Halloween Goodies

Halloween Costumes

My family loves Halloween. We love the costumes, we love the candy and we love the weather.
Every year my sweet Hubby goes the extra mile and makes one of the kids a special costume. He usually starts building the costumes in late September, but this year nobody wanted a "special daddy Costume", that is until yesterday. My middle son decided he want a cooler costume than what he originally picked out. So hopefully my hubby will be able to pull it off it such a short amount of time.
Meanwhile, I thought I would share with you a few of our past Halloween creations. Enjoy!

Doctor said I am fine!!

About a month ago something happened to me that scared me really bad, I thought I had a heart attack.
I didn't tell many people, mainly my family and a couple of friends. I didn't want everyone questioning me and worrying about me. Though the no worrying part didn't work out to well.

As you can imagine it was pretty scary for a while. It is not fun trying to live life as usual and yet in the back of my mind I am thinking about my own mortality and the repercussions it could bring to my family. Meanwhile the doctors tell you to not get stressed, take it easy, no caffeine and eat healthy. I think one of the hardest things for me was when I had my initial episode (the one where I thought I was having a heart attack)it was right before school started and one of boys was there and saw what happened and ran and got my husband, who thankfully was running late for work that day. So then my kids knew something was wrong with mommy. Of all my kids I think it was hardest on my oldest son who is 14. He wanted to know exactly what was wrong with me and every time I wold try to give him a simple answer he knew I wasn't telling him everything. He has since learned everything and understands that I really am OK.


I won't bore you with all the details but I have seen multiple specialists, had tons of test run, and even stayed the night at the hospital. The only consistent answer that I that have is that I have a premature heart beat. They don't know what caused my initial episode, and they don't know what caused my premature heart beat, but they said that I am fine now and not to worry about it any more.
So now I really can live life as it was. I plan on getting back into my exercise routine, maybe play some volleyball with some friends, work in my extremely neglected garden and enjoy my wonderful life with my family. I really do feel very blessed, even though it has turned out to be nothing to serious, this was a bit of an eye opener to me and I plan on living my life the best that I can.

Newest additions to the family

I forgot to blog about the newest additions to our family.…4 girls…well chickens….. well actually chicks. I don’t know why but I have always wanted chickens. My husband I have talked about wanting to have chickens but that’s all it was…talk. So 2 days before the new school year started, Robbie’s Agriculture Class bunny was stolen and now I have an empty cage. So about a month ago,I asked the boys if they wanted to get some chickens and of course they said yes. So the boys and I took a little ride to a feed store and purchased 4 chicks. Two Barred Rocks (the black chicks) and two Buff Orpington (yellow chicks). We got them when they were just a few weeks old and they are just adorable. I never knew that chickens could be so sweet and so social. They all have their own personalities. You’ve heard the expression pecking order? Well it is true, and we are already starting to see it in our girls. Oh how rude of me, I forgot to tell you their names-Sandy, Haley, Chicken Little, and Chicken Butt. In case you couldn’t tell, my husband and my boys picked out their names. So I will try to keep you updated on our chicken adventure and maybe one day I will have some fresh eggs to share with you.

Chunky Apple Cake

My mother recently saw a yummy picture of the Southern Living Chunky Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Icing and asked me to make it for a recent get together. I was happy to make the cake since I am always looking for new things to try and bake. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of an apple cake. It didn't sound very appealing but, I would never turn down a request, especially since my mother was the one requesting it.
The good news is it turned out delicious. It reminded me ALOT of a carrot cake and I love carrot cake! The bad news is my mother didn't get any. I show up to her house with cake in hand and she says to me "I don't know what I was thinking asking you to bake that cake. I am on a diet and can't have any". WHAT?! So my mother tortured herself all night asking everyone how the cake was. But I am very proud of my mom for sticking to her diet. By the way, she has already lost 19lbs. Go Mom!!!!
I did promise her a would bake her another apple cake anytime she wants, as long as she is off her diet. Ha ha!

Southern Living Chunky Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced( I used Gala because it was what I had at home)
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)

Preparation
Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until blended.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, stirring until blended. Stir in apple slices and 1 cup walnuts. Batter will be very thick. Spread into a greased 13- x 9-inch pan.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting; sprinkle with walnuts, if desired.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened
3 Tbsp butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Beat the cream cheese and butter at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar until blended. Stir in vanilla.