This weekend I enjoyed some much needed time at home.  As I rested and reflected on the events of last week (Homecoming at school).  I pondered the events for the month of October.   We do some great activities in our neighborhood and in our church during the month.  I'm absolutely loving the cooler weather.  Today,  I attended a Tastefully Simple party and got to taste some new as well as standard items.  Wild Rice Soup, Smoked Garlic and Paprika Dip, Carrot Cake Cheese Ball, Beer Bread, Butterscotch Hot Chocolate and Oat and Cranberry Squares were my favorites.  If you haven't ever tried the products you are really missing easy to prepare items.  Google "Tastefully Simple" if you would like to order.

In just a few short weeks we will celebrate Halloween.  Several years ago my kiddos started a Trick or Treat Canned Food Drive in lieu of trick or treating for candy.  Our neighbors are always very willing to participate.  The week before the collection the kids deliver Halloween themed notices to all of the neighbors notifying them of the date for the collection.  Once the items are collected the children go with us to deliver them to the local food pantry.

We took this picture the first year the kids collected canned food during Halloween.  They were so excited about their contributions.

On Halloween night our church sponsors a "Trunk or Treat" event.  If you have never participated you must find one or start your own.  Each family is asked to decorate their trunk and hand out candy.  We pull into a parking lot and line up- kids then go trunk to trunk with their treat bags.  Our church also provides hot cocoa, hotdogs, chips, etc.  We also roast marshmallows.  This event is much better than the old fashioned trick or treating of my childhood and a much safer alternative.


Here are more great themes:

Nursery Rhyme Theme
Thomas the Train Theme
Hunting or Camo Theme
Princess Theme
Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus (decorate w/candy)
Beach Theme
NASCAR Theme - Display all your souvenirs
Harvest Theme
Sports Theme (pick a sport) - Team displays are popular
Popular Kid's Themes: Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Veggie Tales, etc.
Animal Themes - Stuffed animals count.
Movie Themes (Keep the kids in mind though)
Western Theme
Camping Out theme
Christmas (or other holiday) Theme
Gone Fishing Theme
Pirate Theme

Got to get busy on the theme for our trunk this year- I have no idea what we will do.  I am open for more theme suggestions.  Happy Early Trick or Treating!

On a much less serious topic than yesterday, we tailgated for all of the great football games yesterday.  No trips to the big game, but instead a relaxing weekend at home.  I enjoyed my time in the kitchen preparing snacks for the game.  The smell of fall filled my home as I prepared sliced apples and caramel dip, Pumpkin Crisp, boiled peanuts, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Pigs in a Blanket,  and the Now Famous Cheese Ring.  I just love the sent of cinnamon, pumpkin and pecans.  Let's just say the football was not the highlight of the evening.  Enjoy the recipes!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

4 chicken breast, cooked and chopped
1 bottle Franks Red Hot Sauce
1 block cream cheese
1 jar Naturally Fresh Ranch Dressing or Bleu Cheese (I use Bleu Cheese)
2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
Pita chips or Frito Scoops

Combine chicken and hot sauce.  Place in a casserole dish.  Combine cream cheese and dressing.  Pour over chicken mixture.  Top w/grated cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Serve w/pita chips or scoops.

Pumpkin Crisp

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter, melted
French Vanilla Cool Whip
Nutmeg

Stir together first 5 ingredients.  Pour into a lightly greased 13 x 9 in casserole dish.  Sprinkle cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture.  Top with pecans.  Pour melted butter over the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown.  Let sit for 10-20 minutes before serving warm.  Serve with French Vanilla Cool Whip or even French Vanilla Ice Cream.  Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Twice this week Oprah hosted shows about the state of education in our country.  On the first show she bashed teachers and their unions.  She promoted a few "great" public schools, but failed to mention all of them were charter schools.  Ms. Winfrey also failed to explain to her audience how charter schools and regular public schools differ.  Her guest were the Chancellor of the Washington DC public schools, a film maker and Bill Gates.  Due to the massive amount of response she got on the first show she held a second addition on Friday.  From what I hear she had flown in teachers that responded to the topic of the first show, but gave them very little chance to talk.  Instead she introduced a politician from Newark, NJ, Zuckerburger (Facebook founder), and a few other politicans.  She also welcomed Arne Duncan, the head of the U. S. Department of Education.

Several years ago Ms. Winfrey built a school in Africa.  When asked about why she did not start a school in the United States Ms. Winfrey replied:  “I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn’t there,” she says. “If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.”  


Ms. Winfrey did not use her show to talk about the many issues determining whether or not a child gets the education he/she needs.  She chose to use these shows to attack educators.  This is contradicting something she recognized in American children/families  just a few years ago.   Why not address all the individuals involved- students, parents, educators and the politicians making decisions?  Ms. Winfrey deliberately hushed the voices of educators.  Do you think she has forgotten the reality she witnessed to promote a political agenda?  Voters don't want to hear they are the problem, but instead want a "superman" to fix the problem.  Is Oprah Superman?

We do need changes in public education, but I'm not sure throwing money at the problem is the answer.  One hundred million dollars will buy lots of pretty stuff, but it will not solve the problem.  This money could also provide the means to keep kids in school longer hours or provide after school programs, but cost them valuable time with their families.  Why not get lots of parents, educators and business leaders together to talk about this issue?  Let everyone share their frustrations and goals. I think people will be pleasantly surprised all of these groups want the the same thing.  After the parents, educators and business leaders have talked then go to the politicians and tell them what is needed to fix it.  Maybe it isn't money we need, but a change in policies.

As an educator, I have an opportunity to work with students from a variety of backgrounds.  Recently, a friend asked me questions related to situations she was dealing with as a parent volunteer in a nearby school system.  I had the opportunity to encourage her as a parent volunteer to promote and/or sponsor trips to museaums, theaters, concert halls, zoos, planetariums, aquariums, state capitals, restaurants, colleges, etc.   So many children don't get exposure to many of the activities we take for granted. 

If you are like me, you were told from birth "you will go to college".  There was never conversation of any other options in my household.  My husband and I have preached the same sermon to our kids.  As and educator, I have people question me as to  why students don't take advantage of college when in some situations the student could practically go for free with financial aid packages.  Many of these same students have never had a family member attend college.  These same students might not ever have an opportunity to visit a college.  I encourage you to make sure your kiddos get these opportunities.  If possible, make sure other kids in your community schools get to visit institutions of high learning- sponsor a trip or take those extra football tickets and take some kids to the game w/you.

This weekend our son had a chance to visit Duke University for the Duke-Alabama football game.  What a great opportunity to allow our son to visit another great educational institution -even if it was for football!  He has learned so many math and geography concepts from sports.  I don't hesitate to continue to encourage his love of the games.  We sent him off with a camera with new batteries and asked him to document the trip.  He came back with lots of pics of all the Duke University landmarks.  What a great trip for a young man- well worth a day out of school!

Wow, I can't believe the weekend is coming to an end.  I don't know about you, but I need another three day weekend.  This week our high school team won an away game, but it wasn't easy.  It seems as if the officials are never on our side.  We play this no huddle offense they do not like because they have to run up  and down the field to keep up with our guys.--Hope I'm impressing you with my vast knowledge of football, but I must give the credit to my hubby.  He talks football on our evening walks and I absorb some of it.  Thank goodness our players have great stamina and can withstand four quarters of football unlike most of the teams we play.  This week we are at home again with lots of excitement surrounding the game.  My family is looking forward to a great evening of tailgating before the big game. 

On Saturday, we traveled to celebrate the birthday of one of our nephews.  It is so fun to be three.  After the party we hussled around the city running errands before turning home for two more events.  Our new neighbors were having a celebration for their daughter's 8th birthday and hubby and I were attending a local hospital foundation benefit. 


We started our Sunday out right by attending church.  The sermon  from the Chapter 1 of James was great- basically reminding us not to show favoriticism to the rich man while ignoring or shunning the poor- the good ole Golden Rule.  Afterwards we went home to do some housework.  I tackled the kitchen, floors and bathrooms and my dear hubby took care of the hall closet and our son's closet.  We had stuffed, stuffed, stuffed and it was time to purge. 

Thank goodness I finished my chores early enough to make one of my favorite dishes.
When my hubby and I first married I was a catering director at a country club.  One of the standard menus items at the club was Chicken Piccatta.  I recently ran across a recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks and decided I wanted a trip down memory lane.  Hubby and the kiddos loved it.  A few of my FB friends asked me to share- enjoy!


My night ended with a treat when my daughter and hubby dressed in identical bedshirts.  My little sweetie thought it funny she and Daddy look like twins.  Couldn't leave my handsome guy out- He did such a good job helping to clean out his closet today.  I enjoyed reading The Velveteen Rabbit to them before bedtime.

The last month has been crazy and I have only posted about once a week.  We have been so busy starting back to school, back to dance class, back to church choir and kicking off football season.  It has been really fun, but we are exhausted.  Thank goodness for a three day weekend to celebrate all of our laboring.  My parents have come for a short visit.  We are looking forward to visiting with them and putting my Daddy to work.  He always has a to-do list at our house due to his technical skills.  My mother is becoming a master couponer and will share her latest deals with me. 

My family has been buzzing all week because high school football officially begins tonight.  I thought my husband might just BUST if it did not get here soon.  The preparations begin weeks in advance.  The t-shirts were ordered, Miss Priss's cheerleading dress made and all of the blue and gold paraphanelia located for our first outing of the season.  I even pulled out the stadium jams CD to get us in the mood on the way to school.  In just a few minutes we will venture out to a neighboring community and huge rival.  They are "blacking out" and we are "whiting out".  I just hope the score goes our way.  Regardless, I can't wait to use this opportunity to scream and yell to relieve a little stress.  I had a great week, but spent a good portion of it in meetings.  Look forward to the first home game next week and maybe a little tailgating.  If that isn't enought, college football kicks off this Thursday evening.