Hallelujia Chorus!

I loved this link so much that I wanted to share it.  There is one woman who was so surprised that she was crying.  If you have 4 1/2 minutes...check this out!  It will pour the Christmas spirit all over you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&vq=medium#t=49

Fabulous Fall Photos!

We had a photo shoot recently with an amazing photographer, Ariel Renae Photography.  She is so talented and, in no time flat, she captured my kids' personalities and left me with so many beautiful choices that I'm having a very difficult time narrowing them down for the walls.  I, of course, was very nervous because Ivy was having a TERRIBLE afternoon since waking up from her nap.  But, somehow, she managed to capture smiles rather than frowns and I am so happy with the results.  Here are a few precious rays of sunshine...   

Ready for Santa!

I made Ivy a few Christmas items to wear for the holidays:

a candy cane skirt and a red corduroy dress.

The candy cane skirt has a sheer top layer and a black underlayer that makes the candy canes really pop.  When I saw the material, I just HAD to make something out of it.

Super duper cute!!

The corduroy dress is quite long and I had her name embroidered on the front.  Since it is so long, I'm hoping she can wear it for at least a year or two.  Man, I love this little girl! 

Cooper gets his teeth cleaned!

After 75-minutes at the dentist's office with Cooper and Ivy, I was beginning to feel like a permanent fixture in the chair.   It took forever to get my x-rays done so I was only half-way through my own cleaning when they called Cooper in for his first check-up.

As he climbed into the chair, I heard Cooper say,

"I sure hope you know what you're doing."

Halloween Happiness!

Trick-or-treating for the McAfee clan was nothing but a treat for all of us!  Cole and Cooper were "Mario" and "Luigi," respectively, and Ivy was dressed as a sweet little fairy.  We filled our baskets in no time and everyone had a great time.  If you're in the middle Tennessee area, you know how perfect the weather was for Halloween.  I hope my friends in other places enjoyed the same Fall weather perfection!

 

Luigi

Front..

...and back!

Ivy's first house.  She then sat down because she thought it was time to eat the treats.

Off she goes to house #2

"Trick or Treat!"

Love and happiness!

Ivy's amazing hair growth!

Ivy's hair has grown in much thicker and fuller than expected.

Spooky Ghost Cookies

Spooky Ghost Cookies!

   

We went to a great Fall Party in a nearby neighborhood last night (thanks Shannon and Shane) and I made these Spooky Ghost cookies to share.

  

I found the recipe in my recipe box and decided it would be fun to try it out.  Super easy, super cute (my kinda recipe)!  Their photo showed a much smoother and shinier ghost but I was happy with the result, regardless.

 

SPOOKY GHOSTS
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 3 minutes

1 package vanilla candy coating squares
1 (1-pound) package Nabisco Nutter Butter peanut butter sandwich cookies
1 (4.25 ounce) tube black decorating frosting

• Microwave 6 candy coating squares in a microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 1-2 minutes (or until melted), stirring once.  Dip cookies in candy coating, allowing excess to drip.  Place on wax paper and let stand until firm.
• Place remaining 3 vanilla candy coating squares in bowl.  Microwave on HIGH for 1 minute, stirring once.  Dip cookies again in candy coating, allowing excess to drip.  Place on wax paper.  Let stand until firm.
• Pipe frosting eyes and mouth on each cookie to resemble ghost.

Notes:  I didn't do this in the microwave.  Instead, I melted all of the white chocolate in a double boiler and then dipped and let harden.  I then just used the back of a spoon to "touch up" the places that needed help.  These things are so sweet they will make your teeth curl.

Moving on!

We did it!  On Friday the 15th, we moved out.  I grabbed a few shots of the kids on the front porch before taking Cole to school.  I'll cherish these special ones forever.  There are so many great things about that house that we will miss.  But, after 13 months on the market, we are glad it is gone!  Whew!

Cole (9)

I took this picture of Cole because I have one of him in the same spot when he was little.  He got a little sad after this picture because he was sure that the new place would not be as special (He has since changed his mind.)  Change is tough on a kid and we've tried to be sensitive to that.  But if we can keep the simple things the same...we know that the adjustment will come together much easier.  Cole and Cooper shared a room at the old house and when we asked them if they wanted their own rooms or wanted to share they both blurted out that they still want to share a room.  If that won't warm a parent's heart, I don't know what will.  So, we've kept their twin beds and are cherishing this togetherness until one of them decides that he wants his own room.  But, for now, they have their cozy twin beds across from each other where they chat at night until one of them dozes off.  That is the good stuff!

.

We didn't close on the new house until the 21st so it was perfect timing given the fact that Cole's Fall Break was Friday - Tuesday of that week.  So, we decided to head to Montgomery Bell State Park (just west of Nashville) to spend our celebration of homelessness.  It is a beautiful place and we had our usual bike-riding-marshmallow-eating-afternoon-napping-fresh-air-breathing good time.  The first night was spent with some friends, The Thomases, who's site we crashed since the park was at maximum capacity.  Super Duper Fun, as Brandi would say.  

 

The porch of the park restaurant - for yummy (and cheap) grub

Batting Practice

Hagan Stone (Pilkerton Realtors)

After camping (& a few nights at the Fletcher's), we were off to the closing.  With ink on paper,

we moved in!

Home sweet home!

Adding our door knocker - a wedding gift from the Shaffers!

Cooper loves the new playset

Cooper and Cole on the tire swing!

We are happy to be home!