mozied on up the street to the "World's Largest Toy Museum", raced go-Karts, got DRENCHED in the water bumper boats, ate at my ALL-TIME FAVORITE burger joint FUDDRUCKERS, and then got ready for our evening of entertainment at the "Legends in Concert"! Glen bought us FRONT ROW seats! What a fun "Trail Boss" he is!
The show was incredible! ummm...note to self, if you DON'T wish to be picked on in front of like 600 people, don't buy front row seats! The girls and I got a kiss from "Elvis", and I got to go up and play a eukele in front of the crowd while "Elvis" sang "Blue Hawaii".
It was a great time until Riley leaned over mid-show and asked, "Do you think I turned my flat-iron off in the hotel room?" It was at that moment that I could only envision in my mind 12 fire engines parked in front of the RADISSON spraying water on a pile of ashes with a flat iron on top, no longer could I enjoy "Marilyn Monroe" singing, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"!!

Thankfully, the show soon was ending with one of our favorite Redneck girls, "Gretchen Wilson" and we were able to exit quickly to joyfully find an unplugged flat-iron in our still standing hotel room!!
Tomorrow, after we "Ride The Duck" and possibly talk Hallie into a Helicopter Tour of the city (the girl won't even ride the Mini Mine Train at Six Flags...therefore Helicopter Tours appear very unlikely) we are meeting up with our fun friends the Brewers and heading off to our "little cabin in the woods"!

mmmmmmm....can't wait!!

Road Trip 2009!!!!

Vacation Here We Come!

Today is the official start of our summer vacation, nothing like waiting until the end of summer to get in some R & R! It has been a whirlwind summer and all 4 of us are in need of some R&R! Quick before the school bell rings!!!

We didn't get this road trip to Branson, MO up and running until 9pm! So it looks like an all-nighter for me and ole' "Trail Boss"! We packed the car and headed north. As we entered into the Ozarks...(I 1st had to squeal to wake the girls to snap the "First Official Road Trip 2009" picture. My cooperative gals are used to my picture snapping so they just opened their sleepy eyes, smiled, and went right back to sleep!) We enjoyed many roadside packs of deer greeting us into their beautiful state, thousands of oppossum playing some "Cat & Mouse" games with Glen.... seeing if they could make it across the road before getting hit, and we even had a "Welcome Hello" from a very large black panther, that Glen assured me would eat me if I attempted to stop, get out, and get that awesome "for my blog and Facebook" picture that I requested....so on down Hwy 69 we rambeled.
We pulled the ole' trusty Tahoe into this Grand Jubilee of a city at 4:30am, hoping that our hotel was a little fancier than the "Hillbilly Inn" (that none the less had "extra parking in the rear")! ......we were pleased to catch a glimpse of the RADISSON nestled into a mountainside.

ahhhhh........time for some early morning shut eye!!

T-Minus 24 Hours and Counting........

UNTIL.........................

We leave for.......

Stay Tuned.....Everyone loves a good road trip!

ATTENTION LADIES!!

Grab your purse and your keys and get to Nordstrom.........IF......if you need some eyelashes!!

I have like the WORST eyelashes in the history of eyelashes, I could probably count the # of lashes I have on one hand...they're bad, I mean real bad!

So I pondered the idea of going to my Eye Dr. and asking for the newest prescription med out there called "Latisse".

But first, He'll ask me if I'm wearing my glasses.

I'll say, "No"

Then he'll have to give me an eye exam.

Followed by telling me that I need new glasses.

He'll charge me for an office visit.....

an eye exam....

for just walking in the door...

and for even sitting in his chair.

Then he'll write me a prescription for new glasses,

and maybe some "Latisse".

Then I'll be out ALOT of money! So.........

I opted for:

Where they sell.........

for only $95!!! and it works!!! I've used it for almost a week and now I can count the lashes that I have on TWO HANDS!!!

(Seriously, I can tell a big difference!)

VACATION WEEK is finally here!!

Today marks the week that we FINALLY get to go on vacation!!

We can't wait until Thursday!!

We just might not EVER come home!!

Big Cedar Lodge...Here We Come!!

"Secret" Recipe?!

On Facebook the other day, I posted that I was making Sloppy Joes. I got a request for my "recipe" from one of Glen's cousins. She said that she has never found one she likes! I only know of one way to make it and I could eat this stuff all day, everyday......so grab your pencils and some paper and I'll let you in on my "Secret Sloppy Joe" recipe.....

First, grab your can opener!

Second, brown the meat!

See this is COOKING!!

Anytime I have to TURN ON the stove, IT COUNTS AS COOKING!!! Pour in the can!

Stir!


Grab you some buns and get ready for some happy kids!!

YUM!

Today.......

I'm gonna let the wind blow through my hair......

Like I just don't care!

Happy Tuesday, my friends!

Tip For This Monday!

While taking a group shot with your friends......

Don't pose under a pack of trees....


And for sure don't make fun of your friend by laughing and pointing....


Because then the sneaky, little, quiet birds that are hiding in the pack of trees that you are posing under with your friends...
Will aim for you next!!

And then you'll get YOUR picture taken with poop on YOUR shirt!