Wordless Wednesday

-Bethany

Cookbook Free

I've noticed a major revolution in the past year on how I personally handle recipes.

Not too long ago, I loved to cozy up at a bookstore and peruse a stack of colorful cookbooks.  As time went on, I used a combination of recipes taken from cookbooks and recipes that I found online or in magazines.  If I liked a new recipe, I would cut it out of the magazine or print it out and put it in a little ring spiral that I kept with the cookbooks.

Then, I began the blog and had high hopes to store some of my recipes on the blog for easy online referencing.  A few months after I started the blog, the popular social site Pinterest exploded.  Pinterest is a virtual pin board where you can store anything you find on the internet on your own personal boards.  Thus, I started pinning new recipes to a personal board Recipes I Want To Try.  When I make one of those recipes, I either repin it to another board, My Favorite Recipes, or delete the pin.  

Recently, I realized that I literally haven't cracked open one of my cookbooks in months.  I would even go as far as saying I don't think I've opened one in 2012.  That is a huge transformation.

Why am I telling you all of this?  Because I've had a few people ask me, "Why don't you post recipes on your blog anymore?"  My answer: It's all on my Pinterest board.  Check out My Favorite Recipes board and you will see a ton of recipes that I've made and approved.

And for fun, here's a cute Halloween idea:  

Palmer made Halloween treats for his teachers last week.  He poured the contents of peanuts, M&Ms, and candy corn into a bowl and stirred it up.  Then, he poured the mix into mason jars...without sampling too much along the way!

I was so proud of his concentration and I could tell that he was very proud of his teacher presents.

 -Bethany

Wordless Wednesday

-Bethany

Working With Daddy

Rick took Palmer up to his office over the weekend.

A few hours later, I got a call saying Rick wasn't getting as much done as he hoped.

I wonder why:

I'm having a hard time believing that someone with such a sweet face would cause any sort of havoc.

-Bethany

State Fair

We scheduled a state fair outing with Rick's family on the one blustery day we've had so far this season.  We bundled up and had so much fun.

Look at the difference a year can make.  Big Tex sure doesn't age, though!

(UPDATE: Since this post was written, we have all learned the sad news of Big Tex's fate.  May he forever rest in peace.)

Our little daredevil continues to amaze (and concern) us with his absolute lack of fear.  Palmer rode his first rides with the biggest grin on his face.  After one of the rides, Rick looked a little dizzy and Palmer promptly declared, "More!".

Palmer got his wish and conned Aunt Amanda into taking him on another spin with Elle. I love the sheer bliss on Elle's face.

"Dad, I want to ride the cars like a big boy!"

Rick compromised with the airplanes this year:

Rick and his sister Amanda with the cousins:

Nana and her wiggly grandchildren:

Have you guys seen the viral blog post about moms needing to be in more pics with their kids instead of always behind the camera?  I think we have that situation in our family because here is yet another great photo of Rick and Palmer:

Oh look, here I am in a humble iPhone photo with the camera strapped around my chest...

On the way out we hit up a last big winner...the tractors.  As you can imagine, Palmer was thrilled to get the chance to climb in real tractors of all shapes and sizes.  Some country folk come to the big city for the fair.  Us city folk go to the fair to get some country.

-Bethany

Wordless Wednesday

-Bethany

Horsey

gif criar

-Bethany

Wordless Wednesday

-Bethany

Chihuly and Pumpkins

I've been dying to see the Arboretum's Chihuly exhibit for months.

I didn't get to the Arboretum before the temperatures soared into the summer hundreds.

Now that the weather is cool again, I met my friend Ann for a two-fer: Chihuly and the incredible annual pumpkin display.

Palmer really really wanted to get into the water (dyed black to highlight the exhibit, I learned), so I had to snap this photo super fast before he went in for a swim:

And now onto pumpkin time!

Talk about a sensory overload.  Palmer had waaay too much to look at and therefore didn't have any interest in looking at my camera.

Sweet Colin and Palmer:

Once the art and pumpkin stops were completely exhausted, we settled down for a picnic and let the kids run around the mall.

Happy fall, y'all!

-Bethany

Wordless Wednesday

-Bethany