Some of Our Fall Through My Camera Lens

 

 

Almost November Resolution

I am making a "almost November" resolution that I am going to be better about uploading pictures from my camera. We take a ton of pictures, yet I am always falling behind on keeping them updated and uploaded. While my mind seems kind of cluttered these days...I am trying to be more organized. Though probably talking to Braedan would give you the impression that I am organized, I feel like I've slacked off a bit in that area and I need to get back on track.
Anyways, the main reason I'm on here is to introduce you to our pumpkin tree! The story behind it is that a couple of weeks ago we spent the weekend in Illinois for a friend's wedding and also got to spend some quality time with my aunt Mimi and my 92-year old grandpa. Mimi and I made a quick run to Trader Joe's (we love that store) and discovered the pumpkin tree! It was just so cute and unique--we couldn't pass it up!

The Adventures of a Referee and a Super Teacher

Well I'm still working on the super part of super teacher, but Braedan sure has turned into a referee!  Football season for him is winding down, but I think it has been a pretty good side job and experience.  I don't want to speak for him, but I'm sure he would agree and sure have liked to be his little cheering section at some of his games!  I'm so proud of my husband!
Besides spending time with our families the past two weekends, B and I have been incredibly busy between his work and football and my subbing.  I had hoped that I would be able to have pictures up the next time we posted, but alas that has not happened.  After lots of waiting for substitute teaching jobs...the calls have in finally started to come in and I am so excited to be back in a classroom again!  Some good and bad experiences along the way thus far, but I have so much more experience under my belt now and I just have to be patient for my own classroom someday!  After being able to have a good amount of time at home being a "housewife," I am glad to be working more regularly, but I have fallen behind on my housecleaning.  Thus far I haven't gotten a call for tomorrow, so that is going to be my "fall cleaning/catch up on cleaning/upload pictures from my camera" day.  It is much needed!
It is also our 4 month wedding anniversary tomorrow!  Crazy how fast these 4 months have flown by!!
Pictures to come soon :)

--M

Yummy

So, fall has finally made it's way to our little nest.  Maybe it's the fact that we have:
--beautiful colored leaves falling outside our living room window
--leaves I've picked up on my running route being pressed between our dictionary pages
--we can sleep all cozy at night and not be hot and kicking off the covers
--a leaf-shaped glass bowl is sitting full of candy corns on our side table
--pumpkin decorations are finding perfect homes in our apartment
--there is zucchini bread and apple crisp waiting to be eaten
--Braedan and I have simultaneously gotten our first colds of the season :(
--I've had to scrape off my car in the morning on the way to school only to find that the marching field also has frost on it
--my pashmina collection has been making more regular appearances lately
--and the fact that I'm baking a ton more..but it's heats up our apartment on those chilly nights

My latest baking adventure was making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies.  I had been waiting and waiting for pumpkin to come back out in the grocery stores; so when I finally found cans at Hy-Vee, I quickly snatched some up.  Then, my mom gave me another can, so I thought I needed to find some good recipes for pumpkin.  The cookies I made turned out pretty well.  The pumpkin makes them a bit "cakey," but if you can overlook that fact, they are still a delicious fall treat!




Ingredients:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
*1/2 cup applesauce (I used natural applesauce w/o sugar added)
1 egg
2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. milk
1 tbs. vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
     *you can also use oil instead of applesauce

Directions:

1.  Combine pumpkin, sugar, applesauce (or vegetable oil), and egg.  In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. 

2.  Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. 

3.  Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm. 

 

Enjoy!

--M