What Matters Most Now

Happy Halloween!

 No words today... just pictures to wish you a Happy Halloween!
 

My dad scratches the kids' names into pumpkins while they are still green for this result.

Have a spooktacular evening!

around here...right now (October edition)

Just a quick post on what is happening around here...during the month of October.

Sending well-wishes and prayers for hope and restoration for all those on the East Coast affected by the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Enjoying sunset scenes such as this...

 

Watching this You Tube video of Joe Kittinger parachuting from 102,800 ft:with the kids.  Amazing!

 Treasuring the last of fall's splendid canvas paintings before the weather washes it away.

Outside the car window.

Checking out this great App - LyricsSeeker

Loving this music right now:

Five for Fighting's Chances

It's Time by Imagine Dragons

Gavin Mikhail singing an acoustic version of I Will Wait as a tribute to Mumford & Sons

Counting on You by Mikey Wax

And doesn't Some Nights by Fun just make you want to get up and wave a flag for what you stand for?

Fly by Jacob Saylor

Bruno Mars' Locked Out of Heaven

Starships by Nicki Minaj -because we are dancing to it in dance class

Welcoming home a soldier and friend (Commander Schmidtke) from his third deployment and feeling grateful for the freedoms we have thanks to servicemen and women such as him and the families that are serving on the homefront raising families and tending to life at home in their absence.  Recognizing the toll it takes on all parties involved emotionally and physically and I am truly grateful for your service.

Enjoying the success of our UO Ducks!

Photo taken prior to the UO vs. Colorado game for which the Ducks won...by quite a few points.

Reading this blog post on Why Mr. Rogers Was the Best Neighbor Ever and how Mister Rogers saved Public Television in 1969 when the government wanted to cut funds, he testified how TV had the potential to give kids hope and create more productive citizens.  His passionate testimony swayed funders into allocating from $9 to $22 million.

Cracking up with my kids at This funny dog video they found on You Tube.  You can't watch it and not laugh!

Speaking of dogs...

Baking these homemade cheez-it like crackers.  Surprisingly delicious!

Hugging on this sweet nephew every chance we can.

Wrapping up the football season and thinking that the boys thanking the audience/parents after the games is a really classy gesture.

 

Spending a little time scrapbooking with friends...which is quite theraputic.

Feeling grateful for friendships...both new and old.

Studying What's Eating Your Child?: The Hidden Connection Between Food and Childhood Ailments by Kelly Dorfman - as a parent of a child with allergies this book has me thinking food is the culprit of every ailment from ADD and eczema to tantrums/mood swings to lack of growth.  (It's applicable for adults just as much as kids...hint, hint...mood swings!)

Appreciating the kids' sports teams sporting pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Reflecting and feeling blessed.

Remembering a life...and a hero.

 

Bradley and Cindy with Madison and Wyatt

One year ago today, my husband's cousin, Bradley, was killed in the line of duty.  He was shot and killed while protecting others.  Bradley, an amazing father, husband, police officer, brother, son, family member...the list goes on and on - died a hero.  

We question why a life is ripped away from a sweet, young family that adored and needed him. We search for the good that comes from a tragedy and we struggle to make sense of his loss. We weep when participating in his funeral and when driving miles to his burial with streets lined with local residents waving flags in his honor.  We stand listening to the police department's "last call" broadcast his radio call number for the last time with no response and sob watching his fellow police officers' reactions to his passing. We grieve.  We miss.  We don't understand why it happens.  It's hard to comprehend the importance of this tragedy.  

A year later, Bradley's death continues to teach me so much about life and living.  

Bradley's death ignites a heightened awareness that we are only here for a short time. There's not time to stay mad and hold grudges, to go to bed mad or to hang on to anger.  We need to forgive, forget and move forward.  

Loss teaches compassion.  Our society wants to put forth the image of perfection while masking problems.  Yet our problems bring us closer towards the suffering and pain of others. Through this loss, we understand that many people are facing battles inside.  People are grieving. It may not be reflected on the outside but know that Bradley's wife longs for her husband's kiss goodnight, his daughter longs to be lifted up and swung in her daddy's arms, his son longs for his dad to chase his little buddy around the house ending in a tight hug, his mom longs for her son's chair to be filled at the Thanksgiving table and his family all miss his him dearly...every day.

We don't know the challenges people face, the losses they've experienced nor how some people are surviving. We live in a world of hurts, pains and illnesses that are not visible to the eye. Everyone has a story.  Everyone has gone through something that has changed them.  Give people slack. Extend patience. Give strangers who seem rude, grace.  Be kind anyway. Smile anyway.  Love anyway. Show honest compassion.

'Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.'  - Philo of Alexandria

My words can't do justice to honoring this great life of Bradley's but I can step out into this world with more love and compassion in his honor. We celebrate Bradley's life with a renewed sense of purpose, kindness, sympathy and understanding.  

Bradley, thank you for your sacrifice, for leaving this world a better place and for reminding us of what matters most now.  You will always be our hero.

Bradley's son, Wyatt.

Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies - Recently Touted as The Hub's Favorites

Okay, I am admitting that I am a major sweet tooth.  I blame it on growing up in the 70's when my mom decided that we weren't going to consume sugar, just honey and instead of chocolate...carob.  (It did not suffice.)   As a mom now, I am so grateful of her noble efforts.  (I love my mom and even more so now that I am a mom!)  However, I think that not being "allowed" sugar made me crave it even more and morphed me into having this sugar-lover today.  The kind of sugar I crave is not the little Halloween candies floating around this time of year but homemade baked goods like these cookies.

It's no coincidence that in the short time this blog has been up that this is the second post using delicious malted milk powder from King Arthur Flour.  I love it.

I recently made these incredible Malted Milk Blondie Brownies.  The family kept asking for me to make them repeatedly but being a girl preferring a bit of variety, I tried the Pioneer Woman's Malted Milk Chocolate Chip cookies recipe and made a few slight changes.  

Upon trying them, the Hubs proclaimed that these were his new, absolute favorite chocolate chip cookie!  The 13.5 year old asked if I could please make 100 dozen and the 12 year old professed her undying love for the dough as being the best ever!  They are that good.  Promise.

Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

Printable Recipe

Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) butter 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 3/4 cup malted milk powder 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/4 teaspoons salt One bag (12 ounces) chocolate chips (either semi-sweet or milk chocolate)  Instructions: 1.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 2.  Cream the butter and sugars until fluffy. 3.  Add the eggs and vanilla followed by the malted milk powder. 4.  Stir in the the flour, soda and salt.  Mixing until combined. 5.  Lastly, add the chocolate chips. 6.  Place overflowing teaspoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment paper (or waxed paper).   7.  Bake for 9-11 minutes.  We like ours super chewy and a bit under-baked but with a crispy edge so I pull them out when they are just barely browning on top. It's nearly impossible to let these cool because the melted chocolate chips contrasted against the malted milk dough is irresistible!

P.S. During that time when my mom had us all swear off sugar, she had a secret stash drawer with Big Hunk candy bars.  ;)  

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Family Date Nights (or Date Nights with Friends)

It's Friday...one of my favorite days of the week as it typically means family time.  I was recently inspired by the idea of planning a Family Date Night from a Pinterest posted idea for 35 Family Date Night Ideas.  What a brilliant idea to plan a date for the whole clan, not just the hubs and I!

Here are a few ideas that I have loved and had pinned on Pinterest (it's like bookmarking a favorite website or page to come back to later for those that are new to Pinterest).

These two are always ready for a fun evening, can you tell?

This site has hilarious Minute to Win It games and would be just as fun for a group of adults as it would be for kids and adults.  Minute to Win It family game ideas - game ideas include Junk in the Trunk and the Chocolate Unicorn.  

We have been famous for playing marathon Monopoly games in our house.  (I don't use the term marathon lightly.)

How about creating a  Caramel Apple Bar Night - make freshly dipped Caramel Apples then dip them in a variety of toppings such as marshmellows, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cookie crumbs, red hots, M&M's, Fruit Loops, leftover Halloween candies - this would be a fun adult activity as well!  Have you ever tried the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company's Caramel Apples?  Those toppings would serve as great inspiration.  My favorite is dipped in the white chocolate and then the cinnamon sugar.  Wow.  

 This is a good recipe to make your Homemade Caramel Apples without using store-purchased caramels in the wrappers.

Host a Pumpkin Carving Party on your front porch via the very talented Jenny Steffens Hobick at Everyday Occasions.

Photo via Jenny Steffens Hobick of Everyday Occasions

Now this one would require a little bit of prep time (and good weather, which is not in our forecast here locally tonight) but how cool would this be?  Outdoor Movie Night - make your own outdoor screen out of PVC pipe!

 

Create a Fall Bucket List of must-do things before winter arrives!  Here's some inspiration - 50 Family Activities for Autumn via the Kids Activities Blog by the Quirky Mommas.

Yet another Pinterest inspired idea and fall family date night snack idea - pumpkin shaped veggie tray.

This "Daring Date Night" idea from The Dating Divas could be adapted to do with the tween/teen crew.  You pick a scary movie and find the scariest possible spot for viewing it (via an iPad or laptop) such as in the woods, an abandoned warehouse, in a car parked on an abandoned road...you get the idea.  (I'm terrified of this idea but know my kids would love it!)

A super cute idea for holding an "All Hallow's Eve Dinner Party" could also be adapted for a fun family date night.  The Paging Supermom's  held a Halloween Blood Bar themed party (sounds gross, I know, but think of the kids' reaction) with "moldy cheese and crackers" and "layered flesh and blood" as courses.  One of the evening's featured drink recipes also featured at One Charming Party was the Hemoglobpolitan and was made like this: 

HEMOGLOBPOLITAN (single)
6-8 oz Lemon-lime Soda with Red Food Coloring (Blood)
1 tbs Half & Half (White Blood Cells)
1 tbs Fresh Strawberry Syrup (Clotted Blood)
1 Maraschino Cherry (Heart of a Raven)

Sounds scrumptious, doesn't it?

I'd love to hear inspirational ideas from you!  What ideas do you have for a family date night?