Thanksgiving in San Antonio

This year was the year to spend Thanksgiving with the Schwenker side of the family. We decided to fly down, rather than drive - and that was the BEST decision ever! It was Madden's 3rd time to fly, but the times before he was a baby. I was nervous about how he would do, but he LOVED it!

I was feeling crummy, so this is the only picture I have of him on the plane.

We arrived and spent the weekend relaxing. This Fall has been a rough one for me with my allergies. I started allergy shots right before Thanksgiving and am hoping they give me some relief. But, in the meantime, I have been feeling really crummy. So, it was nice to just be "home" and not do much.

Madden enjoyed playing with Lainey and Pops, Care Care and Ben....and the puppies. They got out Ben's old wooden train and it provided hours of entertainment.

I didn't bring my good camera, so these aren't too good....but I wanted to remember this cute shirt and the little boy wearing it at this age!

Uncle Ben was home for a few days. Since I didn't get any pictures of him this summer, I thought I would get some this time. He is a sophomore at Mizzou this year.

Gobble Gobble!

A Visit From the Lowry's....

Our friends, John and Melissa Lowry moved to Nashville about 3 years ago....but they came back for a visit a few weeks ago and brought their sweet kiddos, Weston and Brooklyn. Melissa came over and the kids got to play for a few hours. So fun! Wish they still lived here....

Mom's Apple Pie

My mom brought me back some apples from St. Louis last week and I decided to make an apple pie. I don't think I had ever made one before now.....and it turned out WONDERFUL!

And what made it super easy was this. I got this for a wedding gift SIX years ago and never used it. Wow - have I been missing out! If you have any apples you need cored and sliced, come on over!



9 inch unbaked pie shell

Topping:
2/3 cup unsifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup butter

Filling:
2lbs. tart apples
1 T. lemon juice
2 T. flour
3/4 cup sugar
Dash salt
1 t. cinnamon

Prepare pie shell in pie plate. I just used store bought. Make topping: Combine flour and sugar in medium bowl. Using 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture is consistency of course cornmeal. Preheat oven to 400*. Make filling: Core and pare apples. Slice thinly into large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon - mix well. Toss lightly into apples. Turn filling into unbaked pie shell, spreading evenly. Cover with topping. Bake 40-45 minutes or until apples are tender.

Nothing fancy, but oh so good!

Halloween 2010: Madden the Puppy

This was the first year that we really did anything for Halloween. Previous years, Madden was too young and it just seemed silly to go to all the fuss of costumes, candy, carving pumpkins, etc. He still didn't really understand. If you asked him what he was going to be for halloween, his response was always "halloween cookie?".

I wanted some pictures of him in his costume, so I took some the day before Halloween. I gave him his candy bucket and he spent time picking up acorns. Acorns were fine then, but once he learned about CANDY, that was all he wanted.

Busy picking up the acorns!

Dumping his loot!

It was a fun Fall and Halloween season! Until next year....

Carving "Dunkins" & Outside Fun

Last Friday Madden had his Halloween party at school. He wore this shirt - which was perfect - it says "I'm full of candy!"

We enjoyed playing outside in the evening and I took advantage of getting a few pictures.

After school juice. He ALWAYS stops at the fridge in the garage to grab a juice on his way in from school. He definitely has his rituals.....and does not like to sway from them!

Playing "soccer"

Pretty good form....

Throwing a fit. He put an acorn in his mouth and said "I eat acorn". I FREAKED! Got it out of his mouth and told him that acorns are dirty, only squirrels eat acorns, etc, etc. Ugh. I thought we were past putting things in our mouth. We have acorns EVERYWHERE. We are really going to have to watch him!

Sweet feet. He doesn't like the wear shoes outside. Should be interesting as the temps get cooler....

Watching airplanes. He LOVES airplanes and can see/hear them before we can!

We ordered pizza and then dug into our pumpkins (aka. dunkins!).

Madden was less than interested and spent his time eating an apple. An ENTIRE apple. Core, seeds, and all. I didn't realize it until it was gone!

The finished product. We would've done more, but Madden said "I no wike dunkins. I scared of dunkins". So, we decided not to go to the trouble of carving anymore! Ha! Maybe next year he will enjoy it more....